Valley County, Nebraska

Valley County, Nebraska

A corridor of river towns, rolling hills, and civic pride.

Valley County anchors central Nebraska with scenic landscapes, historic communities, and a legacy of agriculture and resilience. From Ord’s courthouse square to the quiet charm of Arcadia and Elyria, every town and trail reflects the state’s rural strength and welcoming spirit.

County Seat: Ord
Founded: 1871
Named For: North Loup River valley
License Plate Prefix: 47
Population: 4,260 (2020 census)
Area: 570 sq mi

History

Valley County was established in 1871 and named for the North Loup River valley that winds through its heart. The region was settled by pioneers and immigrants who built strong farming communities. Ord became the county seat and remains a hub of civic life and rural innovation.

Geography

Location: Central Nebraska
Landscape: River valleys, rolling hills, and farmland
Major Highways: Nebraska Highways 11, 22, 70
Adjacent Counties:
Wheeler (N),
Greeley (E),
Howard (SE),
Buffalo (S),
Sherman (SW),
Custer (W)

Culture & Landmarks

• Valley County Courthouse (Ord) – Historic courthouse built in 1919.
• Ord Learning Center – Community hub for education and events.
• North Loup Scenic Byway – Follows the river through picturesque landscapes.

Notable Communities

• Ord – County seat and regional center for business, healthcare, and culture.
• Arcadia, Elyria, North Loup – Small towns with deep agricultural roots and community pride.

Events & Festivals

• Ord Summer Festival – Parade, music, and family fun.
• North Loup Popcorn Days – Long-running community celebration.
• Valley County Fair – Livestock shows, exhibits, and entertainment.
• View the full Valley County Events calendar →

Natural Attractions & Recreation

• North Loup River – Canoeing, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
• Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park – Preserved frontier outpost near Elyria.
• Community Parks – Playgrounds and picnic areas in Ord, Arcadia, and surrounding towns.

Living in Valley County

Valley County offers a peaceful rural lifestyle with strong community ties and a proud agricultural legacy. Ord anchors the county with services and events, while towns like North Loup and Arcadia preserve the region’s pioneer spirit. With its festivals, trails, and welcoming atmosphere, Valley County is a proud part of Nebraska’s central corridor.

Valley County at a Glance

Valley County, Nebraska — created in 1871 and organized in 1873, and named not for a person but for itself: much of the county is valley land lying between the North Loup and Middle Loup rivers. County seat Ord, platted in 1874 and named for the Civil War general Edward O. C. Ord. The Omaha and Republican Valley Railway built a 59-mile line from Grand Island to Ord in 1886, and it still carries agricultural freight today as the Nebraska Central. Population peaked at 9,823 in 1920 and now stands at 4,059 — the county has lost more than half its people. 112 listings across 7 towns.

Getting there: NE-11, 22, 58 and 70. The Loup Rivers Scenic Byway — 150 miles of NE-11 and NE-91 from Wood River to Dunning — runs through Ord and Elyria. Central Time.

Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park is in this county, north of Elyria — and that is worth stating plainly, because almost every tourism source files it under Burwell, which is over the line in Garfield County. The fort was established in 1874 and abandoned in 1881, named for General George Lucas Hartsuff, and it marked its 150th anniversary in 2024. The original post headquarters, enlisted men’s barracks, officers’ quarters, commanding officer’s quarters and hospital all survive.

Davis Creek Recreation Area straddles the Valley–Greeley county line about five and a half miles south of North Loup — a 1,145-acre reservoir behind a dam completed in 1991, with two camping areas offering electricity and water, a tent area, primitive camping and an RV dump station, two boat ramps, a coin-operated shower house, a fish-cleaning station and an accessible fishing pier. One genuinely useful thing to know: the area is at its best from Memorial Day to Independence Day, because water levels drop after that as irrigation demand rises.

Popcorn and Czechs. North Loup has held Popcorn Days since 1901 — the festival grew out of the 1890s drought, when valley farmers turned to popcorn as an alternative crop, and it still runs every August. And where Howard County next door is Danish, Valley County is Czech: the Rad Slavin Z.C.B.J. Hall near Comstock, a Western Bohemian Fraternal Association lodge, is one of the county’s seven National Register listings.

No individual with an authoritative biography can be verified as born in Valley County.

Valley County · Central · Highway 11 Corridor · Explore Nebraska