Stanton County

General

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

Race and Age

Race  2020

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  2020

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

Households

Total households:  2,239  2020
With one child:  230  2022
With 2+ children:  360  2022
With seniors (65+):  500  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $58,387  2021
% of Population in Poverty: 8.2%  2022
# of Housing Units: 2,460  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  6
Owner-occupied rate: 80.6%  2020
Median home price: $204,670  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  77.2%  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:  1.7%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://stantoncounty.nebraska.gov/about/notices-0

High school graduate or higher:  95.2%  2020

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%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Northeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  3 providers; 42 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.

County Levy and Taxation Laws

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $445,478,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $40,592,045  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $122,164,000  2021

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $223,483,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $17,086,000  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):

• Pilger: Farmers Cooperative (1,603,630)
• Stanton: Farmers Union (1,197,123)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

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

Cattle Producers:  220

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $76/acre  2024

Crop Producers:  104

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $251/acre  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $321/acre  2024

Dairy Producers:  2

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

Notes

• 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 Stanton County residents in other counties or states, but it excludes wages earned in Stanton 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 Stanton County for their production in other counties or states, but the figures exclude receipts reported for production in Stanton County by producers operating principally in other counties or states.

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  548  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  1.28  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  41  2024

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 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:  $0.3010 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $5,340,666

Total local government property taxes levied:  $23,970,454

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $1,774,464,439

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:  375  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  185

Number of County-Owned Dams:  3

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  83.01%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  3,750  2024

Number of Precincts:  10  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  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. Election Assistance Commission, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)