Loup County, Nebraska

Loup County, Nebraska

County seat: Taylor · Created: 1883 · Named for: the (North) Loup River, whose name comes from the Skidi, or “Wolf,” Pawnee (French loup) · License plates: prefix 88 · Population: 607 (2020 census); peak 2,188 in 1910 · Area: 571 sq mi · Time zone: Central

About Loup County

Loup County lies in the eastern Sandhills, a land of grass-covered dunes with wet hay meadows in the valleys. The North Loup River crosses the south of the county past Taylor, the county seat and only incorporated place, and Almeria; the Calamus River crosses the north and feeds Calamus Reservoir on the eastern line. Kent was the first county seat. About three of every four residents live in the country. No railroad ever reached the county. It borders Rock County on the north, Holt on the northeast, Garfield on the east, Custer on the south, Blaine on the west and Brown on the northwest.

Loup County was organized in 1883, with officers elected on May 3. Kent, which had the first post office (1877) and trading post (1880), was the temporary seat; in the vote for a permanent seat Taylor beat Almeria, which Kent supported, by two votes, and Taylor became the seat on August 4, 1883. The population peaked at 2,188 in 1910. The railroad reached Burwell in 1887 but never came farther, and the 1894 drought hit hard. The present courthouse was built in 1957–58. Earlier post offices included Butka in the far north, Moulton in the northwest, Nunda in the east, Cooleyton (Madison Square) in the south, Harrop and Gracie.

Towns of Loup County

Travel Corridors

US 183 — north–south through Taylor, from Sargent north across the Calamus River to Bassett. US 183 Corridor →

NE 91 — east–west through Almeria and Taylor, from NE 2 north of Dunning to Burwell. Highway 91 Corridor → NE 96 runs from US 183 north of Taylor southeast past the Switzer Ranch and Calamus Reservoir to Burwell.

Cameras: View Loup County cameras → · Road conditions: Nebraska 511

Things to See

The Villagers, more than 120 life-size figures of townspeople by Marah Sandoz, around Taylor; the 1887 Pavillion Hotel on the Taylor square (National Register; closed); the Loup County Historical Society’s log cabin and Sunnyside School museums (by appointment); and the courthouse.

Outdoors

Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area lies in Loup and Garfield counties: a 5,123-acre lake with 31 miles of shoreline. The Hannaman Bayou, Valley View Flat and Nunda Shoal camping areas and the Buckshot Bay ramp are on the Loup County side, and the upper lake is a no-wake zone; the park office is at Little York Point, (308) 346-5666. The Calamus River canoe trail runs 56.6 miles from the NE 7 bridge to Hannaman Bayou; Calamus Outfitters at the Switzer Ranch runs tanking and kayaking in summer. Hunt at Myrtle E. Hall WMA (1,960 acres, west of Taylor, shared with Custer County), Kent Diversion Dam WMA (194 acres, east of Taylor) and the Calamus WMA above and below the reservoir; this is sharp-tailed grouse and prairie-chicken country.

Loup County Business Directory

Businesses within 20 miles of: Taylor · All listings →

Adjacent Counties

Rock County (north) · Holt County (northeast) · Garfield County (east) · Custer County (south) · Blaine County (west) · Brown County (northwest).

Events

Each year: the Loup County Fair (the “Loup County World’s Fair”) in Taylor in early August, and the Junk Jaunt along NE 91 and US 183 in late September.

Loup County at a Glance

Loup County, Nebraska — Sandhills, the North Loup and Calamus rivers, and Calamus Reservoir. County seat Taylor. 42 listings across 3 towns. Central Time.

Getting there: US 183 north–south and NE 91 east–west cross at Taylor; NE 96 runs to Calamus Reservoir and Burwell. No railroad.

For visitors: the Villagers of Taylor, the Pavillion Hotel, Calamus Reservoir and river tanking on the Calamus. Nearest hospital in Ord.