- General Info
- Demographics
- Education and Employment
- Valuation and Taxes Levied
- State Senators
- History
- County Programs
- Other Information
Morrill County Seat (pop.): Bridgeport (1,454)
Cities, Towns, and Villages (pop.): Bayard (1,140), Broadwater (95)
Courthouse Address and Hours:
606 L Street
Bridgeport, Nebraska 69336
M-Th 7:30 am - 5:00 pm & 7:30 am - 11:00 am Friday
County Board Chairperson: Jeff Metz
Complete list of county board members
County Board Meetings: 2nd & 4th Tuesday
View the County's Government Maps
NACO District: Panhandle
District President: Charlie Knapper, Scotts Bluff County Commissioner
District Vice President: Monty Stoddard, Banner County Treasurer
District Secretary: Kelly Sides, Scotts Bluff County Clerk
District Treasurer: Beth Fiegenschuh, Cheyenne County Clerk
NACO Board Representatives: Charlie Knapper, Scotts Bluff County Commissioner
General
Population: 4,574
Land area (sq. mi.): 1,424.02
Population per square mile: 3.2
Race
White: 80.3%
African American: 0.7%
American Indian: 2.1%
Asian: 0.7%
Hispanic: 16.2%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
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: 2,268
Owner-occupied rate: 75.2%
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%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.1%
School Districts: Alliance Public Schools, Banner County Public Schools, Bayard Public Schools, Bridgeport Public Schools, Garden County Schools, Leyton Public Schools, Scottsbluff Public Schools
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
Ag. Producers (Cattle): 204
Ag. Producers (Crop): 241
Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Crossroads Cooperative, Panhandle Coop System, WESTCO
Local Grain Market: Click for today's grain prices in Morrill County
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
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
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)
Committees: Appropriations
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 Founded: 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.
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License Plate Number: 64
Time Zone: Mountain
Zoned County: Yes
Number of Veterans: 318
Voter Turnout (2022): 67.52%
Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: Panhandle
Number of County-Owned Bridges: 43
Number of County-Owned Dams: 1
County Hospital: Morrill County Community Hospital
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)