McPherson County is a county in Nebraska, United States, set in the Sandhills grassland of the state’s west-central plains. It had a population of 399 at the 2020 census, the smallest of any county in Nebraska, and covers 860 square miles (2,228 km2) centred near 41°39′N 101°07′W.
Tryon is the county seat, and its postal code is 69167. McPherson County has one census-designated place and two small unincorporated communities, and the whole county observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in McPherson County
McPherson County has three named places: Tryon, a census-designated place that serves as the county seat, and the unincorporated communities of Ringgold and Flats. All addresses in the county share the single Tryon ZIP code.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tryon | CDP · seat | 107 | 69167 |
| Ringgold | Unincorp. | — | 69167 |
| Flats | Unincorp. | — | 69167 |
ZIP Codes
- 69167 — Tryon (also serves Ringgold and Flats)
McPherson County has no incorporated towns of its own, so every address in the county, including Ringgold and Flats, is served through the Tryon post office.
Geography
The county lies in Nebraska’s Sandhills, a belt of grass-stabilized dunes with low rolling hills sloping south-southeast. Of its 860 square miles, 859 square miles are land and about 1 square mile is water; the county has no major river crossing it, and the shallow lakes and sub-irrigated meadows scattered through the dunes draw on the Ogallala Aquifer beneath.
McPherson County borders six other Nebraska counties: Hooker County to the north, Thomas County to the northeast, Logan County to the east, Lincoln County to the southeast, Keith County to the southwest, and Arthur County to the west.
Demographics
McPherson County had a population of 399 at the 2020 census, spread across 859 square miles of land for a density of roughly 0.5 people per square mile — making it the least densely populated as well as the least populous county in Nebraska. Tryon, home to 107 residents, is by far the county’s largest community; Ringgold and Flats are unincorporated crossroads with only a handful of residents apiece, and most of the county’s population lives on scattered ranches rather than in any of the three named places. Verified county-level median household income is not available; for comparison, the Nebraska median household income is $74,590.
Economy & Local Life
Cattle ranching is the backbone of the county’s economy. The Sandhills’ native grasses and sub-irrigated hay meadows support cow-calf operations on large landholdings that often run to thousands of acres, since the fragile dune terrain cannot support row-crop farming. Most local commerce runs through Tryon, the only town of any size, with a handful of ranch-supply and service businesses; the nearest full range of retail and medical services is in North Platte. McPherson County has long voted more heavily Republican than almost any other county in the United States: in the 2016 presidential election, the Democratic candidate drew just 14 votes, or 4.9 percent of the total, one of the weakest showings for a major-party nominee anywhere in the country.
History
McPherson County was organized on March 31, 1887, carved out of Logan County, and named for Union Civil War General James B. McPherson, who was killed in action outside Atlanta in July 1864 and remains the highest-ranking Union officer to die in the war. Like much of the Sandhills, the county drew homestead-era settlers who tried to farm the dunes before the land was given over almost entirely to grazing, once the sandy soil proved unsuited to row crops. In 1913, the Nebraska Legislature took a western slice of the county to create Arthur County, fixing McPherson’s present-day boundaries. Tryon was platted as the county seat and has remained the county’s only town ever since.
Getting There
Nebraska Highways 92 and 97 run together through the center of Tryon, the county’s only town.
- North Platte — 35 miles south via Highway 97
- Thedford — roughly 30 miles northeast via Highway 92
- Ogallala — roughly 45 miles southwest via county and state roads
North Platte Regional Airport is the nearest airport with commercial service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is McPherson County, Nebraska?
It sits in Nebraska’s Sandhills region, bordered by Hooker, Thomas, Logan, Lincoln, Keith, and Arthur counties.
What is the population of McPherson County?
399 at the 2020 census, the smallest population of any Nebraska county.
How big is McPherson County?
860 square miles (2,228 km2), of which about 1 square mile is water.
What is the county seat of McPherson County?
Tryon, population 107 at the 2020 census.
How many towns are in McPherson County?
One census-designated place, Tryon, plus the unincorporated communities of Ringgold and Flats.
What ZIP codes are in McPherson County?
69167, the Tryon ZIP code, covers the entire county.
What is McPherson County’s main industry?
Cattle ranching on the Sandhills’ native grass and hay meadows.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.