Jefferson County

General

Population: 7,240
Land area (sq. mi.): 570.18
Population per square mile: 12.7

Race & Age

Race  2020

White: 90.6%
African American: 0.3%
American Indian: 0.6%
Asian: 0.2%
Hispanic: 5.0%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 3.1%

Age  2020

0-17: 22.7%
18-64: 53.1%
65+: 24.2%

Households

Total households:  3,179  2020
With one child:  310  2022
With 2+ children:  450  2022
With seniors (65+):  930  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $57,442  2021
% of Population in Poverty: 10.6%  2022
# of Housing Units: 3,665  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  13
Owner-occupied rate: 73.7%  2020
Median home price: $139,700  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 51.2%  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:  1.9%  Sept. 2024

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

High school graduate or higher:  90.4%  2020

School Districts:  Diller-Odell Public Schools, Fairbury Public Schools, Meridian Public Schools, Tri County Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  18.3%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Southeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  13 providers; 258 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.

Jefferson County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $576,404,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $62,610,580  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $129,798,000  2021

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $295,644,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $9,043,000  2022

• For components of nonfarm small business receipts, nonfarm wage income, and farm & ranch commodity sales and operations receipts, see "Notes" below.

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity): 

• Daykin: Farmers (3,148,106)
• Diller: Farmers (85,205)
• Dorchester: Farmers (6,855,106)
• Harbine: Farmers (208,015)
• Jansen: Farmers (6,150,644)
• Plymouth: Farmers (3,660,589)
• Reynolds: Farmers (3,259,758)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

Railroad Miles:  76.36 main, 7.71 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Endicott, Fairbury, Jansen, Plymouth, Steele City

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

Cattle Producers:  204

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $46/acre  2024

Crop Producers:  199

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $156/acre  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $286/acre  2024

Dairy Producers:  5

Farmers Market:  Fairbury Farmers Market (Downtown) (May - October, Saturdays 8 AM - 11 AM)

Electricity Providers:  City of Fairbury, Norris PPD, Village of Endicott, Village of Reynolds

Wind Turbines Operating (MW):  32 turbines (54,400 MW)

Notes

• Nonfarm small business receipts are reported by partnerships and sole proprietorships. They do not include receipts reported by cooperative associations.
• Nonfarm wage income is reported based upon the wage earner's residential address; therefore, it also includes wages earned by Jefferson County residents in other counties or states, but it excludes wages earned in Jefferson County by residents of other counties or states.
• Nonfarm wage income excludes wages earned by anyone claimed as a dependent.
• Farm and ranch commodity sales receipts and operations receipts are reported based upon the farm or ranch owner's principal county of operations; therefore, those figures also include receipts reported by producers operating principally in Jefferson County for their production in other counties or states, but the figures exclude receipts reported for production in Jefferson County by producers operating principally in other counties or states.

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 1,017  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  1.78  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 223  2024

Click for real time:

Streamflow data on the Little Blue River near Fairbury

Groundwater level data near NE Hwy 4 & 576th Ave. (2 mi. west of Plymouth)

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:  $0.3487 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $7,156,017

Total local government property taxes levied:  $29,864,513

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $2,052,437,174

Click here for all levy rates in Jefferson 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: Tom Brandt (District 32)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Natural Resources
• Transportation and Telecommunications

Map and statistics for Legislative District 32

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Jefferson County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 14

Year Authorized: 1856

Year Organized: 1864

Etymology: Thomas Jefferson (U.S. president)

     Jefferson County was formed in 1856 as a part of a larger redistricting initiative that completely reorganized eastern Nebraska (including creating a dozen new counties). However, Jefferson County’s first name was Jones County. It wasn’t until 1867 that the name was changed to honor the nation’s third president and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson. In 1871, the Legislature divided Jefferson County in half, creating Thayer County out of the western portion. 

     As with other Nebraska counties, Jefferson County was inhabited for hundreds of years by Native American tribes prior to the arrival of European settlers. In fact, according to some historians, one of the largest Native American battles occurred in northwestern Jefferson County, near the confluence of the Little Blue River and Big Sandy River. The battle between the Sioux and Pawnee raged for three days, and reports indicate that over 5,000 warriors died. The Pawnee would retain control of the area, but the victory was short-lived. European settlement aided by the U.S. Army eventually displaced the Pawnee (and every other Native American tribe), relegating them to reservations.

     Prior to its formal organization, Jefferson County welcomed both the Oregon Trail and Pony Express Route. The Rock Creek Station was a welcome stop for travelers, offering supplies and shelter. Later, the station would give Nebraska an infamous historical event—the killing of Wild Bill Hickok’s first victim. Accounts vary, but Hickok allegedly killed a man who was arguing with the station manager. A jury found that Hickok acted in self-defense, one of many returned verdicts that justified Hickok’s questionable use of lethal force.

     The early days of Jefferson County posed formidable challenges to settlers. Conflicts with Native American tribes and droughts were common in Jefferson County, but the 1874 grasshopper infestation was particularly nefarious. Numerous historical accounts report that clouds of grasshoppers blocked out the sun, darkening the sky and warning settlers of their impending arrival. Upon landing, the grasshoppers ate everything from field crops to garden vegetables to honey-combed chimneys to curtains and nettings. So great were their numbers that upon being run over and crushed by trains, the oil of the grasshoppers greased the rails and caused train wheels to spin without pulling the cars down the track.

     Despite all these obstacles, Jefferson County residents persevered, and their mettle helped found a dozen communities, including the county seat of Fairbury. The city would become a railroad shipping hub that sparked a minor population boom which continued well into the 20th century. Today, Jefferson County is known for both its agriculture and manufacturing.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  33

Time Zone:  Central

Number of Veterans:  462  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  206

Number of County-Owned Dams:  1

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  77.22%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  4,811  2024

Number of Precincts:  10  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  9  2022

Land Area per Polling Place:  63.96 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: Southeast

Natural Resource Districts: Little Blue NRD, Lower Big Blue NRD

State Lands (acres): Alexandria SRA (101), Alexandria WMA (1,204.54), Flathead WMA (259.20), Rock Creek State Historical Park (353), Rock Creek SRA (40), Rock Glen WMA (706), Rose Creek WMA (667.57)

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)