Pierce County

General

Population: 7,313
Land area (sq. mi.): 573.25
Population per square mile: 12.8

Race

White: 95.5%
African American: 0.5%
American Indian: 0.6%
Asian: 0.4%
Hispanic: 2.4%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%

Age

0-17: 25.7%
18-64: 54.4%
65+: 19.9%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $68,647
% of Population in Poverty: 8.2%
# of Housing Units: 3,129
Owner-occupied rate: 75.2%
Median home price: $158,860

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 70.6%

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: 1.6% (as of September 2022)

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

High school graduate or higher: 94.8%

Bachelor's degree or higher: 24.5%

School Districts: Battle Creek Public Schools, Elkhorn Valley Schools, Neligh-Oakdale Public Schools, Norfolk Public Schools, Pierce Public Schools, Plainview Public Schools, Randolph Public Schools, Wausa Public Schools

Countywide child care capacity: 24 providers; 308 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.

Pierce County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $347,491,000

Ag. Producers (Cattle): 260

Ag. Producers (Crop): 251

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Farmers Pride

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

Electricity Providers: Cedar-Knox PPD, City of Pierce, City of Randolph, Elkhorn Rural PPD, Nebraska PPD, North Central PPD, Northeast Power

Rail-served Communities: McLean, Osmond, Plainview

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: $0.2147 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $4,335,774

Total local government property taxes levied: $25,756,253

Total countywide taxable valuation: $2,019,143,709

Click here for all levy rates in Pierce 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: Rob Dover (District 19)
Committees: Appropriations, Statewide Tourism And Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability (LB406)

Map and statistics for Legislative District 19

State Senator: Barry DeKay (District 40)
Committees: Judiciary, Transportation and Telecommunications, State-Tribal Relations, Justice Reinvestment Oversight (LB605), Statewide Tourism And Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability (LB406)

Map and statistics for Legislative District 40

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Pierce County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 5

Year Founded: 1859

Etymology: Franklin Pierce (14th U.S. president)

Pierce County was created in 1859 through an act of the Territorial Legislature. It was named in honor of Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States.

The Ponca Indians, who lived along the Niobrara River, once used this area as a hunting and fishing ground. The Poncas were a friendly tribe and coexisted well with the first white settlers. But in 1876 the federal government ordered the Poncas to relocate to Oklahoma. White settlers would later tell of the Poncas' tearful departure when they bid them farewell. Some years later, after becoming disheartened with Oklahoma, some of the Poncas would return to Nebraska and the Niobrara River. En route, they passed through Pierce County and called on the white settlers.

The settlement of Willow Creek, the forerunner to Pierce, was established in 1870. The first house was a slab and sod structure that would serve as a post office, hotel and courthouse. When the county's first election was held on July 26 of that year, this settlement would be designated as the county seat and the name changed to Pierce.

Pierce County residents immediately began building a courthouse. Using tax dollars that had been collected, the county built a large, two-story frame building for a cost of $4,000. In 1890 a brick courthouse and jail costing $25,000 replaced the original structure. This building would serve the county until the 1970s, when it became obvious to local residents that a larger, more modern courthouse was needed.

Construction on the present courthouse began in 1974. The first wing, built directly west of the 1890 courthouse, was occupied a year later. In 1977 the original courthouse was demolished and construction began on the second wing, which would complete the courthouse two years later.

The entire cost of the new courthouse was financed and paid for through revenue sharing funds and courthouse and jail sinking funds. Upon completion, the courthouse was completely paid for without new local taxation.

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License Plate Number: 40

Time Zone: Central

Zoned County: Yes

Number of Veterans: 460

Voter Turnout (2022): 59.16%

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

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 139

State Lands (acres): Willow Creek SRA (1,650)

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)