Kimball County

General

Population: 3,142
Land area (sq. mi.): 951.94
Population per square mile: 3.6

Race

White: 85.3%
African American: 0.6%
American Indian: 2.3%
Asian: 1.1%
Hispanic: 9.3%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.2%

Age

0-17: 20.7%
18-64: 53.6%
65+: 25.8%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $55,021
% of Population in Poverty: 11.0%
# of Housing Units: 1,804
Owner-occupied rate: 69.0%
Median home price: $95,080

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 67.2%

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: 1.7% (as of September 2022)

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

High school graduate or higher: 89.8%

Bachelor's degree or higher: 13.2%

School Districts: Kimball Public Schools, Potter-Dix Public Schools

Countywide child care capacity: 3 providers; 32 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.

Kimball County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $191,316,000

Ag. Producers (Cattle): 100

Ag. Producers (Crop): 83

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: FVC, Panhandle Coop System

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

Electricity Providers: City of Kimball, High West Energy

Rail-served Communities: Bushnell, Dix, Kimball

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: $0.4593 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $3,328,274

Total local government property taxes levied: $12,707,521

Total countywide taxable valuation: $724,574,423

Click here for all levy rates in Kimball 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: Brian Hardin (District 48)
Committees: General Affairs, Health and Human Services, Nebraska Retirement Systems, Urban Affairs

Map and statistics for Legislative District 48

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Kimball County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 5

Year Authorized: 1888

Year Organized: 1888

Etymology: Thomas Kimball (General Manager of the Union Pacific Railroad)

An election held Nov. 6, 1888 resulted in the western third of Cheyenne County being split to form Kimball, Banner and Scotts Bluff Counties. Following the election, Kimball County was organized and named in honor of Thomas L. Kimball, vice president and general manager of the Union Pacific Railroad.

As the railroad passed through this area in the 1860s, a settlement named Antelopeville sprang up. It was named as such because of the prevalence of antelope in the area. When attempts were made to recognize a post office as Antelope, it was discovered there was already a post office in the state by that name. So in 1885 the name of the townsite was changed to Kimball and it became the county seat.

Kimball County possesses many distinctive features. It is home to the highest elevation in the state -- Panorama Point which is 5,424 feet and located in the southwest corner of the county near where Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming intersect. At one time, Kimball County was home to the world's largest complex of I.C.B.M. Minute Man missiles. This earned the county the title of "Missile Center of the United States."

Another title worn by Kimball County was "Nebraska's Oil Capitol." In the early 1980s, more than 1,400 active wells were operating across the county.

In addition to the railroad, the Kincaid Act of 1904 was credited with bringing many settlers to the area, primarily farmers. The native buffalo and gramma grass made cattle feeding a natural for the Kimball County area, while the rick, black loam soil proved good for farming.

Kimball County has had two courthouses. The first was built in 1890 and was used until 1928. In addition to housing the offices of local government, the building was the scene of many of the county's social activities. In 1928 the current courthouse opened. Built of Carthage stone, with floors of Ozark gray marble and fixtures made of solid walnut, the courthouse cost $180,000.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

License Plate Number: 71

Time Zone: Mountain

Zoned County: Yes

Number of Veterans: 314

Voter Turnout (2022): 50.92%

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

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 42

County Hospital: Kimball County Hospital

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)