Washington County

General

Population:  20,865
Land area (sq. mi.):  389.96
Population per square mile:  53.5

Race and Age

Race  2020

White: 92.8%
African American: 0.3%
American Indian: 0.1%
Asian: 0.5%
Hispanic: 3.0%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 3.1%

Age  2020

0-17: 23.9%
18-64: 57.6%
65+: 18.5%

Households

Total households:  8,115  2020
With one child:  990  2022
With 2+ children:  1,470  2022
With seniors (65+):  2,250  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $69,798  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  7.1%  2022
# of Housing Units:  8,557  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  60
Owner-occupied rate:  80.2%  2020
Median home price:  $308,700  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  19.4%  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:  2.2%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://www.washingtoncountyne.gov/careers

High school graduate or higher:  95.5%  2020

School Districts:  Arlington Public Schools, Bennington Public Schools, Blair Community Schools, Fort Calhoun Community Schools, Logan View Public Schools, Tekamah-Herman Community Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  32.1%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Metropolitan Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  29 providers; 1,208 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.

Washington County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $1,688,925,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $455,956,078  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $625,308,000  2021

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $182,733,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $9,308,000  2022

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

Ethanol Plants (annual production capacity):  Cargill (210 million gallons)

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity):

• Blair: Mathiesen (1,263,690), Norag (417,000), Tyson (979,761)
• (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:  25.02 main, 18.16 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Arlington, Blair, Kennard

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

Cattle Producers:  159

Crop Producers:  86

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $235/acre  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $283/acre  2024

Dairy Producers:  1

Electricity Providers:  Burt County PPD, Omaha 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 Washington County residents in other counties or states, but it excludes wages earned in Washington 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 Washington County for their production in other counties or states, but the figures exclude receipts reported for production in Washington County by producers operating principally in other counties or states.

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  182  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  0.47  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  86  2024

Click for real time:

Streamflow data on Big Papillion Creek near Blair

Streamflow data on Big Papillion Creek near Kennard

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:  $0.3111 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $13,571,983

Total local government property taxes levied:  $67,311,497

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $4,363,093,451

Click here for all levy rates in Washington 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)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Health and Human Services
• Agriculture
• Business and Labor

Select Committees:

• Rules

Map and statistics for Legislative District 16

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Washington County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 15

Year Authorized: 1854

Year Organized: 1855

Etymology: George Washington (1st U.S. president)

Like many of those counties bordering the Missouri River, Washington County's history dates back to the early 19th century. On Aug. 3, 1804, Merriwether Lewis and William Clark held council with six Indian chiefs on the western banks of the Missouri River. The site became known as "Council Bluffs." At the suggestion of Lewis and Clark, this same site later became Fort Atkinson in 1819.

Fort Atkinson, the first Union military post in Nebraska, was intended to bring peace with the Indians and discourage British encroachment on fur trading with Canada. It was once the largest military post of its day, as troops stationed there numbered over 1,100. The fort served the Midwest until 1827, when it was abandoned. Eventually the community of Fort Calhoun was established on the site.

Washington County's first boundaries were established by the Territorial Legislature on Feb. 22, 1855, the anniversary of President George Washington's birth. Thus, the county was named in his honor. Fort Calhoun was selected as the county seat. When the boundaries were redefined three years later, the county seat was moved to DeSoto. In 1869, by a popular vote, Blair was selected as the county seat. The present courthouse was completed 20 years later at a cost of about $50,000. Several additions have been made to the courthouse over the years.

Washington County was originally slated to be the home of Nebraska's State Capitol. In 1855 the town of Fontanelle, located in the western section of the county and named after Omaha Indian Chief Logan Fontanelle, was platted expressly for this purpose. It also was the first home of Nebraska University. Plans for both eventually stalled and both facilities ended up being built in Lincoln.

Just as it does today, farming played a key role in the early years. The Mormons farmed in the south part of the area in 1847 and 1848 to supply food for their brethren who were traveling to Utah. It was reported that soldiers stationed at Fort Atkinson once grew 20,000 bushel of corn.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  29

Time Zone:  Central

Number of Veterans:  1,304  2024

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  106

Number of County-Owned Dams:  9

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  82.37%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  15,532  2024

Number of Precincts:  15  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  13  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  30.25 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: Tri-County

Natural Resource District: Papio-Missouri River NRD

State Lands (acres): Fort Atkinson State Historical Park (154.36)

Federal Lands (acres): Boyer Chute NWF (3,996.01), Desoto NWF (7,143.52), Sandy Point Bend (252)

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)