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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.Nance County, Nebraska
Nance County Education, Geography, and History
Nance County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 3,735. Its county seat is Fullerton.
Etymology - Origin of Nance County Name
Namedin honor of Albinus Nance, who was governor at the time.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Nance County History
For many years the Pawnee nation
lived at peace on the rolling prairie lands along the Loup River. The Pawnee
sustained itself by raising crops and hunting wild game that thrived in the
area. In time, this area was designated as the Pawnee Reservation.
The first white settlers to come to this area were a group of Mormons led by
Henry James Hudson in 1855. One-hundred families established a colony on the
site that today is Genoa. The colony prospered, but in 1860 the Pawnees claimed
the territory as part of their reservation. The Mormons attempted to stay on the
land, but the danger resulting from conflicts between the Pawnee and Sioux
tribes forced them to move on in 1864.
Twelve years later Randall Fuller came through the area with a cattle herd on
his way to the Black Hills. By this time the reservation land was being
parcelled off and Fuller bought two sections. He laid out the townsite of
Fullerton, today the county seat.
When the county was organized and its boundaries defined in 1879, it was named
in honor of Albinus Nance, who was governor at the time. In his proclamation,
Nance, who was a mere 30 years old, selected Fullerton as the temporary county
seat until an election could be held. At the time, Fullerton, which was located
in the fertile valley between the Loup and Ceder Rivers, consisted only of rows
of stakes marking the townsite. Fuller pledged six acres of land to the county
in exchange for it being named the county seat. When the county was organized,
it sold the lots to build the first courthouse. Two years later, Fuller donated
10 acres to Nebraska Wesleyan University when it relocated from Osceola to
Fullerton. The university operated in Fullerton for several years before moving
to Lincoln in order to be closer to the center of the state's population.
In a special election in 1894, voters approved a $17,000 bond issue to build a
new courthouse. Within a year, the Board of Supervisors met in the building for
the first time. This building served county residents until the present $440,000
courthouse was built in the 1970s
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 448 square miles (1,160 km2), of which 442 square miles (1,140 km2) is
land and 6.6 square miles (17 km2) (1.5%) is water
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Platte County (northeast)
- Merrick County (south)
- Greeley County (west)
- Boone County (north)
Education
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