Morrill County

General

Population: 4,555
Land area (sq. mi.): 1,424.02
Population per square mile: 3.2

Race and Age

Race

White: 81.7%
African American: 0.4%
American Indian: 0.8%
Asian: 0.4%
Hispanic: 14.2%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 2.1%

Age

0-17: 22.9%
18-64: 55.0%
65+: 22.1%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $65,524
% of Population in Poverty: 12.5%
# of Housing Units: 2,272
Owner-occupied rate: 72.1%
Median home price: $121,890

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 54.3%

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: 1.8% (as of September 2022)

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

High school graduate or higher: 89.4%

School Districts: Alliance Public Schools, Banner County Public Schools, Bayard Public Schools, Bridgeport Public Schools, Garden County Schools, Leyton Public Schools, Scottsbluff Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.1%

Community College Service Area: Western Community College

Countywide child care capacity: 7 providers; 117 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.

Morrill County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $441,137,000

Cattle Producers: 204

Crop Producers: 241

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.): $165/acre
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.): $261/acre

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Crossroads Cooperative, Panhandle Coop System, WESTCO

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

Farmers Market: Bridgeport Farmers Market (June - October, Wednesdays 4 - 7 p.m.)

Oil Wells Producing (barrels of oil/yr): 8 wells (30,318 barrels)

Electricity Providers: Chimney Rock PPD, City of Alliance, City of Bayard, City of Bridgeport Utilities, High West Energy, Nebraska PPD, PREMA, Wheat Belt PPD

Rail-served Communities: Angora, Bayard, Bonner, Broadwater, Bridgeport

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 1,.385

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 93

Click for real time:

Groundwater level data at US Hwy 385 rest area (13 mi. north of Bridgeport)

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: $0.3755 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $4,322,198

Total local government property taxes levied: $19,424,863

Total countywide taxable valuation: $1,150,923,814

Federal PILT payment to Morrill County (FY2022): $769 regarding 262 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Morrill 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: Steve Erdman (District 47)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Appropriations

Select Committees:

• Rules (chairperson)
• Committee on Committees

Map and statistics for Legislative District 47

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Morrill County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 9

Year Authorized: 1908

Year Organized: 1908

Etymology: Charles Morrill (President of the Lincoln Land Company)

Morrill County is among the handful of Nebraska counties that was organized after the turn of the 20th century. For many years this area in the central Nebraska Panhandle was part of a larger Cheyenne County. But in 1907 the first steps were taken to organize Morrill County when the citizens along the northern boundary of Cheyenne County petitioned the Board of Commissioners to approve a separation.

A special election was called for Nov. 3, 1908, and the proposal was approved by the local electorate. Nine days later a proclamation officially creating Morrill County was signed by Gov. George L. Sheldon. The county was named after Charles H. Morrill, who was president of the Lincoln Land Company.

Morrill County is the home of many prominent Nebraska landmarks. Chimney Rock, Courthouse Rock and Jail Rock, and the Mud Springs pony express, stage coach and telegraph station were all welcome sights to the weary travelers who in the mid 1800s followed the Mormon Trail, Oregon Trail and Deadwood Trail. Today, these landmarks are popular tourist attractions.

Like many other counties, the 1904 passage of Kinkaid Act attracted many new settlers to the area. These settlers found the high table lands bordering the North Platte River Valley ideal for raising grain. The excellent meadows in the northern part of the county were excellent for cattle ranching.

In the years that immediately preceded the official organization of Morrill County, the railroads began pushing through the area. The first line was built by the Burlington Railroad in 1889 from Alliance to Guernsey, Wyo. In 1917 the Union Pacific Railroad built its line from North Platte to Gering, dissecting the entire county. Both rail lines resulted in the numerous townsites developing and prospering.

One of these townsites to benefit from the railroad was Bridgeport, the county seat, which was established in 1900.

For the first time since being organized in 1908, Morrill County will now own its own fairgrounds. For decades, Morrill County was the only county in Nebraska which leased fairgrounds from a private organization. However, that changed in May of 2023 when the county successfully purchased 7 acres of land and buildings from the Morrill County Rodeo, Farm and Ranch Association. Notably, the purchase did not cost Morrill County taxpayers any local tax money. Rather, the county used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to complete the purchase instead of raising their mill levy. Morrill County has now set its sights on renovating the property, including the planned construction of a $2 million indoor, climate-controlled exhibit hall, complete with a kitchen. Once built, the exhibit hall will host not only the county fair, but potentially farm and equipment expos, FFA events, 4-H gatherings, and even private events, such as weddings or graduation parties. Morrill County officials decided against raising the levy to fund the renovations, and will instead rely upon grants and private donations. Senator Steven Erdman (District 47) has helped champion fundraising efforts, which have already raised $1.2 million of the $2 million needed. The county plans to begin construction in August of 2024 with a target completion date of summer 2025, just in time for the county fair. If you’d like to donate to the Morrill County fairgrounds renovation project, please follow this link.

Local Highlights

License Plate Number: 64

Time Zone: Mountain

Zoned County: Yes

Number of Veterans: 318

County Hospital: Morrill County Community Hospital

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 43

Number of County-Owned Dams: 1

Election Data

General Election Turnout (2022): 67.52%

Total Registered Voters (2020): 3,151

Number of Precincts (2020): 9

Number of Election Day Polling Places (2020): All Voting by Mail

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: North Platte NRD

State Lands (acres): Arnold Trupp WMA (158), Bridgeport SRA (326.39), Chet and Jane Fleisbach WMA (422.06)

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)