Seward County is a county in Nebraska, United States, part of the Lincoln metropolitan area and crossed by the Big Blue River. It had a population of 17,609 at the 2020 census and covers 575.9 square miles (1,491.5 km2) centred near 40°52′N 97°08′W.
Seward is the county seat, and its postal code is 68434. The county has 2 incorporated cities, 6 incorporated villages, 1 census-designated place and 2 unincorporated communities. Seward County sits in the Central Time zone and carries FIPS code 31159.
Towns & Villages in Seward County
Seward County has ten populated communities plus a scattering of farm hamlets. Two are incorporated cities, six are incorporated villages, one is a census-designated place, and Grover and Ruby are unincorporated.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seward | City · seat | 7,198 | 68434 |
| Milford | City | — | 68405 |
| Utica | Village | — | 68456 |
| Beaver Crossing | Village | — | 68313 |
| Staplehurst | Village | — | 68439 |
| Pleasant Dale | Village | — | 68423 |
| Garland | Village | — | 68360 |
| Bee | Village | — | 68314 |
| Tamora | CDP | — | 68456 |
| Goehner | Unincorp. | — | 68364 |
| Cordova | Unincorp. | — | 68330 |
| Grover | Unincorp. | — | 68434 |
| Ruby | Unincorp. | — | 68434 |
Riverside Park and Twin Oaks Mobile Park, both listed on older maps of the county, are recreational and residential sites within Seward’s city limits rather than separate settlements, so they are not listed as standalone places above. Pittsburg, once platted north of Seward, is a ghost town with no remaining population.
ZIP Codes
- 68434 — Seward (also serves Grover and Ruby)
- 68405 — Milford
- 68456 — Utica (also serves Tamora)
- 68313 — Beaver Crossing
- 68439 — Staplehurst
- 68423 — Pleasant Dale
- 68360 — Garland
- 68314 — Bee
- 68364 — Goehner (PO Box only)
- 68330 — Cordova (PO Box only)
Ten ZIP codes cover the county; the last two are PO Box-only delivery points rather than full carrier routes.
Geography
Seward County lies in southeastern Nebraska on gently rolling farmland, most of it under center-pivot irrigation for corn and soybeans. The Big Blue River runs south through the middle of the county, past Seward and Milford, and several of its tributaries drain the surrounding uplands. Land makes up 571.4 of the county’s 575.9 square miles, with the remainder in the river and small lakes.
Seward County borders Butler County to the north, Lancaster County to the east, Saline County to the south, Fillmore County to the southwest, York County to the west, and Polk County to the northwest.
Demographics
Seward County recorded a population of 17,609 at the 2020 census. Seward city and Milford are the two largest communities, together home to more than half the county’s residents. The county’s median household income runs above the Nebraska median of $74,590, reflecting the county’s mix of stable farm income and commuter households working in Lincoln. Population density is about 30.8 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, particularly irrigated corn and soybeans plus livestock feeding, anchors the county economy, alongside manufacturing and food-processing plants in Milford and Seward. Concordia University, Nebraska, a private Lutheran university, is based in Seward and is one of the county’s larger employers. Seward’s proximity to Lincoln, about 25 miles east, also draws commuter households into the county. Seward is nationally known for its Fourth of July celebration, promoted for decades as “America’s Official Hometown Fourth of July Celebration.”
History
Seward County was created on March 16, 1855, and formally organized on October 1, 1865. It was originally called Greene County; the legislature renamed it in 1862 to honor William H. Seward, who served as U.S. Secretary of State under both Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. The county seat, also named Seward, grew up along the Big Blue River and later became a rail and university town.
Getting There
Nebraska Highway 15 and U.S. Route 34 cross the county and meet at Seward, with Interstate 80 running along the county’s northern edge near Milford.
- Lincoln, Nebraska — 25 miles east
- York, Nebraska — 20 miles west
- David City, Nebraska — 20 miles north
- Beatrice, Nebraska — 35 miles south
Lincoln Airport, about 25 miles east of Seward, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Seward County, Nebraska?
Seward County is in southeastern Nebraska, part of the Lincoln metropolitan area, along the Big Blue River.
What is the population of Seward County?
Seward County had a population of 17,609 at the 2020 census.
How big is Seward County?
The county covers 575.9 square miles (1,491.5 km2), of which 571.4 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Seward County?
Seward is the county seat and the county’s largest city.
How many towns and villages are in Seward County?
The county has 2 cities, 6 villages, 1 census-designated place, and a few unincorporated communities such as Goehner and Cordova.
What ZIP codes are in Seward County?
Seward County’s ZIP codes include 68434 (Seward), 68405 (Milford), 68456 (Utica), 68313 (Beaver Crossing), 68439 (Staplehurst), 68423 (Pleasant Dale), 68360 (Garland), 68314 (Bee), 68364 (Goehner), and 68330 (Cordova).
What is Seward, Nebraska known for?
Seward hosts one of the country’s best-known small-town Fourth of July celebrations and is home to Concordia University, Nebraska.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.