Communities and Development
Platte County Seat: Columbus
Total County Population(2020):34,296
- Cities (pop. & class):Columbus (24,028• 1st Class),Humphrey (905• 2nd Class), Newman Grove (667• 2nd Class)
- Villages (pop.):Cornlea (33), Creston (181), Duncan (392), Lindsay (283), Monroe (296), Platte Center (333), Tarnov (52)
- Unincorporated Pop. (% of county pop.):7,823 (23%)
Land Development (2022)(% of total land in county):
- Agriculture: 85%
- By method:Irrigated (row crop/grain/forage) (50%);Dryland (rowcrop/grain/forage) (27%);Pasture (pure grassland) (8%)• Neb. Dept. of Rev.- total equals agriculture's %
- By commodity:Corn 47%, Soybeans 30%, Livestock (grassland) 9%, Alfalfa 2%, Other Hay 1% • USDA - equalsagriculture's %plus some wetlands (3%) andminus public grassland/wetlands and reserve
- Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Conservation Reserve& Exempt (combined): 13%
- Timber:2%
County Offices
Courthouse Address and Hours:
2610 14th Street
Columbus, Nebraska 68601
M-F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
County Board Chairperson: Kim Kwapnioski
Complete list of county board members
County Board Meetings: Every other Tuesday
View the County's Government Maps
NACO District: Northeast
President:Lisa Lunz,Dixon County Supervisor
Vice President:Sandy Zoubek, Stanton County Treasurer
Secretary:Katie Hart, Burt County Assessor
Treasurer:Krista Nix, Knox County Deputy Clerk
NACO Board Representative:Bill Tielke, Holt County Supervisor
General
Population: 34,296
Land area (sq. mi.): 674.05
Population per square mile: 50.9
Race and Age
Race
White: 74.6%
African American: 1.0%
American Indian: 0.3%
Asian: 0.6%
Hispanic: 21.1%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 2.1%
Age
0-17: 26.4%
18-64: 55.8%
65+: 17.8%
Socioeconomics
Personal income per capita: $56,149
% of Population in Poverty: 6.6%
# of Housing Units: 14,094
Owner-occupied rate: 72.0%
Median home price: $188,390
Technology
Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 84.7%
Sources: National Association of Realtors,Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis,U.S. Census Bureau
Employment, Schools, and Child Care
Unemployment rate: 1.7% (as of September2022)
County Employment Website:https://plattecounty.net/webpages/links/public_notices.html
High school graduate or higher: 90.9%
School Districts:Columbus Public Schools, Humphrey Public Schools, Lakeview Community Schools, Leigh Community Schools, Madison Public Schools, Newman Grove Public Schools, Twin River Public Schools, St. Edward Public Schools
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23.4%
Community College Service Area:Central Community College
Countywide child care capacity:61 providers; 1,598 children
Find child care: For alist of child care providers in your zip code, visit Nebraska DHHSor the Nebraska Resource and Referral System.
Platte County Economy
Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020):$2,739,898,000
Cattle Producers:267
- Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.): $52/acre
Crop Producers:465
- Dryland Cash Rent (avg.): $206/acre
- Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.): $305/acre
Dairy Producers:2
Grain Co-ops and Purchasers:ADM, Central Valley Ag, Frontier, Farmers Coop Association
Local Grain Market:Click for today's grain prices in Platte County
Farmers Markets:
- Columbus Farmers Market (May - October, Saturdays 7:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
- Market23 (Tuesdays - Fridays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. andSaturdays8 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
Electricity Providers:Cornhusker PPD, Elkhorn Rural PPD, Loup River PPD
Wind Turbines Operating (MW):7 turbines(13,700 MW total)
Rail-served Communities:Columbus, Duncan, Humphrey, Monroe, Platte Center, Tarnov
Well Locations(Irrigation/Livestock), Soils, Groundwater & Surface Water
Total Irrigation/LivestockWells:2,389
Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):39
Click for real time:
Streamflow data on the Platte River near Duncan
Streamflow data on Shell Creek near Columbus
Sources: National Agricultural StatisticsService (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: $0.1947 per $100 of taxable valuation
County property taxes levied: $11,895,865
Total local government property taxes levied:$84,807,784
Total countywide taxable valuation:$6,110,057,264
Click here for all levy rates in Platte County
County Levy and Taxation Laws
Levy limits
Since 1996, counties and other political subdivisions have been subject to the levy limits listed inNeb. Rev. Stat.§ 77-3442andNeb. 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 section77-1359shall 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 sections77-3801to77-3807. 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:Mike Moser (District 22)
Standing Committees (click forscheduled committee hearings):
Select Committees:
- Committee on Committees
Map and statistics for Legislative District 22
Map ofall districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature
Platte County History
Number of Registered Historic Places: 22
Year Authorized: 1856
Year Organized: 1856
Etymology: Platte River (French word for "flat")
Named after the Platte River which makes up its southern boundary, Platte County was officially established by the Legislature on Jan. 26, 1856. Three years later its boundaries were redefined to include an area to the west known as Monroe County, giving the county its present boundaries.
In the summer of 1856, advance agents from the Columbus Town Company came to the area from Columbus, Ohio. Upon reaching the Loup River the agents marked the site for a future town to be called Columbus. The new settlement quickly grew and soon had a mill, hotel and general store. The first meeting of the Board of Commissioners was conducted in December 1857 in a log house and it would be more than 10 years before the county would have a courthouse.
When the Union Pacific Railroad headed west through Columbus in 1866, the area's growth accelerated at a faster pace. The following year a special election was held to approve the issuance of $16,000 in bonds to build a courthouse and jail. Construction was completed in 1870.
Another boost to the county came in 1881 when the Atchison and Nebraska Branch of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad constructed a rail line connecting Columbus with Lincoln. Columbus rapidly became a flourishing railroad center and commerce hub.
The courthouse that was completed in 1870 was soon outgrown by the county. On June 26, 1922, the current courthouse was dedicated. The Grecian-Ionic style structure occupied a quarter-block in downtown Columbus when it opened. But in the early 1970s, the need for additional space once again became apparent and a $1.76 million addition opened in September 1976. The two-story addition houses the sheriff's office, civil defense office, County Board room, treasurer's office and the courtrooms.
Platte County enjoys a diverse economy today. Farming and livestock production, along with manufacturing, lead the way. Among the many manufacturing operations to locate in the county is Lindsay Irrigation, known worldwide for its center pivot systems.
Highlight an important program in yourcounty in this space! Send an email to:
luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org
Local Highlights
License Plate Number:10
Time Zone:Central
Number of Veterans:1,903
Zoned County:No
Number of County-Owned Bridges: 368
Number of County-Owned Dams: 1
Election Data
General Election Turnout (2022):54.87%
Total Registered Voters (2020):20,718
Number of Precincts (2020):30
Number of Election Day Polling Places (2020):25
Land Area perPolling Place (avg.) (2020):26.96 sq. miles
Intergovernmental Data
Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: East Central
Natural Resource Districts:Central Platte NRD, Lower Elkhorn NRD, Lower Loup NRD, Lower Platte North NRD
State Lands (acres):Flat Water Landing WMA (6), George D. Syas WMA (899.80), Lee Rupp WMA (67), Wilkinson WMA (939.57)
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)
