Johnson County is a county in Nebraska, United States, in the southeastern part of the state, drained by the Big Nemaha River. It had a population of 5,290 at the 2020 census and covers 377 square miles (980 km2) centred near 40°24′N 96°16′W.
Tecumseh is the county seat and its postal code is 68450. The county has one incorporated city, four villages, and two unincorporated communities, and sits in the Central Time Zone. Johnson County ranks as Nebraska’s fourth-smallest county by land area.
Towns & Villages in Johnson County
Seven named places appear on the map of Johnson County: Tecumseh is the only incorporated city, four settlements are incorporated villages, and Saint Mary and Vesta are unincorporated communities without their own municipal government. Each village has its own elected board and provides basic local services, while the unincorporated communities are served directly by the county.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tecumseh | City · seat | — | 68450 |
| Cook | Village | — | 68329 |
| Sterling | Village | — | 68443 |
| Crab Orchard | Village | — | 68332 |
| Elk Creek | Village | — | 68348 |
| Saint Mary | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vesta | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 68450 — Tecumseh
- 68443 — Sterling
- 68329 — Cook
- 68348 — Elk Creek
- 68332 — Crab Orchard
Saint Mary and Vesta have no post office of their own and are served by the ZIP code of the nearest village.
Geography
Johnson County covers low rolling hills used mainly for cropland and pasture, with the Big Nemaha River running southeastward through the central part of the county and feeding several smaller creeks that drain the surrounding farmland. Of its 377 square miles, 376 are land and 0.7 are water, making it the fourth-smallest county in Nebraska by area. The landscape is typical of Nebraska’s glaciated southeastern plains, with gently sloping ridges separating the river bottomland from cultivated upland fields. Johnson County borders Otoe County to the north, Nemaha County to the east, Richardson County to the southeast, Pawnee County to the south, and Gage County to the west.
Demographics
Johnson County had 5,290 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 14 people per square mile. Tecumseh, the county seat, is its largest community. Median household income data specific to Johnson County was not independently verified for this profile; the Nebraska statewide median is $74,590. As in many rural southeastern Nebraska counties, the population is concentrated in the county seat and the four incorporated villages, with the remaining residents living on farmsteads scattered across the rural, unincorporated parts of the county.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, especially corn and soybean farming and cattle grazing, anchors the county’s economy, with Tecumseh serving as the trade and government center. The Johnson County Courthouse in Tecumseh houses the county’s administrative offices, and the surrounding villages support local grain elevators, farm-supply dealers, and small-town retail that serve the wider farming community. Local schools and churches remain the main gathering points in the smaller villages, and the county’s rural roads connect farmsteads to the grain markets along U.S. Route 136.
History
Johnson County was formed in 1855 and organized in 1857. It was named after Richard Mentor Johnson, Vice President of the United States from 1837 to 1841. Like much of southeastern Nebraska, the county was settled by farmers who arrived after the Kansas-Nebraska Act opened the territory, and its early economy grew around wheat and corn farming along the Big Nemaha River valley. Tecumseh was platted as the county seat in the county’s early years and has remained its governmental and commercial center ever since.
Getting There
U.S. Route 136 crosses the county east–west through Tecumseh. Nearby cities include:
- Lincoln — about 40 miles northwest
- Beatrice — about 25 miles west
- Falls City — about 30 miles southeast
- Nebraska City — about 25 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Lincoln Airport, roughly 40 miles to the northwest, which offers regional and connecting flights. Nebraska Highway 50 also runs through the county, linking Tecumseh north toward Syracuse and Nebraska City and south toward Pawnee City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Johnson County, Nebraska?
It is in the southeastern part of Nebraska, bordered by Otoe, Nemaha, Richardson, Pawnee, and Gage counties.
What is the population of Johnson County?
5,290 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Johnson County?
377 square miles (980 km2), of which 376 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Johnson County?
Tecumseh is the county seat.
How many towns and villages are in Johnson County?
One city (Tecumseh) and four villages (Cook, Crab Orchard, Elk Creek, and Sterling), plus the unincorporated communities of Saint Mary and Vesta.
What ZIP codes are in Johnson County?
68450 (Tecumseh), 68443 (Sterling), 68329 (Cook), 68348 (Elk Creek), and 68332 (Crab Orchard).
What river flows through Johnson County?
The Big Nemaha River flows southeastward through the central part of the county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.