Holt County

General

Population: 10,049
Land area (sq. mi.): 2,412.40
Population per square mile: 4.2

Race

White: 92.5%
African American: 0.6%
American Indian: 0.8%
Asian: 0.6%
Hispanic: 5.4%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.1%

Age

0-17: 25.9%
18-64: 51.1%
65+: 22.6%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $66,231
% of Population in Poverty: 10.9%
# of Housing Units: 4,897
Owner-occupied rate: 71.6%
Median home price: $148,830

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 16.8%

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate: 1.8% (as of September 2022)

County Employment Website: https://nebraskacounties.org/nebraska-counties/county-employment-opportunities.html

High school graduate or higher: 90.9%

Bachelor's degree or higher: 25.6%

School Districts: Boyd County Schools, Burwell Public Schools, Chambers Public Schools, O-Neill Public Schools, Stuart Public Schools, Summerland Public Schools, Verdigre Public Schools, Wheeler Central Schools, West Hold Public Schools

Countywide child care capacity: 32 providers; 504 children

Find child care: For a list of child care providers in your zip code, visit Nebraska DHHS or the Nebraska Resource and Referral System.

Holt County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $703,033,000

Ag. Producers (Cattle): 658

Ag. Producers (Crop): 398

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Central Valley Ag, Farmers Pride

Local Grain Market: Click for today's grain prices in Holt County

Electricity Providers: City of Stuart, Elkhorn Rural PPD, Nebraska PPD, Niobrara Valley Electric Member Corp., North Central PPD

Rail-served Communities: O'Neill, Page

Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), Nebraska Cooperative Council, Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau

2022 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate: $0.3361 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $9,784,878

Total local government property taxes levied: $40,911,945

Total countywide taxable valuation: $2,910,969,819

Click here for all levy rates in Holt County

County Levy and Taxation Laws

Levy limits:

Since 1996, counties and other political subdivisions have been subject to the levy limits listed in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3442 and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3443.

Statutes and regulations:

Nebraska Revised Statutes (Chapter 77)

Nebraska Administrative Code (Title 350)

Local tax reductions, exemptions, and credits:

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-902(5)(a) (Deed "stamp tax" exemption): "The [stamp tax] shall not apply to: ... (5)(a) Deeds between spouses, between ex-spouses for the purpose of conveying any rights to property acquired or held during the marriage, or between parent and child, without actual consideration therefor."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-201(2) (Valuation of agricultural land and horticultural land): "Agricultural land and horticultural land as defined in section 77-1359 shall constitute a separate and distinct class of property for purposes of property taxation, shall be subject to taxation, unless expressly exempt from taxation, and shall be valued at seventy-five percent of its actual value, except that for school district taxes levied to pay the principal and interest on bonds that are approved by a vote of the people on or after January 1, 2022, such land shall be valued at fifty percent of its actual value."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-6703(1) (Tax credit for school district taxes paid): "(1) For taxable years beginning or deemed to begin on or after January 1, 2020, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, there shall be allowed to each eligible taxpayer a refundable credit against the income tax imposed by the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967 or against the franchise tax imposed by sections 77-3801 to 77-3807. The credit shall be equal to the credit percentage for the taxable year, as set by the department under subsection (2) of this section, multiplied by the amount of school district taxes paid by the eligible taxpayer during such taxable year."

Sources: Nebraska Department of Revenue

State Senator: Barry DeKay (District 40)
Committees: Judiciary, Transportation and Telecommunications, State-Tribal Relations, Justice Reinvestment Oversight (LB605), Statewide Tourism And Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability (LB406)

Map and statistics for Legislative District 40

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Holt County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 10

Year Authorized: 1862

Year Organized: 1876

Etymology: Joseph Holt (U.S. Postmaster General and Secretary of War)

Each year the residents of Holt County celebrate with great pride their Irish ancestry and the role it played in the development of the county. In fact, O'Neill, the county seat, is oftentimes referred to as the Irish Capital of Nebraska.

The Irish heritage in the county dates back more than 122 years. Ten years after the county's boundaries were established in 1862, Gen. John O'Neill conceived a plan to bring his Irish countrymen out of the crowded East and to the land of "Room Enough." O'Neill traveled through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska seeking a suitable site. He decided on Holt County, which had been named after American statesman Joseph Holt. O'Neill brought groups of Irish immigrants to the area each year beginning 1864 and continuing through 1867. O'Neill's efforts are credited for the county's early development.

The first attempts to organize Holt County were made in 1873. However, the area did not have the required 200 inhabitants at that time. A second effort was made three years later and a governor's proclamation was issued that June. In the election that followed in August, a settlement named Twin Lakes was made the county seat. Canvassing the vote became so difficult that the election was declared invalid and another election was held in December. This time the village of Paddock was named the county seat.

Since Paddock was located on the extreme north edge of the county, dissatisfaction grew and a special election was held in 1879 to relocate the county seat to a more central location. O'Neill was chosen. It would not be until 1885 that a courthouse was built. Between 1888 and 1904 at least five attempts were made to move the seat of government again. All failed.

Today, O'Neill is known as the gateway to the Sandhills, with livestock feeders and farmers on the east and ranchers to the west. The area is one of the leading hay producers in the state. Because of the abundance of water sources in the county, irrigated corn is its most prevalent farm crop.

Highlight an important program in your county in this space! Send an email to:

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

License Plate Number: 36

Time Zone: Central

Zoned County: Yes

Number of Veterans: 574

Voter Turnout (2022): 58.20%

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: North Central/Sandhills

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 182

Number of County-Owned Dams: 1

State Lands (acres): Dry Creek WMA (293), Goose Lake WMA (384.90), O. John Emerson WMA (160), Redbird WMA (433.04), Spencer Dam WMA (9)

Sources: Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Secretary of State, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)