Banner County is a county in Nebraska, United States, on the state’s High Plains near the Wyoming border. It had a population of 674 at the 2020 census and covers 746 square miles (1,932 km2) centred near 41°32′N 103°44′W, making it one of the least populated counties in the state.
Harrisburg is the county seat, and its postal code is 69345. The county has no incorporated cities or towns — Harrisburg is an unincorporated community and census-designated place, and it is the only named settlement in the county. Banner County lies in the Mountain Time Zone and carries FIPS code 31007.
Towns & Villages in Banner County
Banner County has a single recognized settlement. There is no incorporated municipality anywhere in the county; Harrisburg functions as an informal service center and the seat of county government despite never having incorporated.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | CDP · seat | 99 | 69345 |
ZIP Codes
- 69345 — Harrisburg (serves the entire county)
Every address in Banner County is served by the single Harrisburg post office; there is no second ZIP code in the county.
Geography
Banner County sits on the western Nebraska Panhandle, a mix of rolling shortgrass prairie and rangeland cut by shallow draws. The land is almost entirely dry farmland and pasture, with 746 square miles of land and only about 0.15 square miles of water — there is no significant river or lake within the county. Banner County borders Scotts Bluff County to the north, Morrill County to the east, Cheyenne County to the southeast, Kimball County to the south, Laramie County, Wyoming to the west, and Goshen County, Wyoming to the northwest. None of these Nebraska or Wyoming neighbors currently has a live page on this site, so no cross-links are included.
Demographics
Banner County recorded 674 residents at the 2020 census. Harrisburg, with 99 people, is by far the largest community; the remainder of the population lives on scattered farms and ranches across the county. Median household income data specific to Banner County is not verified here, but Nebraska’s statewide 2023 ACS median household income is $74,590 — rural Panhandle counties like Banner typically run below the state figure. Population density is under 1 person per square mile, among the lowest of any Nebraska county.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the local economy, with roughly 60 percent of the county’s land in farming and grazing use. Winter wheat and rangeland cattle operations dominate, alongside corn and dry bean acreage. The county also has a history of petroleum extraction, with production peaking around 1960; oil and gas activity continues on a smaller scale today. Banner County has no incorporated town, so county government, the school, and the post office in Harrisburg serve as the community’s civic anchors.
History
Banner County was organized on November 6, 1888, carved from what was then part of Cheyenne County. Its name reflects the ambitions of its early settlers, who declared it would become Nebraska’s “banner county” and “the brightest star in the constellation of Nebraska counties.” Harrisburg itself began as a homestead settlement in 1884, first known as Randall and then Centropolis, before being renamed for a migrant from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. By the early 1890s it had grown into a stagecoach and mail hub with hotels, banks, and its own newspapers, though it never formally incorporated.
Getting There
Nebraska Highway 88 crosses the county east–west and Nebraska Highway 71 runs north–south, meeting near Harrisburg.
- Scottsbluff, Nebraska — about 30 miles north
- Kimball, Nebraska — about 25 miles south
- Cheyenne, Wyoming — about 55 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Western Nebraska Regional Airport in Scottsbluff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Banner County, Nebraska?
It sits on the western Nebraska Panhandle, bordering Wyoming, in the state’s High Plains region.
What is the population of Banner County?
674 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Banner County?
746 square miles (1,932 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the county seat of Banner County?
Harrisburg is the county seat, though it has never incorporated as a city or town.
How many towns are in Banner County?
None are incorporated. Harrisburg is the only recognized settlement, classed as a census-designated place.
What ZIP codes are in Banner County?
The entire county is served by 69345, the Harrisburg ZIP code.
Why is it called Banner County?
Early settlers in 1888 predicted it would become Nebraska’s leading, or “banner,” county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.