Knox County

General

Population:  8,401
Land area (sq. mi.):  1,108.44
Population per square mile:  7.6

Race and Age

Race  2020

White:  83.0%
African American:  0.2%
American Indian:  11.2%
Asian:  0.3%
Hispanic:  2.2%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.0%
Two or More Races:  2.8%

Age  2020

0-17:  25.2%
18-64:  49.7%
65+:  25.2%

Households

Total households:  3,435  2020
With one child:  390  2022
With 2+ children:  620  2022
With seniors (65+):  1,160  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $58,711  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  15.6%  2022
# of Housing Units:  4,502  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  24
Owner-occupied rate:  75.4%  2020
Median home price:  $135,990  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  39.2%  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:  1.7%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://co.knox.ne.us/webpages/links/employment.html

High school graduate or higher:  92.9%  2020

School Districts:  Bloomfield Community Schools, Boyd County Schools, Creighton Community Public Schools, Crofton Community Schools, Niobrara Public Schools, Osmond Community Schools, Plainview Public Schools, Santee Community Schools, Summerland Public Schools, Wausa Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  19.7%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Northeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  22 providers; 351 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.

Knox County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $736,895,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $81,835,450  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $134,602,000  2021

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $469,662,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $28,743,000  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 (bushel capacity):

• Bloomfield: Farmers (3,300,000)
• Creighton: J.E. Meuret (654,188)
• Crofton: J.E. Meuret (1,556,520)
• Verdigree: Herbert Feed & Grain (943,979)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

Farmers Market:  Santee Farmers Market (June - October, Saturdays 9 - 11 AM)

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

Cattle Producers:  541

Crop Producers:  230

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $212/acre  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $310/acre  2024

Dairy Producers:  1

Electricity Providers:  Cedar-Knox PPD, Nebraska PPD, Niobrary Valley Electric Member Corp., North Central PPD

Wind Turbines Operating (MW):  49 turbines (123,000 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 Knox County residents in other counties or states, but it excludes wages earned in Knox 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 Knox County for their production in other counties or states, but the figures exclude receipts reported for production in Knox County by producers operating principally in other counties or states.

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  1,140  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  1.03  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  201  2024

Click for real time:

Streamflow data on Ponca Creek at Verdel

Streamflow data on the Missouri River below Ponca Creek near Verdel

Streamflow data on the Niobrara River near Verdel

Streamflow data on the Niobrara River at Niobrara

Streamflow data on Bazile Creek at Center

Streamflow data on Howe Creek below Walker Draw near Center

Streamflow data on Bazile Creek near Niobrara

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:  $0.1613 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $3,942,839

Total local government property taxes levied:  $29,654,458

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $2,444,848,231

Federal PILT payment to Knox County (FY2024):  $49,960 regarding 14,923 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Knox 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)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Judiciary
• Transportation and Telecommunications
• Government, Military and Veterans Affairs

Special Committees: 

• State-Tribal Relations (vice-chairperson)
• Justice Reinvestment Oversight
• Statewide Tourism and Recreation Water Access and Resource Sustainability

Map and statistics for Legislative District 40

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Knox County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 15

Year Authorized: 1857

Year Organized: 1857

Etymology: Henry Knox (U.S. Revolutionary War General and Secretary of War)

     Knox County has distinct French origins, including its original name. French trappers, traders, and explorers passed up and down the Missouri River before and after the Louisiana Purchase, some of whom explored and help settle the area which would become Knox County. The Legislature formally established the county in 1875, bestowing upon it the name “L’eau Qui Court,” or “running water.” This moniker was also in reference to the Native American name of the region, “Niobrara,” meaning “wide-spreading water.” In 1873, however, the Legislature changed the name to Knox County, choosing to name the county after Henry Knox, noted Revolutionary War General and the first U.S. Secretary of War (the famous Fort Knox bears his name as well).

     The county also has distinct Native American roots. Prior to the arrival of European settlers, Knox County was home to the Omaha Native American tribe, whose territory stretched south from the Missouri River to present-day Papillion and as far west as Neligh. Following the arrival of European settlers, tribes were forced to sign treaties that consigned them to reservations. The Santee Sioux Reservation remains a part of Knox County today.

     Following the territory’s settlement and formal founding, Niobrara became the first county seat. The decision would be contested for the next several decades. Niobrara was situated along the county’s far northern border and the early settlement routinely flooded. Multiple elections to move the county seat occurred, but none were successful until the community of Center was platted in 1901. A year later, the village assumed and still retains the county seat.

     Knox County is also a special part of Nebraska’s civic history. In 1934, the Knox County courthouse became the first building in Nebraska to be funded by the Civil Works Administration during the Depression. In 1990, the National Register of Historic Places added the courthouse to its registry.

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

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Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  12

Time Zone:  Central

Number of Veterans:  576  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  268

Number of County-Owned Dams:  2

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  81.83%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  5,527  2024

Number of Precincts:  7  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  All Voting by Mail

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: Lewis & Clark NRD, Lower Elkhorn NRD, Lower Niobrara NRD

State Lands (acres): Bohemia Prairie WMA (680), Brazile Creek WMA (3,971), Greenvale WMA (200), Lewis and Clark SRA (672.81), Niobrara Confluence WMA (1,225.38), Niobrara State Park (1,236.59), Verdel Landing WMA (8.8)

Federal Lands (acres): Cook Creek (38.7), Deep Water Wildlife Area (68), Devils Nest Wildlife Area (137), Gavins Point Project (Lewis and Clark Lake) (6,307 Cedar and Knox), Santee (150)

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)