Lincoln County

General

Population:  34,676
Land area (sq. mi.):  2,564.14
Population per square mile:  13.5

Race and Age

Race  2020

White:  85.5%
African American:  1.1%
American Indian:  0.4%
Asian:  0.9%
Hispanic:  8.7%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.0%
Two or More Races:  3.0%

Age  2020

0-17:  23.5%
18-64:  55.9%
65+:  20.6%

Households

Total households:  14,683  2020
With one child:  1,920  2022
With 2+ children:  2,350  2022
With seniors (65+):  3,560  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $64,765  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  11.9%  2022
# of Housing Units:  16,526  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  166
Owner-occupied rate:  68.0%  2020
Median home price:  $214,850  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  85.0%  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:  2.1%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://lincolncountyne.gov/employment-opportunities/

High school graduate or higher:  90.9%  2020

School Districts:  Maxwell Public Schools, Maywood Public Schools, McPherson County Schools, Medicine Valley Public Schools, North Platte Public Schools, Paxton Consolidated Public Schools, Perkins County Schools, Stapleton Public Schools, Wallace Public School District 65 R

Bachelor's degree or higher:  25.6%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Mid-Plains Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  31 providers; 1,158 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.

Lincoln County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $2,340,098,000

Cattle Producers:  506

Crop Producers:  387

• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $211/acre

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers:  Ag Valley, FVC, Hi Line Co-op

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

Farmers Market:  The Original Farmers Market of North Platte (July - September, Tuesdays, 3 - 6 p.m. and Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

Electricity Providers:  City of North Platte, Custer PPD, Dawson PPD, McCook PPD, Midwest Electric Member Corp., Nebraska PPD

Rail-served Communities:  Brady, Dickens, Hershey, Maxwell, North Platte, Wellfleet

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 412

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 246

Click for real time:

Groundwater level data near NE Hwy 97 along northern county line (17.5 mi. north of North Platte)

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: $0.3141 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $16,696,339

Total local government property taxes levied: $90,213,865

Total countywide taxable valuation: $5,315,423,416

Click here for all levy rates in Lincoln 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: 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

Lincoln County History

Number of Registered Historic Places:11

Year Authorized: 1866

Year Organized: 1866

Etymology: Abraham Lincoln (16th U.S. president)

     Only about one-fourth of the original Lincoln County still exists in its present-day boundaries. In 1860, the Legislature established Shorter County, whose territory ranged from the Kansas border up to just south of North Platte. In 1866, the Legislature formally organized and renamed the county to Lincoln County, after the recently assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. In 1871, the Legislature drastically re-drew the county’s borders to its present-day boundaries; only the northwest portion of the county’s previous iteration was included into the familiar west-central square we know today.

     Although numerous travelers passed through and homesteaded the territory that would become Lincoln County, the land was originally inhabited by several Native Americans tribes. In fact, it was the ongoing conflict between the Cheyenne and Sioux tribes that drew the attention of the U.S. Army, who deployed troops throughout the Platte River valley to deter tribal skirmishes and protect settlers. Fort McPherson, built strategically near the confluence of the North and South Platte rivers, was the launching point for several military campaigns during the Indian Wars. After the U.S. Army displaced the tribes and consigned them to reservations, the soldiers abandoned the post. However, the fort’s presence helped support a nearby community that would eventually become the county seat: North Platte.

     The railroad is an important historical influence in many Nebraska counties, but nowhere more so than in Lincoln County. Bailey Yard, the world’s largest railroad classification yard, covers over 2,800 acres in north-central Lincoln County and includes more than 200 separate tracks and 985 switches. An estimated 14,000 railroads cars pass through Bailey Yard every day.

     Today, Lincoln County retains its proud agriculture heritage. It is only one of three Nebraska counties with at least 500 cattle producers and 300 crop producers.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number: 15

Time Zone: Central

Number of Veterans: 2,647

Zoned County: Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 74

Election Data

General Election Turnout (2022): 51.86%

Total Registered Voters (2020): 24,270

Number of Precincts (2020): 24

Number of Election Day Polling Places (2020): 20

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.) (2020): 128.21 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: Middle Republican NRD, Twin Platte NRD

State Lands (acres): Birdwood Lake WMA (33), Box Elder Canyon WMA (11), Brady Rest Area EB (10.9), Brady Rest Area WB (55.9), Buffalo Bill Ranch SRA (233), Cedar Valley WMA (880), Chester Island WMA (93.86), East Sutherland WMA (34.73), Hansen Memorial Reserve WMA (80), Hershey WMA (133.18), East Hershey WMA (39.84), Fremont Slough WMA (41.04), Jeffrey Lake WMA (4.60), Maloney Reservoir SRA (62.30), Muskrat Run WMA (223), North River WMA (681.13), Pawnee Slough WMA (70), Pawnee Lake SRA (1,268.35), Pawnee Lake WMA (669.15), Platte WMA (241.64), Sutherland Rest Area EB (16.2), Sutherland Rest Area WB (11.4), Wapiti WMA (1,920), Wellfleet WMA (62.57), West Brady WMA (15.38), West Gothenburg WMA (51.17), West Central Research, Extension and Education Center (1,848), West Hershey WMA (21.74), West Maxwell WMA (22.71), West Sutherland Reservoir SRA (105)

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)