Stanton County

General

Population: 5,842
Land area (sq. mi.): 427.61
Population per square mile: 13.7

Race and Age

Race

White: 89.3%
African American: 0.4%
American Indian: 0.5%
Asian: 0.3%
Hispanic: 6.0%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.1%
Two or More Races: 3.3%

Age

0-17: 24.5%
18-64: 56.3%
65+: 19.2%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $61,286
% of Population in Poverty: 6.9%
# of Housing Units: 2,460
Owner-occupied rate: 80.6%
Median home price: $152,600

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 77.2%

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: 1.7% (as of September 2022)

County Employment Website: https://www.adamscounty.org/employment

High school graduate or higher: 95.2%

School Districts: Clarkson Public Schools, Howells-Dodge Consolidated Schools, Leigh Community Schools, Madison Public Schools, Norfolk Public Schools, Stanton Community Schools, Winside Public Schools, Wisner-Pilger Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher: 19.8%

Community College Service Area: Northeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity: 3 providers; 40 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.

County Levy and Taxation Laws

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $326,998,000

Cattle Producers: 220

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.): $72/acre

Crop Producers: 104

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.): $237/acre
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.): $279/acre

Dairy Producers: 2

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Farmers Cooperative, Farmers Pride, Farmers Union Co-op Supply

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

Electricity Providers: Cuming County PPD, Elkhorn Rural PPD, Northeast Power, Stanton County PPD

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 546

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 41

Click for real time:

Streamflow data on the Elkhorn River at Pilger

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: $0.2895 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $4,724,637

Total local government property taxes levied: $22,789,605

Total countywide taxable valuation: $1,362,121,100

Click here for all levy rates in Stanton 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: Ben Hansen (District 16)
Committees: Agriculture, Business and Labor, Government, Health and Human Services, Rules, Legislative Mental Health Care Capacity Strategic Planning Committee

Map and statistics for Legislative District 16

State Senator: Mike Moser (District 22)
Committees: Natural Resources, Transportation and Telecommunications, Committee on Committees

Map and statistics for Legislative District 22

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Stanton County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 1

Year Authorized: 1856

Year Organized: 1867

Etymology: Edwin Stanton (U.S. secretary of war)

In 1856 the Territorial Legislature defined boundaries for what was to be called Izard County, in honor of Mark W. Izard who was Nebraska's territorial governor at the time. The county would remain unorganized for some time and in 1862 the county boundaries would be redefined. The legislative act which redefined the county's boundaries also changed the county's name to Stanton, after Edward M. Stanton, who served as Secretary of War under President Abraham Lincoln.

Although Stanton County was officially created in 1862, it would not be formally organized until five years later when the first local election was conducted.

Early settlers in the county were of German heritage. As word spread of quality land being available for low prices, the county's population steadily increased along the Elkhorn River and the rolling hills that surround it. These settlers were determined to make a living off the land and soon large areas within the county's boundaries had been cultivated.

The first large-scale attempt at farming and livestock production came in 1867, when an entire township was purchased. It later became known as Township Farm and is credited with the early development of the county's agricultural base.

This population increase led to the need of a courthouse. After some controversy about where a county seat should be located, county commissioners directed that a temporary courthouse be built in the townsite of Stantonville, which was later shortened to Stanton. In May 1871 a contract was let and a 350-square-foot frame building was erected. Because of its small size, this first courthouse would be occupied only by the office of the county clerk.

In 1874 additional room was needed for the county to conduct its business. Efforts were begun to build a new courthouse, which opened that same year. This building would be used until 1976, when county officials moved in the present courthouse.

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Local Highlights

License Plate Number: 53

Time Zone: Central

Number of Veterans: 336

Zoned County: Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 185

Number of County-Owned Dams: 3

Election Data

General Election Turnout (2022): 66.89%

Total Registered Voters (2020): 3,899

Number of Precincts (2020): 15

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

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource District: Lower Elkhorn NRD

State Lands (acres): Red Fox WMA (373.71), Wood Duck WMA (1,832.84)

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)