Nance County is a county in Nebraska, United States, on the north bank of the Loup River in the east-central part of the state. It had a population of 3,380 at the 2020 census and covers 448 square miles (1,160 km2) of which 442 square miles (1,140 km2) are land, centred near 41°23′N 97°59′W.
Fullerton is the county seat and its postal code is 68638. The county has two incorporated cities, one village, and a handful of unincorporated communities. It observes Central time and carries Nebraska license-plate prefix 58.
Towns & Villages in Nance County
Nance County has five recognized places on record — two cities, one village, and two unincorporated communities. The table below lists each, with type and ZIP code where a place has its own post office.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullerton | City · seat | — | 68638 |
| Genoa | City | — | 68640 |
| Belgrade | Village | — | 68623 |
| Krakow | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Merchiston | Unincorp. | — | — |
Krakow and Merchiston are unincorporated crossroads communities without their own ZIP code; mail there is addressed through Fullerton or Genoa depending on location. Two names carried on older lists of Nance County places — “North Star” and “Timber Creek” — could not be independently confirmed as current settlements and are omitted here (see notes).
ZIP Codes
- 68638 — Fullerton
- 68640 — Genoa
- 68623 — Belgrade
The rest of the county, including the Krakow and Merchiston areas, is served by the Fullerton or Genoa post offices depending on location.
Geography
Nance County sits on rolling farmland along the Loup River, which crosses the county roughly west to east before joining the Platte a short distance downstream. The river bottom is flat, fertile, and heavily irrigated, while the ground rising away from it turns to gently rolling upland prairie typical of east-central Nebraska. Roughly 1.5% of the county’s area is water. Nance County borders Boone County to the north, Merrick County to the south, Platte County to the east, and Greeley County to the west.
Demographics
Nance County’s 2020 population of 3,380 makes it one of Nebraska’s smaller counties by population. Genoa and Fullerton are the two largest communities, with the rest of the population living in Belgrade or on farms and rural crossroads throughout the county. Household income in Nance County runs below the Nebraska median of $74,590, consistent with the county’s largely agricultural economy. At 448 square miles, the county has a density of about 7.5 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives Nance County’s economy — corn, soybeans, and cattle operations dominate the irrigated bottomland along the Loup River and the upland farm ground beyond it. Grain elevators and farm-supply businesses in Fullerton and Genoa serve the surrounding operations, and most local employment traces back to farming, ranching, or the services that support it. Genoa is home to the Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation and Museum, which preserves the history of the former federal Indian boarding school that operated there from 1884 to 1934. Fullerton, the county seat, anchors local government, the county courthouse, schools, and county services, and hosts the county fair each summer.
History
Nance County was organized in 1879 and named for Albinus Nance, who served as governor of Nebraska from 1879 to 1883. The land had earlier been part of the Pawnee Reservation before it was opened to settlement, and Genoa served as an agency town during the reservation era before later becoming the site of the Genoa Indian School.
Getting There
Nebraska Highways 14, 22, 39, and 52 cross the county, connecting Fullerton and Genoa to the wider state highway network.
- Columbus — 25 miles east
- Grand Island — 40 miles south
- Norfolk — 45 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Nance County?
Nance County is in east-central Nebraska, along the Loup River, between Columbus and Grand Island.
What is the population of Nance County?
Nance County had a population of 3,380 at the 2020 census.
How big is Nance County?
The county covers 448 square miles (1,160 km2), of which 442 square miles are land.
What is the Nance County seat?
Fullerton is the county seat.
How many towns are in Nance County?
Nance County has two cities (Fullerton and Genoa), one village (Belgrade), and a couple of small unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Nance County?
Nance County’s main ZIP codes are 68638 (Fullerton), 68640 (Genoa), and 68623 (Belgrade).
What is Genoa, Nebraska known for?
Genoa was the site of the Genoa U.S. Indian School, a federal boarding school that operated from 1884 to 1934 and is now preserved as a museum.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.