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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.Hooker County, Nebraska
Hooker County Education, Geography, and History
Hooker County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 736. Its county seat is Mullen
Etymology - Origin of Hooker County Name
NamedHooker, in honor of Civil War Gen. Joseph Hooker.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Hooker County History
Despite the fact the Middle Loup and
the Dismal Rivers cross what today is Hooker County, for many years the area was
not as well suited as other counties in the Sandhills for farming or livestock
grazing. This led to the county developing at a much slower place than some of
its neighbors.
For many years the area was a hunting ground for the Sioux Indians and home to
buffalo and other wildlife that roamed the rolling hills and deep valleys. The
area remained government controlled land and was not open for settlement.
The first permanent settlers in the area homesteaded along the Dismal River in
1884. Other homesteaders slowly moved in and filed claims on both sides of the
two rivers. A trading post was established just west of the the present site of
Mullen.
In 1877 the Grand Island and Wyoming line of the Burlington Railroad advanced
from Broken Bow to near Whitman in neighboring Grant County. Since the railroad
was having difficulty obtaining the land it wanted near the trading post for a
switching yard, crews laid a switch siding about a mile to the east. A boxcar
was used as a depot and it was named Mullen, in honor of one of the contractors
building the rail line.
Eleven years later, Amos Gandy and George Trefren purchased land near the depot
and laid out the townsite of Mullen. They designated one block of the original
town to be used for a courthouse once the county was formed. That would occur
the following year when the Legislature established the boundaries for a new
county to be named Hooker, in honor of Civil War Gen. Joseph Hooker. During that
year the first election was held, county officers conducted their first
meetings, taxes were levied, and bonds were sold in the amount of $1,521 for the
construction of a courthouse and jail. The two-room structure was completed by
the following November.
By 1920 Hooker County reached a peak population of 1,300 and three years later a
larger brick courthouse was built.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 721 square miles (1,870 km2), of which 721 square miles (1,870 km2) is
land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.05%) is water.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Cherry County (north)
- Thomas County (east)
- McPherson County (south)
- Arthur County (southwest)
- Grant County (west)
Education
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