Boone County

General

Population: 5,379
Land area (sq. mi.): 686.54
Population per square mile: 7.8

Race & Age

Race

White: 94.0%
African American: 0.4%
American Indian: 0.3%
Asian: 0.1%
Hispanic: 3.4%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 1.7%

Age

0-17: 24.2%
18-64: 52.8%
65+: 23.0%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $74,085
% of population in poverty: 8.7%
# of housing units: 2,554
Owner-occupied rate: 75.6%
Median home price: $155,560

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable model): 61.3%

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: 1.6% (as of September 2022)

County Employment Website: https://boonecountyne.gov/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher: 94.5%

School Districts: Boone Central Schools, Elgin Public Schools, Elkhorn Valley Schools, Fullerton Public Schools, Newman Grove Public Schools, Riverside Public Schools, St. Edward Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher: 19.0%

Community College Service Areas: Central Community College, Northeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity: 14 providers; 228 children

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

Boone County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $436,175,000

Cattle Producers: 213

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.): $44/acre

Crop Producers: 276

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.): $177/acre
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.): $297/acre

Dairy Producers: 1

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Cargill, Central Valley Ag, Niewohner Farms, Pillen Family Farms

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

Farmers Markets: Petersburg Farmers Market ( May - October, Saturdays 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Electricity Providers: Cornhusker PPD, Elkhorn Rural PPD, Loup River PPD

Wind Turbines Operating (MW): 113 turbines (177,070 MW total)

Rail-served Communities: Albion, Boone, Cedar Rapids, Primrose, St. Edward

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 2,046

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 82

Click for real time:

Groundwater level data near Beaver Creek and 150th Ave. (6.5 mi northwest of Petersburg)

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 Valuations

County levy rate: $0.1800 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $4,262,355

Total local government property taxes levied: $23,532,162

Total countywide taxable valuation: $2,367,972,177

Click here for all levy rates in Boone County

Agricultural Land Valuation Market Areas

Commercial Land Valuation Groups

Residential Land Valuation Groups

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: Tom Briese (District 41)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Education
• Revenue

Special Committees: 

• Executive Board of the Legislative Council (chairperson)
• Reference (chairperson)
• Legislative Performance Audit
• Legislature's Planning

Map and statistics for Legislative District 41

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Boone County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 6

Year Authorized: 1871

Year Organized: 1871

Etymology: Daniel Boone (pioneer and frontiersman

     Named for the famous Kentucky frontiersman, Boone County was originally the plentiful hunting territories of the Sioux and Pawnee tribes. In the 1860’s, the first white settlers began exploring the area, and 1871, a few began constructing sod houses along Beaver Creek. Four months after the Legislature organized the county in March of 1871, three commissioners were sworn into office. They immediately began settling the debate over which town would serve as the county seat. Both Albion and Boone challenged for the honor, but Albion won the county election. Absent a courthouse, county officials met in an Albion hotel until the building was finished in 1897. A new courthouse would later be constructed and dedicated in 1976.

     Boone County is also home to the Olson Nature Preserve, 112 acres of various ecosystems, including prairie, wetlands, and forest. The original owners, Grant and Bernice Olson, left the property to local scout troops and the Albion public school system. Eventually, the land became an outdoor classroom that now features several hiking trails and a summer enrichment program for local youth.
 

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number: 23

Time Zone: Central

Number of Veterans: 318

Zoned County: Yes

County Hospital: Boone County Health Center

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 192

Election Data

General Election Turnout % (2022): 73.68%

Total Registered Voters (2020): 3,680

Number of Precincts (2020): 9

Number of Election Day Polling Places (2020): All Voting by Mail

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: Lower Loupe NRD, Lower Platte North NRD

State Lands (acres): Beaver Bend WMA (26.99)

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)