Merrick County is a county in Nebraska, United States, along the Platte River in the east-central part of the state. It had a population of 7,668 at the 2020 census and covers 494 square miles (1,280 km2), of which 485 square miles (1,260 km2) is land, centred near 41°06′N 98°02′W.
Central City is the county seat, and its postal code is 68826. The county has one city, four villages, one census-designated place and several unincorporated communities, plus 11 civil townships. Merrick County is part of the Grand Island, Nebraska metropolitan statistical area, sits in the Central time zone, and carries FIPS code 31121.
Towns & Villages in Merrick County
Merrick County has ten named places on the map: one city, four incorporated villages, a census-designated place along U.S. Route 30, and a handful of unincorporated crossroads. Most sit along the Union Pacific rail line that parallels the Platte River through the county.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central City | City · seat | Central | — | 68826 |
| Chapman | Village | Chapman | — | 68827 |
| Clarks | Village | Clarksville | — | 68628 |
| Palmer | Village | Midland | — | 68864 |
| Silver Creek | Village | Silver Creek | — | 68663 |
| Archer | CDP | Prairie Creek | — | — |
| Havens | Unincorp. | Lone Tree | — | — |
| Hord | Unincorp. | Prairie Island | — | — |
| Lockwood | Unincorp. | Vieregg | — | — |
| Worms | Unincorp. | Loup | — | — |
Two entries in older county lists — Paddock and Riverside Park, plus “Platte Valley Trailer Court” — are not standing place names in current gazetteers and are omitted here; they appear to be historic rail sidings or a mobile-home court rather than recognised communities. Heber, sometimes listed as a separate place, is treated as part of Silver Creek Township’s rural area rather than a distinct settlement.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Central | — | Central City |
| Chapman | — | Chapman |
| Clarksville | — | Clarks |
| Lone Tree | — | Havens |
| Loup | — | Worms |
| Mead | — | — |
| Midland | — | Palmer |
| Prairie Creek | — | Archer |
| Prairie Island | — | Hord |
| Silver Creek | — | Silver Creek |
| Vieregg | — | Lockwood |
ZIP Codes
- 68826 — Central City (also serves the surrounding rural area of Central and Vieregg townships)
- 68827 — Chapman
- 68628 — Clarks
- 68864 — Palmer
- 68663 — Silver Creek
Archer, Havens, Hord, Lockwood and Worms have no post office of their own and use the ZIP code of the nearest incorporated town.
Geography
Merrick County sits in the Platte River valley of east-central Nebraska. The Platte forms the county’s southern edge, and the Loup River crosses the northern townships before joining it near the county’s east side. The terrain is flat to gently rolling farmland, with sandier soils in the river-bottom areas and loess-covered upland to the north.
Merrick County borders Nance County to the north, Platte County to the northeast, Polk County to the east, Hamilton County to the south, Hall County to the southwest, and Howard County to the west.
Demographics
Merrick County had 7,668 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of roughly 16 people per square mile. Central City, the county seat, is by far the largest place; Palmer and Silver Creek are the next-largest incorporated villages. Median household income in the county runs below the Nebraska median of $74,590, reflecting the county’s farm-dependent economy and smaller-town wage base — a pattern typical of Nebraska’s Platte valley counties outside the Grand Island and Lincoln metro cores.
Economy & Local Life
Irrigated corn and soybean farming, along with cattle feeding, anchor Merrick County’s economy, supported by grain elevators and ag-service businesses along the Union Pacific line through Central City, Chapman, Clarks and Silver Creek. Central City serves as the county’s retail, medical and government hub, and the county’s location on U.S. Route 30 within the Grand Island metropolitan area ties it into that city’s manufacturing and healthcare job base as well.
History
Merrick County was organized on April 18, 1864, having first been created by the territorial legislature in 1858. It takes its name from Elvira Merrick, the maiden name of the wife of territorial legislator Henry W. DePuy, who introduced the bill establishing the county. The Union Pacific Railroad, built through the Platte valley in the late 1860s, shaped the location of the county’s towns, and the Lincoln Highway (later U.S. Route 30) later followed much the same corridor across the county.
Getting There
U.S. Route 30 and Nebraska Highways 14, 22 and 39 cross Merrick County, linking its towns to the wider region.
- Grand Island — 20 miles southwest
- Columbus — 30 miles east
- Kearney — 40 miles southwest
- Lincoln — 90 miles southeast
Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Merrick County?
It is in east-central Nebraska, along the Platte River, part of the Grand Island metropolitan area.
What is the population of Merrick County?
7,668 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Merrick County?
494 square miles (1,280 km2), of which 485 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Merrick County?
Central City is the county seat.
How many towns are in Merrick County?
One city and four incorporated villages — Central City, Chapman, Clarks, Palmer and Silver Creek — plus the CDP of Archer and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Merrick County?
68826 (Central City), 68827 (Chapman), 68628 (Clarks), 68864 (Palmer) and 68663 (Silver Creek).
What river runs through Merrick County?
The Platte River forms the county’s southern edge, with the Loup River crossing the northern part of the county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.