Rock County

General

Population:  1,262
Land area (sq. mi.):  1,008.29
Population per square mile:  1.3

Race

Race  2020

White: 96.6%
African American: 0.2%
American Indian: 0.1%
Asian: 0.0%
Hispanic: 1.6%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 1.3%

Age  2020

0-17: 22.8%
18-64: 48.7%
65+: 28.6%

Households

Total households:  7,400  2020
With one child:  1,300  2022
With 2+ children:  1,760  2022
With seniors (65+):  1,420  2022

Socioeconomics

Median household income:  $57,500  2023
% of Population in Poverty:  14.1%  2023
# of Housing Units:  795  2020
Owner-occupied rate:  78.9%  2020
Median home price:  $134,570  Q4 2024
2024 building permits for detached single family homes:  3
2024 building permits for non-detached housing units:  0 (townhouse, duplex, or apt. unit)

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  13.7%  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%  March 2025

County Employment Website:  https://rockcountyne.gov/empoyment/

High school graduate or higher:  96.6%  2020

School Districts:  Ainsworth Community Schools, Rock County Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  29.7%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Northeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  3 providers; 30 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.

Rock County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $128,135,000  2023

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $22,331,911  2022

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $23,468,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $133,744,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $8,657,000  2022

• For components of nonfarm small business receipts, nonfarm wage income, and farm & ranch commodity sales and operations receipts, see "Notes" below.

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity):

• East of Long Pine (within Rock County): Pride Enterprises (757,000)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

Cattle Producers:  157

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $32/acre  2024

Crop Producers:  50

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $49/acre  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $196/acre  2024

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

Farmers Market:  Bassett Farmers Market (July - October, Saturdays 8:00 AM  - 12:00 PM)

Electricity Providers:  KBR Rural PPD, Nebraska PPD

Irrigation and Drinking Water

Rural Irrigation Wells:  718  2024

Rural Livestock Wells:  396  2024

Rural Commercial/Industrial Wells:  2  2024

Rural Drinking Water Wells:  93  2024

Drinking Water Utility Connections:  397 Residential; 44 Commercial; 0 Industrial  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  29  2024

Click for real time:

Groundwater level data near S. Pine Ave. & 855th Rd. (23.5 mi. southwest of Bassett)

Notes

Rock County Economy

• Nonfarm small business receipts are reported by partnerships and sole proprietorships. They do not include receipts reported by cooperative associations.
• Nonfarm wage income is reported based upon the wage earner's residential address; therefore, it also includes wages earned by Rock County residents in other counties or states, but it excludes wages earned in Rock County by residents of other counties or states.
• Nonfarm wage income excludes wages earned by anyone claimed as a dependent.
• Farm and ranch commodity sales receipts and operations receipts are reported based upon the farm or ranch owner's principal county of operations; therefore, those figures also include receipts reported by producers operating principally in Rock County for their production in other counties or states, but the figures exclude receipts reported for production in Rock County by producers operating principally in other counties or states.

Irrigation and Drinking Water

• A rural irrigation well is any well intended for irrigating crops that, either on its own or as part of a set of commingled wells, is capable of pumping more than fifty (50) gallons of water per minute (gpm). Note that some rural commercial/industrial wells are also capable of pumping more than 50 gpm. In Nebraska, the owner of any well--or set of commingled wells--that is capable of pumping more than 50 gpm must register the well(s) with the state government and have a permit for the well(s) from the local natural resource district (NRD).
• Rural livestock wells and rural drinking water (also known as "domestic") wells are not allowed to pump more than 50 gpm unless permitted by the local NRD. Each rural drinking water well usually serves one single family home, though in rare cases a rural drinking water well serves multiple homes.
• Data on rural livestock wells and rural drinking water wells may be incomplete for wells drilled prior to September 9, 1993. State law does not require wells drilled prior to that date to be registered with the state government if the wells are not capable of pumping more than 50 gpm. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-735; see Laws 1993, LB 131, § 25.

Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), Nebraska Cooperative Council, Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, Nebraska Public Service Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of the Treasury (IRS), Warehouse and Commodity Management Division (USDA)

2023 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate:  $0.4228 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $3,024,746

Total local government property taxes levied:  $7,847,005

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $715,390,112

Federal PILT payment to Holt County (FY2024):  $268 regarding 80 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Rock 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: Tanya Storer(District 43)

Committees

• Judiciary
• Transportation and Telecommunications

Map and statistics for Legislative District 43

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Rock County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 3

Year Authorized: 1888

Year Organized: 1888

Etymology: Local geography (either Rock Creek or the rocky soil condition)

The area known today as Rock County was once attached to Holt County on east for administrative and judicial purposes. In 1883, the area would become part of the newly-created Brown County on the west. Immediately thereafter a movement took place to separate from Brown County and designate the area as a county itself. Voters approved the proposal in 1887 and the following year Rock County was officially organized.

There are two versions of how the county received its name. The first is that it was named after Rock Creek, which empties into the Niobrara River. The second is that it was named after the area's rocky soil conditions during those days. Either is possible, as a rock quarry which produced exceptionally fine building stone was located along the creek.

When it came time to select a county seat, five locations vied for the honor -- Bassett, Newport, Rock Center, Thurman and Tracy. Since none of the five received a majority vote, Bassett was named the temporary county seat. During a special election on Jan. 29, 1889, Bassett was given the honor permanently. This resulted in a bitter conflict between Newport and Bassett that eventually wound up in court.

At a special election on Nov. 8, 1889, a $5,000 bond was approved by Bassett voters to build a frame courthouse. When the courthouse was destroyed by fire 10 years later, the conflict between the two townsites resumed. Bassett quickly built another courthouse, which served the county until 1940. It was during that year, with the assistance of the Public Works Administration, and the current courthouse was built in Bassett.

When the area was first being settled, small farms and ranches were commonplace. Ranching remains the economic mainstay today, with the county being recognized as one of the top producers of wild hay in the state. With the development of center pivot irrigation systems, Rock County has also enjoyed a steady increase in corn production over the past 25 years.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  81

Time Zone:  Central

Number of Veterans:  63  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

County Hospital:  Rock County Hospital

County Library:  Rock County Public Library

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  10

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  79%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  1,073  2024

Number of Precincts:  1  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  1  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  1,001.69 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: North Central/Sandhills

Natural Resource Districts: Lower Loup NRD, Lower Niobrara NRD, Middle Niobrara NRD, Upper Elkhorn NRD

State Lands (acres): Barta Brothers Ranch (6,000), Peterson Lake WMA (140), Twin Lakes R.C. WMA (703.10)

Federal Lands (acres): John W. and Louise Seier NWR (2,400)

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. Election Assistance Commission, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)