York County

General

Population: 14,125
Land area (sq. mi.): 572.51
Population per square mile: 24.7

Race and Age

Race

White: 88.9%
African American: 1.2%
American Indian: 0.5%
Asian: 0.6%
Hispanic: 5.9%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 2.6%

Age

0-17: 23.4%
18-64: 55.9%
65+: 20.7%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $58,148
% of Population in Poverty: 9.3%
# of Housing Units: 6,320
Owner-occupied rate: 70.2%
Median home price: $160,160

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 77.7%

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau

Employment, Education, and Child Care

Unemployment rate: 1.8% (as of September 2022)

County Employment Website: https://www.yorkcounty.ne.gov/

High school graduate or higher: 90.9%

School Districts: Centennial Public Schools, Cross County Community Schools, Exeter-Milligan Public Schools, Hampton Public Schools, High Plains Community Schools, McCool Junction Public Schools, Sutton Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher: 25.6%

Community College Service Area: Southeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity: 25 providers; 597 children

Find child care: For a list of child care providers in your zip code, visit Nebraska DHHS or the Nebraska Resource and Referral System.

York County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $836,346,000

Cattle Producers: 106

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.): $45/acre

Crop Producers: 403

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.): $173/acre
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.): $287/acre

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Aurora Cooperative, Central Valley Ag, Farmers Union Coop, Green Plains

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

Farmers Market:

• Henderson Farmers Market (June - August, Tuesdays 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.)
• York Farmers Market (June - September 24th, Thursdays 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.)

Electricity Providers: Nebraska PPD, Perennial PPD, Polk County Rural PPD, Southern PPD, Village of Bradshaw

Rail-served Communities: Benedict, Bradshaw, Waco, York

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 3,025

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 115

Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), Nebraska Cooperative Council, Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau

2022 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate: $0.2257 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $7,543,422

Total local government property taxes levied: $44,306,244

Total countywide taxable valuation: $3,342,149,744

Federal PILT payment to Holt County (FY2022): $470 regarding 160 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in York County

County Levy and Taxation Laws

Levy limits

Since 1996, counties and other political subdivisions have been subject to levy limits under 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: Jana Hughes (District 24)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Agriculture
• General Affairs
• Natural Resources

Select Committees:

• LR135 Select Interim Committee

Special Committees: 

• Building Maintenance

Map and statistics for Legislative District 24

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

York County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 5

Year Authorized: 1855

Year Organized: 1870

Etymology: York, England (possibly also York County, Pennsylvania)

Nearly 10 years after the original boundaries of what today is York County were created, the area was still considered a land inhabited by Indians. Although an occasional trapper would pass through the area, it was not until 1865 that the first permanent settlement was made by a white man. This marked the beginning of York County and within two years the area had its first post office.

On April 26, 1870 settlers in this area voted to organize the county and elected a full complement of county officials. Gov. David Butler proclaimed the area as York County. There are two versions of how the county was named. The first is that is was named after York, England. The second is that a number of early settlers were from York County, Pa., their former home.

The townsite of York was platted in 1869. Within two years it became apparent that the county was in need of a courthouse. A special election was called to vote on a proposition to sell enough town lots owned by the county to build a courthouse. The question was approved and $1,500 was raised. In 1872 the first courthouse was built. It was replaced in 1886 by a second courthouse that would stand the next 94 years.

In 1980 the present courthouse was dedicated, culminating a 21-year wait. With the previous courthouse beginning to need repairs, the Board of Commissioners decided in 1969 to begin setting aside inheritance tax funds for this purpose. Bond issues in 1973 and 1975 for construction of a new courthouse were rejected and led to a 1977 recall election. In the meantime, inheritance tax and revenue sharing monies had continued to be set aside.

When the special fund reached $2.25 million in 1978, the Board of Commissioners voted to build. County offices were temporarily moved, the old courthouse was razed, and construction of the present courthouse was begun on the same city square that hosted the two previous courthouses. When the $2.3 million building was dedicated on Oct. 19, 1980, it was opened to the public as a debt-free structure.

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

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Local Highlights

License Plate Number: 17

Time Zone: Central

Number of Veterans: 927

Zoned County: Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 155

Election Data

General Election Turnout (2022): 50.82%

Total Registered Voters (2020): 10,081

Number of Precincts (2020): 12

Number of Election Day Polling Places (2020): 7

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.) (2020): 81.79 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource District: Upper Big Blue NRD

State Lands (acres): Kirkpatrick Basin South WMA (417.41), Kirkpatrick Basin North WMA (396), Marsh Duck WMA (153.47), Renquist Basin WMA (107.31), Spikerush WMA (194.50), York Rest Area EB (6), York Rest Area WB (6.72)

Federal Lands (acres): County Line Marsh WPA (413 Fillmore & York), Freeman Lakes WPA (350 Seward & York), Heron WPA (350), Sinninger WPA (160), Waco Basic WPA (159.20)

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. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)