Sherman County is a county in Nebraska, United States, on the Loup River in the central part of the state. It had a population of 2,959 at the 2020 census and covers 572 square miles (1,480 km2) centred near 41°13′N 98°58′W.
Loup City is the county seat, and its postal code is 68853. The county has one incorporated city and four villages, all unincorporated beyond that, sits in the Central time zone, and is entirely rural — the 2020 census recorded no urban population anywhere in the county.
Towns & Villages in Sherman County
Five places carry an official name in Sherman County: one city and four villages. All are small, agricultural service communities strung along the Loup River valley and the Nebraska highway grid.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loup City | City · seat | — | 68853 |
| Ashton | Village | — | 68817 |
| Litchfield | Village | — | 68852 |
| Rockville | Village | — | 68871 |
| Hazard | Village | — | 68844 |
Loup City is the only city in the county and by far its largest place; the four villages are each home to well under 300 people. No CDPs (census-designated places) are recognized in Sherman County.
Individual per-place 2020 census populations are omitted above pending verification (see notes).
ZIP Codes
- 68853 — Loup City
- 68852 — Litchfield
- 68817 — Ashton
- 68871 — Rockville
- 68844 — Hazard
Each of the county’s five named places has its own ZIP code and post office; there are no unincorporated crossroads in Sherman County that rely on a neighboring town’s ZIP.
Geography
Sherman County lies in the Loup River valley of central Nebraska, straddling the Middle Loup and South Loup rivers, which join near Loup City to form the Loup River proper. The land rises from river-bottom farmland along the valley floor to sandy, rolling grassland toward the county’s southern edge, part of Nebraska’s Sandhills transition zone. Of the county’s 572 square miles, 566 are land and 5.8 are water.
Sherman County borders Valley County to the north, Greeley County to the northeast, Howard County to the east, Buffalo County to the south, and Custer County to the west.
Demographics
Sherman County had 2,959 residents at the 2020 census, at a density of about 5.2 people per square mile. Loup City is the largest community, followed by Litchfield. The county’s median household income runs below the Nebraska median of $74,590, typical for a small, farm-dependent Nebraska county. The population is 94.9% White, with a notably high share of Polish-American ancestry tracing to 19th-century settlement around Loup City and Ashton, and it is entirely classified as rural.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives Sherman County’s economy — corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and cattle ranching on the Sandhills-edge pasture to the south. Loup City serves as the county’s retail, medical, and government hub, and Sherman County Hospital is among its larger employers. Grain elevators and farm-supply businesses anchor the smaller villages along the rail and highway lines.
History
Sherman County was created by the Nebraska Legislature in 1870 and organized in 1872, taking its name from Union Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman, following a naming pattern used across several central Nebraska counties formed in the same era. Loup City was platted along the Middle Loup River and became the county seat as settlement, much of it by Polish and Czech immigrant farm families, spread through the valley in the 1870s and 1880s.
Getting There
Nebraska Highways 2, 10, 58, 68, and 92 cross the county, with Highway 92 running through Loup City and connecting the county seat to neighboring towns.
- Grand Island — 45 miles southeast
- Kearney — 45 miles south
- Broken Bow — 30 miles west
- St. Paul — 20 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sherman County, Nebraska?
It sits in central Nebraska along the Loup River, between Grand Island and Broken Bow.
What is the population of Sherman County?
2,959 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Sherman County?
572 square miles (1,480 km2), including 5.8 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Sherman County?
Loup City is the county seat and largest city.
How many towns and villages are in Sherman County?
Five: the city of Loup City and the villages of Ashton, Hazard, Litchfield, and Rockville.
What ZIP codes are in Sherman County?
68853 (Loup City), 68852 (Litchfield), 68817 (Ashton), 68871 (Rockville), and 68844 (Hazard).
Who is Sherman County named after?
Union Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.