Perkins County

General

Population: 2,858
Land area (sq. mi.): 883.31
Population per square mile: 3.2

Race and Age

Race

White: 91.7%
African American: 0.3%
American Indian: 0.1%
Asian: 0.1%
Hispanic: 5.1%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.1%
Two or More Races: 2.5%

Age

0-17: 23.9%
18-64: 51.8%
65+: 24.3%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $87,847
% of Population in Poverty: 10.0%
# of Housing Units: 1,345
Owner-occupied rate: 79.5%
Median home price: $139,850

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 45.6%

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: 1.5% (as of September 2022)

County Employment Website: https://co.perkins.ne.us/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher: 89.4%

School Districts: Hayes Center Public Schools, Ogallala Public Schools, Perkins County Schools, Paxton Consolidated Schools, South Platte Public Schools, Wallace Public School District 65 R

Bachelor's degree or higher: 26.5%

Community College Service Area: Mid-Plains Community College

Countywide child care capacity: 6 providers; 97 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.

Perkins County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $293,317,000

Cattle Producers: 99

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.): $21/acre

Crop Producers: 175

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.): $52/acre
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.): $192/acre

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Aurora Cooperative, FVC, Hi Line Co-op

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

Electricity Providers: City of Grant, Highline Electric Association, Midwest Electric Member Corp., Nebraska PPD

Rail-served Communities: Brandon, Elsie, Grant, Madrid, Venango

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 1,118

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 0

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: $0.3093 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $3,675,251

Total local government property taxes levied: $14,231,035

Total countywide taxable valuation: $1,188,438,500

Click here for all levy rates in Perkins 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)
Committees: Banking Commerce and Insurance, Natural Resources, Committee on Committees, Legislative Performance Audit, Statewide Tourism And Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability (LB406)

Map and statistics for Legislative District 42

State Senator: Teresa J. Ibach (District 44)
Committees: Agriculture, Business and Labor, Judiciary, Nebraska Retirement Systems, Rules, Building Maintenance, Legislature's Planning Committee

Map and statistics for Legislative District 44

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Perkins County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 4

Year Authorized: 1887

Year Organized: 1887

Etymology: Charles Perkins (President of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad)

For many years, Perkins County was part of Keith County to the north. But distinct differences in the topography of the two areas, combined with the sheer size of Keith County, led to the division of the areas in 1887 and two separate counties.

The lands north of the Platte River were classified as Sandhills, conducive to cattle ranching. South the river were the High Plains, which were better suited for farming. Those settlers who farmed south of the Platte River petitioned Keith County for the establishment of their own county in 1887. That November an election was held and the proposal carried.

There are two versions of how the county was named. The first claims it was named after Charles E. Perkins, who was president of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. The local version is that the county was named after Joseph Perkins, a former resident of Grant.

The first order of business for the new county was to establish a county seat. Knowing the financial benefits associated with being the county seat, the townsites of Grant, Madrid and Lisbon competed for the honor. After three elections, considerably more votes were cast than there were inhabitants, and following a legal challenge, the District Court ruled in favor of Grant in October 1988.

Grant had been established two years earlier. It began with a store and a newspaper. On July 4 of the following year, a major celebration took place when a Chicago, Burlington and Quincy train pulled into Grant for the first time. With the coming of the railroad came a steady influx of settlers. By the fall of 1887, Grant boasted three banks and many additional businesses.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Perkins County had no permanent courthouse. In 1901 the county's offices were housed in an old bank building. The offices would remain in this building until 1927, when the present three-story, stone courthouse was built.

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Local Highlights

License Plate Number: 74

Time Zone: Mountain

Number of Veterans: 167

Zoned County: Yes

County Hospital: Perkins County Hospital

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 11

Election Data

Voter Turnout (2022): 60.17%

Number of Registered Voters (2020): 1,894

Number of Precincts (2020): 3

Number of Election Day Polling Places (2020): 1

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.) (2020): 883.31 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource District: Upper Republican NRD

State Lands (acres): Henry J. Stumpf International Wheat Center (640)

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)