Webster County

General

Population:  3,395
Land area (sq. mi.):  574.91
Population per square mile:  5.9

Race and Age

Race  2020

White: 91.6%
African American: 0.4%
American Indian: 0.4%
Asian: 0.3%
Hispanic: 4.4%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 2.9%

Age  2020

0-17: 22.7%
18-64: 54.7%
65+: 22.6%

Households

Total households:  1,454  2020
With one child:  160  2022
With 2+ children:  220  2022
With seniors (65+):  400  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $56,696  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  11.3%  2022
# of Housing Units:  1,788  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  0
Owner-occupied rate:  77.4%  2020
Median home price:  $111,070  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  85.1%  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, Education, and Child Care

Unemployment rate:  2.0%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://co.webster.ne.us/webpages/about/employment.html

High school graduate or higher:  94.9%  2020

School Districts:  Adams Central Public Schools, Blue Hill Public Schools, Red Cloud Community Schools, Silver Lake Public Schools, South Central Public Schools, Superior Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  22.4%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Central Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  4 providers; 178 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.

Webster County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $359,333,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $27,521,308  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $57,597,000  2021

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $409,211,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $10,326,000  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):

• Bladen: CHS (2,939,000)
• Cowles: AGP (782,000)
• Guide Rock: Ely's (559,361)
• Red Cloud: CPI (8,630,000)
• Rosemont: AGP (594,000)
• (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:  34.07 main, 4.57 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Blue Hill, Cowles, Guide Rock, Red Cloud

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

Cattle Producers:  187

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $41/acre  2024

Crop Producers:  112

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $120/acre  2024

Dairy Producers:  1

Electricity Providers:  City of Blue Hill, City of Red Cloud, South Central PPD, Southern PPD

Wind Turbines Operating (MW):  113 turbines (272,460 MW total)

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

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  916  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  1.59  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  82  2024

Click for real time:

Streamflow data on the Republican River at Guide Rock

Groundwater level data near Rd. K & Rd. 300 (3.5 mi. northwest of Inavale)

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:  $0.3238 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $3,882,736

Total local government property taxes levied:  $16,148,096

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $1,199,213,779

Federal PILT payment to Webster County (FY2022):  $3,911 regarding 1,168 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Webster 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: Dave Murman (District 38)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Education (chairperson)
• Revenue

Select Committees:

• Committee on Committees

Map and statistics for Legislative District 38

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Webster County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 36

Year Authorized: 1871

Year Organized: 1871

Etymology: Daniel Webster (U.S. senator)

The Territorial Legislature first established the boundaries of what is Webster County on Feb. 16, 1867. It would not be until four years later, however, that steps were taken to officially organize the county.

Webster County was attached to Jefferson County for a period of time. But in early 1871 the settlers in this area began meeting in dugouts to discuss what measures should be taken to petition for the separation of this area from Jefferson County and organize it as a new county. The initial meeting was held in the dugout of Silas Garber, said to be one of the first settlers in the area. As a consequence of this local effort, acting Gov. William H. James issued a proclamation on April 10 of that year calling for a special election to be conducted for the purpose of electing county officers and locating a county seat. The election was scheduled for nine days later.

Election day saw 42 votes cast. Among the county officers elected was Garber, who was selected to serve as judge. In addition, the site selected to serve as the county seat was located on Garber's claim. The area around Garber's homestead eventually became Red Cloud, the present county seat, and Garber himself would later be elected governor of Nebraska. Upon being organized, the county was officially named in honor of American statesman Daniel Webster.

The same year that the county was organized there were great fears of Indian attacks. Rumors persisted that Teton Sioux Chief Red Cloud, after whom the county seat was later named, was camped near the Garber stockade and accompanying him was a band of anywhere from 100 to more than 1,000 warriors. Following a period of confusion among the settlers, the rumor proved to be unfounded.

The year 1872 brought the first of real wave of immigrants to Webster County. Drawn by the Republican River and the fertile soil that could be found on both sides, these immigrants quickly began laying out homesteads and cultivating the land to plant crops. Webster County quickly began to prosper as a result of agriculture and continues to do so today.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Communities and Development

License Plate Number:  45

Time Zone:  Central

Number of Veterans:  196  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

County Hospital:  Webster County Community Hospital

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  149

Number of County-Owned Dams:  3

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  76.87%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  2,313  2024

Number of Precincts:  5  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  5  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  115.01 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: Lower Republican NRD, Little Blue NRD

State Lands (acres): Elm Creek WMA (120), Guide Rock Diversion Dam WMA (518), Indian Creek WMA (124.93), Narrows WMA (236.40)

Federal Lands (acres): Guide Rock Diversion Dam Operations (518)

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)