Thurston County

General

Population:  6,620
Land area (sq. mi.):  393.58
Population per square mile:  17.2

Race and Age

Race  2020

White:  36.1%
African American:  0.4%
American Indian:  57.5%
Asian:  0.1%
Hispanic:  3.8%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.1%
Two or More Races:  1.8%

Age  2020

0-17:  36.0%
18-64:  51.9%
65+:  12.0%

Households  2020

Total households:  380  2020
With one child:  590  2022
With 2+ children:  970  2022
With seniors (65+):  440  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $56,714  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  19.7%  2022
# of Housing Units:  2,283  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  13
Owner-occupied rate:  62.8%  2020
Median home price:  $107,770  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  19.0%  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:  2.6%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://thurstoncountynebraska.us/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher:  89.5%  2020

School Districts:  Emerson-Hubbard Public Schools, Homer Community Schools, Pender Public Schools, Umo N Ho N Nation Public Schools, Wakefield Public Schools, Walthill Public Schools, Winnebago Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  18.9%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Northeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  9 providers; 483 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.

Thurston County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $555,191,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $27,990,026  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $95,748,000  2021

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $190,222,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $12,585,000  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 (bushel capacity):

• Pender: Pender Grain Elevator (918,741)
• Thurston: Pender Grain Elevator (2,171,807)
• Walthill: Mid Plains Grain (capacity unknown)
• (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:  18.49 main, 4.46 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Rosalie, Walthill, Winnebago

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

Cattle Producers:  69

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

Crop Producers:  48

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $275/acre  2024

Dairy Producers:  1

Electricity Providers:  Burt County PPD, City of Emerson, City of Pender, Cuming County PPD, Nebraska PPD, Northeast Power, Village of Walthill

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

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  158  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  0.40  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  13  2024

Click for real time:

Streamflow data on South Omaha Creek at Walthill

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:  $0.3703 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $4,249,658

Total local government property taxes levied:  $17,175,799

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $1,147,472,427

Federal PILT payment to Thurston County (FY2024):  $1,486 regarding 444 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Thurston 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-Elect: Glen Meyer

State Senator: Joni Albrecht (District 17)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Education (vice chairperson)
• Revenue

Select Committees:

• Committee on Committees (chairperson)

Special Committees: 

• State-Tribal Relations

Map and statistics for Legislative District 17

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Thurston County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 5

Year Authorized: 1889

Year Organized: 1889

Etymology: John Thurston (U.S. senator)

Almost a decade before Nebraska became a state, the federal government established a reservation for the Omaha Indian tribe in what today is Thurston County, as well as small portions of Dixon, Burt and Cuming Counties. Eventually the northern half of the reservation was purchased from the Omahas for use as a reservation for the Winnebago tribe. The two reservations are still in existence today and cover the entire Thurston County area.

The county's boundaries were established in 1855 by the Territorial Legislature. For a time the area was referred to as Blackbird County, in honor of Omaha Indian Chief Blackbird. When legislators attempted to formally name the county Blackbird in 1887, Gov. John Thayer vetoed the proposal. Two years later the Legislature adopted an act establishing the county's present boundaries and officially naming it after U.S. Sen. John M. Thurston of Nebraska.

There is an interesting footnote regarding Chief Blackbird. One of his favorite campsites was located on a hill overlooking the Missouri River. According to Indian legend, when Chief Blackbird died his followers seated him on his horse and buried him at this site.

Federal government officials opened a portion of the Omaha Reservation to white settlers in 1884. The following year the area's first village was established. Buildings from the hamlet of Athens were moved to what is now Pender, the county seat, about two miles to the northwest.

With the passage of the railroads through Thurston County in the early 1900s, additional communities began to be established. One of those communities is Emerson, located in the far northwest corner of the county. Emerson is unique in that it is actually Nebraska's only tri-county community, with sections actually platted in Thurston, Dixon and Dakota counties. Visitors who attempt to locate the exact spot where than can stand and be in all three counties have a difficult time, however, since it is located on Main Street, which is also a state highway.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  55

Time Zone:  Central

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of Veterans:  323  2023

Number of County-Owned Dams:  0

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  55.41%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  3,810  2024

Number of Precincts:  6  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  6  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  66.10 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: Lower Elkhorn NRD, Papio-Missouri River NRD

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 113

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)