Wayne County is a county in Nebraska, United States, in the northeast part of the state along the South Fork Logan Creek and Elkhorn River watershed. It had a population of 9,697 at the 2020 census and covers 443 square miles (1,150 km2) of land, centred near 42°13′N 97°07′W.
Wayne is the county seat, and its postal code is 68787. The county has two cities, three villages and one unincorporated community, plus a small share of a fourth city that straddles the Dixon County line. Wayne County lies in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Wayne County
Seven named places appear on maps and census rolls inside Wayne County. Wayne, the seat, is by far the largest; the rest are small villages built around grain elevators and rail sidings on the old Chicago & North Western line. CDP denotes a Census Designated Place with no municipal government; Unincorp. denotes an unincorporated community with no ZIP or population count of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne | City · seat | 5,660 | 68787 |
| Wakefield | City (partial) | — | 68784 |
| Winside | Village | — | 68790 |
| Carroll | Village | — | 68723 |
| Hoskins | Village | — | 68740 |
| Sholes | Unincorp. | — | 68787 |
| Altona | Unincorp. | — | 68787 |
Wakefield is chartered as a city, but most of its population and its post office sit across the line in Dixon County; only its southern edge falls inside Wayne County, so it is not counted in Wayne County’s population total. Sholes and Altona are unincorporated crossroads settlements without their own post offices; mail for both is handled through Wayne.
ZIP Codes
- 68787 — Wayne (also serves Sholes and Altona)
- 68790 — Winside
- 68740 — Hoskins
- 68723 — Carroll
The Wayne County portion of Wakefield uses the 68784 Wakefield post office, based across the line in Dixon County.
Geography
Wayne County sits on the rolling loess plains of northeast Nebraska, drained by the Logan Creek and several of its tributaries running toward the Elkhorn River. The land is almost entirely farmed, with corn and soybeans covering most of the county’s 443 square miles.
Wayne County borders Cedar County to the north, Dixon County to the northeast, Thurston County to the east, Cuming County to the southeast, Stanton County to the south, Madison County to the southwest, and Pierce County to the west.
Demographics
Wayne County had 9,697 residents at the 2020 census. Wayne, the county seat and home to Wayne State College, is the largest community by a wide margin, followed by Winside. Median household income runs below the Nebraska median of $74,590, reflecting the county’s mostly agricultural and small-college economy. Population density is roughly 22 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives Wayne County’s economy, with corn, soybeans and livestock feeding the local grain elevators and cooperatives. Wayne State College, a public four-year college in the city of Wayne, is the county’s largest employer and anchors the local economy alongside Providence Medical Center and the Wayne Community Schools. The city hosts the Wayne Chicken Show every July, a long-running community festival built around a mock poultry-themed celebration that draws visitors from across northeast Nebraska.
History
Wayne County was organized by proclamation of Governor David Butler in the fall of 1870, and named for Revolutionary War general Anthony Wayne. Early settlement followed the railroad lines pushed through the county in the 1870s and 1880s, which platted Wayne, Winside, Carroll, Hoskins and Sholes as shipping points for the surrounding farms. Wayne State College traces to a private academy founded in 1891, later taken over by the state.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 15 and Nebraska Highway 35 cross at Wayne, the county’s main road junction.
- Norfolk, Nebraska — 20 miles south
- Sioux City, Iowa — 40 miles northeast
- South Sioux City, Nebraska — 35 miles east
- Omaha, Nebraska — 110 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa; Eppley Airfield in Omaha offers a wider range of connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wayne County, Nebraska?
It is in northeast Nebraska, about 20 miles north of Norfolk and 40 miles southwest of Sioux City, Iowa.
What is the population of Wayne County?
Wayne County had a population of 9,697 at the 2020 census.
How big is Wayne County?
The county covers 443 square miles (1,150 km2), nearly all of it land.
What is the county seat of Wayne County?
Wayne is the county seat.
How many towns are in Wayne County?
Wayne County has one city plus a small share of a second, three villages, and two unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Wayne County?
The main ZIP codes are 68787 (Wayne), 68790 (Winside), 68740 (Hoskins) and 68723 (Carroll).
What college is in Wayne County?
Wayne State College, a public four-year college, is located in the city of Wayne.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.