Cheyenne County is a county in Nebraska, United States, in the Nebraska Panhandle along the Wyoming and Colorado state lines. It had a population of 9,468 at the 2020 census and covers 1,196 square miles (3,100 km2) centred near 41°13′N 102°59′W.
Sidney is the county seat, and its postal code is 69162. The county holds one city, four villages, two census-designated places and several unincorporated communities. Cheyenne County lies in the Mountain time zone.
Towns & Villages in Cheyenne County
Cheyenne County has 14 named places on record: one city (Sidney, the seat), four incorporated villages (Dalton, Gurley, Lodgepole and Potter), two census-designated places (Lorenzo and Sunol) and seven unincorporated communities or rural place names. CDP and Unincorp. places have no municipal government and, in most cases, no separately published 2020 census count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney | City · seat | — | 69162 |
| Dalton | Village | — | 69131 |
| Gurley | Village | — | 69141 |
| Lodgepole | Village | — | 69149 |
| Potter | Village | — | 69156 |
| Lorenzo | CDP | — | — |
| Sunol | CDP | — | — |
| Brownson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Colton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Conestoga MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gordons Mobile Plaza | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Huntsman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Vernon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Point of Rocks | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 69162 — Sidney
- 69160 — Sidney (unique ZIP, non-residential)
- 69131 — Dalton
- 69141 — Gurley
- 69149 — Lodgepole
- 69156 — Potter
Lorenzo, Sunol and the county’s unincorporated communities have no ZIP code of their own and use the nearest post office town’s code.
Geography
Cheyenne County sits on the High Plains of Nebraska’s Panhandle, mostly rolling shortgrass tableland cut by Lodgepole Creek, which runs east through Sidney and Sunol on its way to the South Platte River. Of the county’s 1,196 square miles, 0.1 square mile is water.
Cheyenne County borders Banner County to the northwest, Morrill County to the north, Garden County to the northeast, Deuel County to the east, Sedgwick County, Colorado to the southeast, Logan County, Colorado to the south, and Kimball County to the west. Links: Banner County, Morrill County, Garden County, Deuel County, Sedgwick County, Colorado (no page), Logan County, Colorado, and Kimball County.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 9,468 residents. Sidney is by far the largest community; the county’s four villages — Dalton, Gurley, Lodgepole and Potter — each have populations in the low hundreds. Household income data specific to Cheyenne County was not verified for this page; Nebraska’s statewide median household income is the Nebraska median of $74,590 (2023 ACS), for comparison. Density works out to roughly 8 people per square mile, typical of the sparsely settled Panhandle.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — wheat, corn and cattle ranching — anchors the rural economy, alongside oil and gas activity in the surrounding Panhandle. Sidney is the historic founding home of outdoor retailer Cabela’s, established there in 1961; the company’s original store and much of its early workforce shaped the town’s economy for decades. The Union Pacific main line runs through the county along the Interstate 80 corridor, and Sidney hosts an annual Fourth of July celebration and county fair events typical of Panhandle towns.
History
Cheyenne County was organized in 1871 and named for the Cheyenne Native American tribe. Fort Sidney, a U.S. Army post established in 1867 to protect Union Pacific Railroad construction crews, gave the county seat its start; the fort operated until the 1890s. In the late 1870s Sidney became a jumping-off point on the Sidney-Deadwood Trail, supplying wagon and stagecoach traffic to the Black Hills gold fields in present-day South Dakota.
Getting There
Interstate 80, U.S. Highway 30, U.S. Highway 385 and Nebraska Highway 19 all cross the county, with I-80 and US-30 running through Sidney.
- Cheyenne, Wyoming — about 90 miles west
- Scottsbluff, Nebraska — about 65 miles north
- North Platte, Nebraska — about 110 miles east
- Denver, Colorado — about 180 miles southwest
Sidney Municipal Airport handles general aviation; the nearest commercial air service is Cheyenne Regional Airport in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cheyenne County, Nebraska?
It is in the Nebraska Panhandle, bordering Wyoming and Colorado, centred near 41°13′N 102°59′W.
What is the population of Cheyenne County?
9,468 residents as of the 2020 census.
How big is Cheyenne County?
1,196 square miles (3,100 km2), of which 0.1 square mile is water.
What is the county seat of Cheyenne County?
Sidney is the county seat.
How many towns are in Cheyenne County?
One city (Sidney) and four villages (Dalton, Gurley, Lodgepole and Potter), plus two census-designated places and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Cheyenne County?
69162 and 69160 (Sidney), 69131 (Dalton), 69141 (Gurley), 69149 (Lodgepole) and 69156 (Potter).
Why is it called Cheyenne County?
It takes its name from the Cheyenne Native American tribe.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.