Adams County is a county in Nebraska, United States, home to the city of Hastings, in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 31,205 at the 2020 census and covers 564 square miles (1,461 km2) centred near 40°31′N 98°30′W.
Hastings is the county seat, and its postal code is 68901. The county contains one city, seven villages, and about a dozen unincorporated communities, organized across 16 civil townships. Adams County sits in the Central time zone (UTC−6, UTC−5 during Daylight Saving Time) and carries FIPS code 31-001.
Towns & Villages in Adams County
Adams County has one incorporated city — Hastings, the seat and by far the largest place — and seven incorporated villages: Ayr, Holstein, Juniata, Kenesaw, Prosser, Roseland, and Trumbull. The rest of the entries below are unincorporated communities recognized by the U.S. Geological Survey, several of them mobile-home or retirement communities rather than traditional townsites. “Unincorp.” marks a place with no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings | City · seat | — | 24,479 | 68901 |
| Ayr | Village | Ayr | — | 68925 |
| Holstein | Village | — | — | 68950 |
| Juniata | Village | — | — | 68955 |
| Kenesaw | Village | — | — | 68956 |
| Prosser | Village | — | — | 68901 |
| Roseland | Village | — | — | 68973 |
| Trumbull | Village | — | — | 68980 |
| Assumption | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Blaine | Unincorp. | Blaine | — | — |
| Bonnavilla and Eastgate MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Countryside Parks | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Good Samaritan Village | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Halloran | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hansen | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hayland | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Ingleside | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Kingswood Plaza | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Level | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Muriel | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pauline | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Shady Lane Trailer Court | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Smittys MH Plaza | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Townships
Adams County is divided into 16 civil townships. Confirmed township names include Ayr, Blaine, Denver, and Verona — the last two have no incorporated place or listed unincorporated community within their borders, so no dedicated entry appears for them above. The remaining twelve townships are almost entirely agricultural, with no standing settlement of their own.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Ayr | — | Ayr |
| Blaine | — | Blaine |
| Denver | — | — |
| Verona | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 68901 — Hastings (also serves Prosser)
- 68925 — Ayr
- 68950 — Holstein
- 68955 — Juniata
- 68956 — Kenesaw
- 68973 — Roseland
- 68980 — Trumbull
The county’s unincorporated communities and mobile-home parks are not separate ZIP-routing points; mail there is addressed to whichever of the towns above is nearest.
Geography
Adams County lies on the gently rolling loess and glacial-till plain typical of south-central Nebraska, with almost all of its land in cultivation. The county’s drainage runs generally toward the Little Blue River basin to the south, and small creeks cross the farmland between the townships rather than any single named river running through the county seat itself.
Adams County borders Hall County to the north, Hamilton County to the northeast, Clay County to the east, Webster County to the south, Kearney County to the west, and Buffalo County to the northwest.
Demographics
Adams County had 31,205 residents at the 2020 census. Hastings, with 24,479 people, holds nearly four in five county residents; Kenesaw is the largest of the remaining villages. The county’s median household income runs below the Nebraska median of $74,590, reflecting its farm-and-small-city economic base. At 564 square miles of land, the county’s overall population density works out to roughly 55 people per square mile, concentrated almost entirely in and around Hastings.
Economy & Local Life
Hastings anchors the county’s economy as a regional trade, health-care, and manufacturing center for south-central Nebraska, home to Mary Lanning Healthcare and Hastings College, a private liberal-arts college. Outside the city, agriculture — corn, soybeans, and cattle — dominates the smaller villages and townships. The Adams County Fair, held annually in Hastings, is the county’s best-known recurring event.
History
Adams County was created on February 16, 1867, and formally organized on December 12, 1871. It is named for John Adams, the second president of the United States. Hastings was platted in 1872 along the new rail line through the county and grew into the county’s dominant city, eclipsing the earlier townsite competition among the county’s smaller settlements.
Getting There
Hastings sits at the junction of U.S. Highways 6 and 281, with Interstate 80 running along the county’s northern edge through neighboring Hall County.
- Grand Island — 25 miles north
- Kearney — 35 miles west
- Lincoln — 100 miles east
- Omaha — 150 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Adams County, Nebraska?
It is in the south-central part of the state, along U.S. Highway 6, centered on the city of Hastings.
What is the population of Adams County?
Adams County had a population of 31,205 at the 2020 census.
How big is Adams County?
The county covers 564 square miles (1,461 km2), of which about 1 square mile is water.
What is the county seat of Adams County?
Hastings is the county seat and largest city.
How many towns are in Adams County?
The county has one city and seven incorporated villages — Ayr, Holstein, Juniata, Kenesaw, Prosser, Roseland, and Trumbull — plus about a dozen smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Adams County?
ZIP codes include 68901 (Hastings), 68925 (Ayr), 68950 (Holstein), 68955 (Juniata), 68956 (Kenesaw), 68973 (Roseland), and 68980 (Trumbull).
What college is in Adams County?
Hastings College, a private liberal-arts college, is located in Hastings.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.