York County is a county in Nebraska, United States, in the central part of the state along Interstate 80. It had a population of 14,125 at the 2020 census and covers 576 square miles (1,491 km2) centred near 40°52′N 97°36′W.
York is the county seat, and its postal code is 68467. The county has 2 incorporated cities, 5 incorporated villages, and several unincorporated communities. York County runs on Central time and is bisected by Interstate 80, US Route 34, and US Route 81.
Towns & Villages in York County
York County has 13 named places in and around its towns and rural communities: 2 incorporated cities, 5 incorporated villages, and 6 unincorporated communities. CDP means census-designated place; Unincorp. means an unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| York | City · seat | 8,046 | 68467 |
| Henderson | City | 1,047 | 68371 |
| Bradshaw | Village | — | 68319 |
| Gresham | Village | — | 68367 |
| McCool Junction | Village | — | 68401 |
| Waco | Village | — | 68460 |
| Benedict | Village | — | 68316 |
| Thayer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lushton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Arborville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Houston | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Knox | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mapps | Unincorp. | — | — |
York, the county seat, holds most of the county’s population and its only hospital and community college campus. Henderson, in the southeast corner of the county, is a historically Mennonite farming community. The remaining villages and unincorporated crossroads are agricultural service points, each with a grain elevator or church as their anchor.
ZIP Codes
- 68467 — York (also serves surrounding rural addresses)
- 68371 — Henderson
- 68319 — Bradshaw
- 68367 — Gresham
- 68401 — McCool Junction
- 68460 — Waco
- 68316 — Benedict
Thayer, Lushton, Arborville, Houston, Knox, and Mapps have no ZIP code of their own; mail there is addressed through the nearest incorporated post office town above.
Geography
York County sits on rolling prairie in central Nebraska, given over almost entirely to row-crop agriculture. Land makes up 573 square miles of the county’s 576-square-mile total, with roughly 3 square miles of water in scattered farm ponds and small streams; there is no major river or lake within the county. The terrain is flat to gently rolling, typical of the Central Table Tableland region of the state.
York County borders Polk County to the north, Butler County to the northeast, Seward County to the east, Saline County to the southeast, Fillmore County to the south, Clay County to the southwest, and Hamilton County to the west.
Demographics
York County had 14,125 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 25 people per square mile. York, the county seat, is by far the largest community with 8,046 residents; Henderson is second with 1,047. Median household income in the county runs close to the Nebraska median of $74,590, reflecting a mostly farm-owning and small-town-employed population.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the county’s economy, chiefly corn, soybeans, and cattle feeding, supported by grain elevators and an ethanol plant near York. York city itself is the county’s commercial and institutional hub, home to a small private university, a regional hospital, and several manufacturing employers. Henderson’s economy leans on Mennonite-run farm and dairy operations. The York County Fair, held each summer in York, is the county’s largest annual gathering.
History
York County was created on March 16, 1855, and formally organized in 1870. Sources disagree on the origin of its name: some credit the English city of York, others say early settlers named it for York County, Pennsylvania, where several of the founding families had lived. The county’s early economy centred on wheat before diversifying into corn and cattle in the 20th century, and the arrival of the railroad through York in the 1870s cemented the city’s role as county seat and trade center.
Getting There
Interstate 80 crosses the county east–west through York, with US Route 34 and US Route 81 also passing through the city. Nebraska Highway 69 runs south from York toward the Fillmore County line.
- Lincoln — 47 miles east
- Grand Island — 40 miles west
- Hastings — 35 miles southwest
- Seward — 24 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Lincoln Airport, about an hour’s drive east via Interstate 80.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is York County, Nebraska?
It sits in central Nebraska along Interstate 80, roughly midway between Lincoln and Grand Island.
What is the population of York County?
14,125 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is York County?
576 square miles (1,491 km2), including about 3 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of York County?
York is the county seat, and its largest city.
How many towns are in York County?
Two cities (York and Henderson), five villages, and six unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in York County?
68467 (York), 68371 (Henderson), 68319 (Bradshaw), 68367 (Gresham), 68401 (McCool Junction), 68460 (Waco), and 68316 (Benedict).
Why is York County named York?
Its origin is disputed — either after the English city of York or after York County, Pennsylvania, home to several early settlers.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Nebraska.