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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.Wayne County, Nebraska
Wayne County Education, Geography, and History
Wayne County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 9,595. Its county seat is Wayne.
Etymology - Origin of Wayne County Name
Named after Revolutionary War Gen. Anthony Wayne.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Wayne County History
An interesting part of Wayne County's
history centers around the events which led up to the construction of its
present courthouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Wayne County was organized by proclamation of Gov. David Butler in the fall of
1870, and named after Revolutionary War Gen. Anthony Wayne. At that time the
settlement of LaPorte was selected as the county seat. LaPorte built a brick
courthouse and anticipated it would become a prosperous settlement, especially
since a railroad grade was laid between it and Emerson. But the railroad never
materialized and neither did LaPorte.
In 1881 a movement was initiated to relocate the county seat to Wayne. One of
the stipulations was that the Wayne Town Hall Association would be required to
provide rent-free for five years a building that was suitable to house county
offices, courts and records. The association readily obliged and constructed a
$4,000 brick veneer building.
Then came "An Eventful Day," as the Logan Valley Herald referred to July 4,
1884. That was the day a large celebration was held to honor the veterans of the
Civil War. Around midnight the celebration came to an abrupt end when a fire
alarm brought celebrants to the building that served as the county's courthouse.
Apparently two men who had over-indulged in the celebration had been taken to
the jail earlier in the evening. It was believed that somehow the two started a
fire which destroyed the county's offices and records. Honoring its original
obligation, the Wayne Town Hall Association quickly replaced the destroyed
building with a frame courthouse on the same site.
Two years before the fire, Wayne County had received a donation of land within
the townsite of Wayne. The stipulation attached to this donation was that a
courthouse must be built on the site and be used for at least 20 years. In 1899
a red brick Norman Chateau style building was completed at a cost of $32,000.
Ninety-five years later the courthouse still serves as the home of Wayne County
government.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 443 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 443 square miles (1,150 km2) is
land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.09%) is water
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Dixon County (northeast)
- Thurston County (east)
- Cuming County (southeast)
- Stanton County (south)
- Pierce County (west)
- Cedar County (north)
Education
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