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Nebraska Counties
There is ninety-three counties in state of Nebraska. Despite the fact that Sarpy County contained the oldest settlement in the state, it was one of the last lands along the river to be recognized by law. Finally, on February 1, 1857, the land "where the cities meet the country" was officially created.Dundy County, Nebraska
Dundy County Education, Geography, and History
Dundy County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 2,008. Its county seat is Benkelman
Etymology - Origin of Dundy County Name
Named for US Circuit Court Judge Elmer Dundy, a former Nebraskan.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Dundy County History
Wild, untamed country. That is how
the area that would become Dundy County was labeled in the early 1800s.
Untouched land with a wealth of thick buffalo grass and other varieties of tall
grasses was ripe for cattle grazing. The birth of Dundy County was near.
At the close of the Civil War, Texas had no adequate market for its excess
cattle. Speculators bought huge herds and moved them north for fattening before
shipping them to market. This Southwest Nebraska area provided cattlemen vast
open range lands free for the taking.
With the coming of the railroad, a settlement named Collinsville became a
primary shipping point for cattle. Collinsville would be renamed Benkelman, in
honor of a family that owned large cattle ranches in Kansas and Colorado. It was
not too long before Benkelman would gain a reputation as being "the wickedest
city between McCook and Denver."
The days of longhorns, cowboys and saloons would give way to homesteaders, who
sought the free land for homes and a better way of life. What would follow were
bitter range disputes between the cattlemen and the homesteaders. But the
Homestead Act and a Nebraska embargo placed on Texas cattle forced cattlemen off
the range and gave homesteaders an opportunity to plant crops.
Dundy County was organized in 1884 and named for US Circuit Court Judge Elmer
Dundy, a former Nebraskan. Its boundaries were actually approved 11 years
earlier. The period between 1855 and 1888 brought a tremendous influx of
settlers. The number rose at such a rapid pace that Benkelman could not contain
them and nine additional small settlements sprang up. Only three of those -
Max, Parks and Haigler - remain today.
In 1888, the settlements of Hiawatha, Ough and Allston waged stiff competition
with Benkelman to become the county seat. Benkelman chose not to enter the
controversy and quietly built a courthouse. County commissioners then designated
Benkelman as the county seat. A second courthouse replaced the original on the
same site 30 years later.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 921 square miles (2,390 km2), of which 920 square miles (2,400 km2) is
land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (0.1%) is water
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Hitchcock County (east)
- Rawlins County, Kansas (southeast)
- Cheyenne County, Kansas (south)
- Yuma County, Colorado (west)
- Chase County (north)
- Hayes County (northeast)
Education
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