- General Info
- Demographics
- Education and Employment
- Valuation and Taxes Levied
- State Senators
- History
- County Programs
- Other Information
Keya Paha County Seat (pop.): Springview (238)
Cities, Towns, and Villages (pop.): Burton (11)
Courthouse Address and Hours:
511 North Spruce Street
Ogallala, Nebraska 69153
M-F 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
County Board Chairperson: Joan Ervin
Complete list of county board members
County Board Meetings: Wednesday
View the County's Government Maps
NACO District: Northeast
President: Monica Rotherham, Madison County Clerk of the District Court
Vice President: Lisa Lunz, Dixon County Supervisor
Secretary: Krista Nix, Knox County Deputy Clerk
Treasurer: Krista Nix, Knox County Deputy Clerk
NACO Board Representative: Bill Tielke, Holt County Supervisor
General
Population: 787
Land area (sq. mi.): 773.08
Population per square mile: 1.0
Race
White: 97.0%
African American: 0.0%
American Indian: 1.4%
Asian: 0.4%
Hispanic: 0.8%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Age
0-17: 18.3%
18-64: 49.8%
65+: 31.9%
Socioeconomics
Personal income per capita: $62,869
% of Population in Poverty: 17.3%
# of Housing Units: 496
Owner-occupied rate: 73.6%
Median home price: $76,770
Technology
Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 96.3%
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: 1.9% (as of September 2022)
County Employment Website: https://co.keya-paha.ne.us/webpages/links/public_notices.html
High school graduate or higher: 95.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25.5%
School Districts: Keya Paha County Public Schools
Keya Paha County Economy
Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $40,343,000
Ag. Producers (Cattle): 171
Ag. Producers (Crop): 57
Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Central Valley Ag
Local Grain Market: Click for today's grain prices in Keya Paha County
Electricity Providers: Cherry-Todd Electric Coop., KBR Rural PPD
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: $0.1992 per $100 of taxable valuation
County property taxes levied: $970,111
Total local government property taxes levied: $3,887,641
Total countywide taxable valuation: $486,965,612
Click here for all levy rates in Keya Paha 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 Brewer (District 43)
Committees: Agriculture, General Affairs, Government, Military and Veterans Affairs, State-Tribal Relations
Map and statistics for Legislative District 43
Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Keya Paha County History
Number of Registered Historic Places: 2
Year Authorized: 1884
Year Organized: 1884
Etymology: Dakota for "turtle hill"
One of the most unique names among Nebraska's 93 counties belongs to Keya Paha County in the north central area of the state. It is traced to the Dakota Sioux Indian tribe, which once hunted on the land north of the Niobrara River.
According to historians, the county's name is derived from the Dakota words Ké-ya Pa-há Wa-kpá, which translated means turtle hill river. It is assumed that this was how the Dakotas referred to the area, because numerous small, rounded hills make up the terrain.
Keya Paha County was once part of a much larger county known as Brown. This area included what today are Brown, Rock and Keya Paha Counties. In 1884 it became apparent that the existing Brown County was too large and a petition was circulated to designate the area north of the Niobrara River as a separate county. When the question was put before the voters on Nov. 4, it carried by a wide margin.
Locating the county seat proved to be more difficult than creating the county. Nearly every settlement within the new county sought this important distinction. A committee was appointed to make a selection. But failing to accomplish this, the issue was put to a vote when the county's first election was held in January 1885. Fifteen different settlements were listed on the ballot. The field was pared to two and the newly-elected county officers ordered another election for March 24.
When election day arrived, voters were asked to choose either Burton, located in the northeast part of the county, or Springview, which was more centrally located. When the votes were counted, Springview won by a narrow 494 to 405 margin.
Springview included 160 acres of choice land and a natural spring, for which the settlement had been named. Lots in the county seat were sold for $20 each. Building activity began almost immediately after the election. Until enough lots were sold to accumulate the necessary funds to build a courthouse, county offices were housed in a private residence.
Keya Paha County Excellence
License Plate Number: 82
Time Zone: Central
Zoned County: Yes
Number of Veterans: 37
Voter Turnout (2022): 67.66%
Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: North Central/Sandhills
Number of County-Owned Bridges: 15
County Library: Keya Paha County Library
State Lands (acres): Cub Creek Recreation Area (304), Holt Creek WMA (159.30), Thomas Creek WMA (1,154.50)
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)