Gage County is a county in Nebraska, United States, on the Kansas border in the southeastern part of the state. It had a population of 21,704 at the 2020 census and covers 860 square miles (2,227 km2) centred near 40°15′N 96°41′W.
Beatrice is the county seat, and its postal code is 68310. The county has 3 cities, 9 villages, 1 census-designated place and 5 unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone and carries Nebraska FIPS county number 34.
Towns & Villages in Gage County
Gage County has 18 named places today: 3 incorporated cities, 9 incorporated villages, 1 census-designated place (CDP) and 5 unincorporated communities with no city government of their own. Beatrice, the seat, holds roughly two-thirds of the county’s population.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beatrice | City · seat | 12,261 | 68310 |
| Wymore | City | — | 68466 |
| Blue Springs | City | — | 68318 |
| Adams | Village | — | 68301 |
| Barneston | Village | — | 68309 |
| Clatonia | Village | — | 68328 |
| Cortland | Village | — | 68331 |
| Filley | Village | — | 68357 |
| Liberty | Village | — | 68381 |
| Odell | Village | — | 68415 |
| Pickrell | Village | — | 68422 |
| Virginia | Village | — | 68458 |
| Holmesville | CDP | — | — |
| Ellis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hoag | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Krider | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lanham | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rockford | Unincorp. | — | — |
Two entries from older lists of the county did not verify against the current Wikipedia community roster and are omitted here: “Badger” and “Glenover” have no confirmed record as active Gage County places, and “Hoyle North 77 MHs” appears to describe a mobile-home subdivision rather than a named community.
ZIP Codes
- 68310 — Beatrice (also serves the surrounding county seat area)
- 68466 — Wymore
- 68318 — Blue Springs
- 68301 — Adams
- 68309 — Barneston
- 68328 — Clatonia
- 68331 — Cortland
- 68357 — Filley
- 68381 — Liberty
- 68415 — Odell
- 68422 — Pickrell
- 68458 — Virginia
Holmesville and the unincorporated communities of Ellis, Hoag, Krider, Lanham and Rockford have no ZIP code of their own; mail there is routed through one of the post offices above.
Geography
Gage County lies in the rolling farmland of southeastern Nebraska, on the Kansas state line. The Big Blue River crosses the county through Beatrice, and its Blue Springs and Indian Creek tributaries drain much of the surrounding township land. Land makes up about 851 of the county’s 860 square miles, with the remainder in ponds and streams.
The county borders Lancaster County to the north, Otoe County to the northeast (both Nebraska), Johnson County and Pawnee County to the east, Jefferson County to the south, Saline County to the west, and Marshall County and Washington County across the Kansas line to the south. Lancaster and Otoe do not have their own live pages on this site to link to.
Live sibling pages: Johnson County, Nebraska, Pawnee County, Nebraska, Jefferson County, Nebraska, Saline County, Nebraska, Marshall County, Kansas and Washington County, Kansas.
Demographics
Gage County had 21,704 residents at the 2020 census. Beatrice, the seat, is by far the largest community, followed by Wymore. Gage County’s median household income runs below the Nebraska median of $74,590, reflecting the county’s farming-town economic base. Population density works out to roughly 25 people per square mile, well below the state’s more urbanized counties around Lincoln and Omaha.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the county’s economy — corn, soybeans and cattle dominate the farmland outside Beatrice. Beatrice itself carries a manufacturing base tied to its rail and highway access, and Beatrice Community Hospital serves as the county’s main healthcare employer. The Gage County Fair, held each summer in Beatrice, is the county’s largest annual community event.
History
Gage County was created on March 16, 1855, and organized in 1857, one of Nebraska Territory’s original counties. It takes its name from William D. Gage, a Methodist minister who served as the first chaplain of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature. The land had been Otoe territory before an 1854 treaty opened it to settlement. Beatrice grew up along the Big Blue River as the county’s trade center and became the seat.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 77 and 136 cross at Beatrice, with Nebraska Highways 4, 8, 41, 43, 103 and 112 covering the rest of the county.
- Lincoln — 40 miles north
- Omaha — 90 miles northeast
- Marysville, Kansas — 30 miles south
- Fairbury — 25 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Lincoln Airport, about 40 miles north of Beatrice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gage County, Nebraska?
It sits in southeastern Nebraska on the Kansas border, about 40 miles south of Lincoln.
What is the population of Gage County?
21,704 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Gage County?
860 square miles (2,227 km2), of which about 8.5 square miles is water.
What is the Gage County seat?
Beatrice is the county seat.
How many towns are in Gage County?
Eighteen named places: 3 cities, 9 villages, 1 census-designated place and 5 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Gage County?
Twelve ZIP codes, led by 68310 (Beatrice), 68466 (Wymore) and 68318 (Blue Springs).
What river runs through Gage County?
The Big Blue River, which flows through Beatrice.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.