About Our County

History of Perkins County

Perkins County was officially organized in 1887, formed from land that previously belonged to Keith County during Nebraska’s westward settlement period.
The county is named after Charles Elliott Perkins, president of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, reflecting the railroad’s major role in regional development.
Grant was founded in 1886 and became the county seat, serving as the governmental and commercial hub for the surrounding agricultural area.
Early settlement was driven by homesteading and dryland farming, with wheat and livestock becoming dominant as irrigation expanded in the 20th century.
Population peaked in 1930 at over 5,800 residents, then gradually declined due to mechanized farming and rural population shifts.
Perkins County played a role in Nebraska’s transition to modern agriculture through center‑pivot irrigation, which became widespread after World War II.

Perkins County is the easternmost county in Nebraska that observes Mountain Time, making it a unique time‑zone boundary location.
The county covers approximately 884 square miles, with over 95% of the land used for agriculture, primarily corn, wheat, and cattle production.
Despite its large size, the county has only four incorporated communities: one city (Grant) and three villages (Elsie, Madrid, and Venango).
Perkins County has one of the lowest population densities in Nebraska, averaging just over 3 people per square mile.
Nebraska license plates use a numeric system based on vehicle registrations in 1922—Perkins County’s prefix is 74, reflecting its historical size at that time.
The county sits along Nebraska’s border with Colorado, with its western edge directly touching Sedgwick and Phillips Counties in Colorado.