About Our County

Historical Highlights

  • Founded: Authorized in 1873, officially organized in 1881
  • Named After: John J. Gosper, Nebraska Secretary of State
  • County Seat History:
    • Daviesville: First county seat, but no courthouse was built due to lack of funding
    • Homerville: Became the seat in 1882, expecting a railroad that never came
    • Elwood: Became the seat in 1888 after a contested election; remains the seat today
  • Courthouse: Built in the 1930s with a $42,000 bond and a Public Works Administration grant
  • License Plate Prefix: 73, based on 1922 vehicle registration rankings
  • Micropolitan Area: Part of the Lexington, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area

Geography & Fun Facts

  • Size: Approximately 463 square miles, with 458 square miles of land and 4.6 square miles of water
  • Location: Situated between the Platte and Republican Rivers on high table-land
  • Natural Features:
    • Platte River flows through the northern part of the county
    • Includes Johnson Lake and Phillips Lake State Recreation Areas
    • Home to Gosper National Wildlife Management Area
  • Major Highways: U.S. Highway 283, Nebraska Highway 18, Nebraska Highway 23
  • Population: 1,893 (2020 Census), with a density of about 4.13 people per square mile
  • Adjacent Counties: Phelps (east), Furnas (south), Frontier (west), Dawson (north)
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