Hooker County

General

Population:  711
Land area (sq. mi.):  721.16
Population per square mile:  1.0

Race and Age

Race  2020

White:  93.2%
African American:  0.6%
American Indian:  0.1%
Asian:  0.1%
Hispanic:  1.5%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.0%
Two or More Races:  4.4%

Age  2020

0-17:  22.5%
18-64:  48.6%
65+:  28.9%

Households

Total households:  323  2020
With one child:  20  2022
With 2+ children:  60  2022
With seniors (65+):  120  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $43,520  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  9.1%  2022
# of Housing Units:  408  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  5
Owner-occupied rate:  75.5%  2020
Median home price:  $129,240  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  22.7%  2021

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau (building permits), U.S. Census Bureau (demographics), U.S. Census Bureau (municipalities)

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate:  1.7%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://co.hooker.ne.us/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher:  93.8%  2020

School Districts:  Mullen Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  24.8%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Mid-Plains Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  3 providers; 31 children  2024

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

Hooker County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $32,712,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $8,908,245  2021

• Nonfarm small business receipts are reported by partnerships & sole proprietorships and do not include receipts reported by cooperative associations. Nonfarm wage income may include wages earned from a Hooker County business for telework that is performed partially outside of Nebraska.

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $10,394,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $20,552,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $853,000  2022

• Farm & ranch receipt totals for commodity sales and operations are reported by producers operating principally in Hooker County and include those producers' receipts from production in other counties. The totals do not include receipts from sales and operations in Hooker County reported by producers operating principally in other counties.

Cattle Producers: 72

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.): $16/acre  2024

Crop Producers: 5

Railroad Miles:  19.58 main, 1.41 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Mullen

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

Electricity Providers: Custer PPD, PREMA, Village of Mullen

Wind Turbines Operating (MW): 1 turbine (MW unknown)

Well Locations (Irrigation/Livestock), Soils, Groundwater & Surface Water

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 585  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  0.81  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 3  2024

Click for real time:

Groundwater level data north of the Middle Loup River near Seneca (9 mi. east of Mullen)

Groundwater level data near NE Hwy 2 & N. Hecla Rd. (15.5 mi. west of Mullen) • Eastern well in row of 3

Groundwater level data near NE Hwy 2 & N. Hecla Rd. (16 mi. west of Mullen) • Middle well in row of 3

Groundwater level data near NE Hwy 2 & N. Hecla Rd. (16.5 mi. west of Mullen) • Western well in row of 3

Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), Nebraska Cooperative Council, Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, Nebraska Public Service Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of the Treasury (IRS), Warehouse and Commodity Management Division (USDA)

2023 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate: $0.2447 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $972,922

Total local government property taxes levied: $3,434,619

Total countywide taxable valuation: $397,643,762

Federal PILT payment to Garden County (FY2022): $687 regarding 205 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Hooker 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)

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: Mike Jacobson (District 42)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Banking, Commerce and Insurance (vice chairperson)
• Natural Resources

Select Committees:

• Committee on Committees

Special Committees: 

• Legislative Performance Audit
• Statewide Tourism and Recreation Water Access and Resource Sustainability

Map and statistics for Legislative District 42

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Hooker County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 3

Year Authorized: 1889

Year Organized: 1889

Etymology: Thomas Hooker (U.S. army general)

     In 1922, Nebraska created a county-code license plate system that assigned a one- or two-digit number to each county. The codes were based on the number of registered vehicles in the county at the time, with lower numbers reflecting a greater number of registered vehicles (e.g., 1 equals the highest number of registered vehicles in a county in 1922). Hooker County bears the distinction of bearing the “93,” or the county with the fewest registered vehicles in 1922. But despite its sparse population, Hooker County boasts a proud and rich history equal that of any other Nebraska county.

     For example, most Nebraskans know that the famous Texas-Nebraska cattle drives cut through southwest Nebraska before veering up to Ogalala, among other destinations. However, many might be surprised to learn that several cattle drives crossed further north through Hooker County on their way to South Dakota. The extra mileage was not for the faint of heart, even among the most formidable cowboys. The Sandhills, with its sifting soil, sparse vegetation, and few permanent watering holes, posed grim challenges at the very end of an already exhausting journey. Moreover, the journey back home was also fraught with danger, most notably, Sioux warriors defiantly clinging to their hunting lands dispossessed by the U.S. government.

     The meager grazing grounds and lack of fertile soil inhibited the rapid development and population spikes experienced by nearby counties. In fact, it was only in 1884 that Hooker County saw its first permanent settlers. Drawn by the Dismal River, homesteaders established the first settlement along both sides of the northern and southern forks of the river. 

     It was not to last, however, as the railroad line burst westward along Hooker County’s north border in the late 1870’s. Mullen first emerged as a railroad depot, and a decade later, Amos Gandy and George Trefren purchased property to establish the town, awaiting the legislative decree formally organizing the county. The declaration was passed down the next year and Hooker County was established, named after Civil War General Joseph Hooker.

     Today, despite its humble stature, Hooker County generates over thirty-three million dollars in goods produced and services provided, much of it from agriculture (primarily ranching).

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  93

Time Zone:  Mountain

Number of Veterans:  23  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

County Library:  Hooker County Library

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  1

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  81.39%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  532  2024

Number of Precincts:  1  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  1  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  721.50 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource District: Upper Loup NRD

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. Election Assistance Commission, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)