Thayer County

General

Population:  4,913
Land area (sq. mi.):  573.81
Population per square mile:  8.8

Race and Age

Race  2020

White:  94.7%
African American:  0.2%
American Indian:  0.2%
Asian:  0.2%
Hispanic:  2.7%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.0%
Two or More Races:  1.8%

Age  2020

0-17:  22.9%
18-64:  52.1%
65+:  25.0%

Households

Total households:  2,143  2020
With one child:  230  2022
With 2+ children:  310  2022
With seniors (65+):  700  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $66,329  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  11.4%  2022
# of Housing Units:  2,498  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  3
Owner-occupied rate:  79.5%  2020
Median home price:  $108,320  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  45.6%  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:  1.9%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://thayercountyne.gov/current-job-openings/

High school graduate or higher:  92.8%  2020

School Districts:  Bruning-Davenport Unified System, Deshler Public Schools, Fairbury Public Schools, Meridian Public Schools, Shickley Public Schools, Superior Public Schools, Thayer Central Community Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  20.9%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Southeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  14 providers; 302 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.

Thayer County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $475,894,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $43,275,410  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $92,945,000  2021

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $336,648,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $8,463,000  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):

• Belvidere: Bruning Grain (523,800)
• Bruning: Bruning Grain (4,091,067)
• Byron: Aurora (858,000)
• Carleton: Cargill (8,230,000)
• Chester: AGP (2,533,000)
• Hebron: Norder Supply (1,338,511)
• Hubbell: Aurora (1,916,000)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

Railroad Miles:  51.00 main, 8.04 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Alexandria, Belvidere, Carleton, Davenport

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

Cattle Producers:  157

Crop Producers:  206

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $145/acre  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $285/acre  2024

Farmers Market:  Hebron Farmers Market (July - September, Saturdays 7:00 a.m. - sellout)

Electricity Providers:  City of Deshler, City of Fairbury, City of Hebron, City of Hubbell, Norris PPD, South Central PPD, Village of Chester, Village of Davenport

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  1,798  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  3.13  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  157  2024

Click for real time:

Streamflow data on the Little Blue River at County Line near Deshler

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:  $0.1550 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $3,261,388

Total local government property taxes levied:  $21,071,463

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $2,104,114,379

Click here for all levy rates in Thayer 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: Tom Brandt (District 32)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Natural Resources
• Transportation and Telecommunications

Map and statistics for Legislative District 32

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Thayer County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 2

Year Authorized: 1871

Year Organized: 1871

Etymology: John Thayer (Nebraska's 7th governor)

The area that is known today as Thayer County was first established by the Territorial Legislature in 1856. It would be another 14 years before it would become known as Thayer County, however.

Legislators originally designated the area as Jefferson County, while the present Jefferson County, neighboring to the east, was designated as Jones County. In 1867, when Nebraska was admitted to the Union, Jefferson and Jones Counties were united to become one, under the Jefferson name. Then in 1870 the Legislature once again separated the two. What was originally called Jones took the name Jefferson and retained the old county records. The initial Jefferson became known as Thayer, in honor of Gen. John Milton Thayer, a U.S. senator from Nebraska and later its governor.

The early development of the area was attributed to the great trail period. Nearly 2½ decades before it became Thayer County, the area was crossed by the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express Route. This brought thousands of immigrants through the area and caused the Indians to fear the white man was taking over their cherished hunting grounds. A number of fierce raids and battles took place between 1864 and 1867.

An 1869 circular promoting the colonization of this area resulted in scores of settlers rushing in to file for homesteads. The circular falsely claimed, however, that factories, mills, railroads and flourishing towns awaited for them. None of these conditions actually existed.

When the St. Joseph and Western Railroad built through northern Thayer County in 1872 and the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad crossed the southern portion of the county, new growth resulted. Hebron, first surveyed three years earlier, was named the county seat.

Hardships have not been uncommon in this area. Grasshoppers, drought, prairie fires and blizzards hampered early settlers. But one of the most devastating hardships occurred in 1953 when a tornado tore through Hebron, damaging everything in its path, including more than $70,000 damage to the courthouse.

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Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  32

Time Zone:  Central

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of Veterans:  318  2023

County Hospital:  Thayer County Health Services

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  173

Number of County-Owned Dams:  1

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  81.33%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  3,593  2024

Number of Precincts:  4  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  4  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  191.27 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource District: Little Blue NRD

State Lands (acres): Dry Sandy WMA (201.47), Father Hupp WMA (160), Little Blue WMA (303.50), Little Blue East WMA (161.35), Meridian WMA (400), Prairie Marsh WMA (73.16)

Federal Lands (acres): Kenesaw WPA (231), Weseman WPA (163)

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)