Richardson

Formed May 30, 1854 (1^st county)

Richardson County (7,870), Falls City (4,140)                

The Classical Revival tan brick and masonry building was erected in 1925 and sits on a square at Stone, 17^th, Harlan, and 18^th streets.  United States Highway 73 is Harlan Street of the courthouse.  Veteran memorials and a Statue of Liberty are on the grounds.  The building features faux columns.  The county was formed on May 30, 1854 as an original county.  The building designer is William F. Gernandt.  An 1872 facility preceded the current courthouse.  Archer was the first county seat until 1857 when Falls City became the seat.  The county is named for Governor William A. Richardson.  The county seat is named for the falls on the Nemaha River.  Richardson County was the birthplace for 2 Nebraska Governors, Arthur J. Weaver and David E. Heineman. 

Richardson County government consists of a sheriff, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Three District Court Judges serve Richardson, Clay, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Pawnee, Saline and Thayer counties and Three County Court Judges serve Richardson, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Saline, and Thayer counties (judicial.)  The county is in the southeast corner of the state.  Missouri is east and Kansas is south of the county.  The Missouri River is on its eastern border.  Omaha, Nebraska is north and Kansas City, Missouri is southeast of the county.  The county is 9.3 miles Northwest of Falls City nearer Verdon.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Nemaha County and Missouri and Kansas and Pawnee County. 

The area of the county is 554 square miles.  It is 68 out of 93 in the state.  It ranks 37 out of 93 in population in the state.  It has a density of 14.2 persons per square mile making it 31 out of 93 in the state.  Richardson County has 74.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 73 originates in the county and heads south into Kansas.  United States Highway 75 travels north to south from Nemaha County to Kansas.  United States Highway 159 enters from the east, Missouri, and joins United States Highway 73 into Kansas.  The county is shaped like a knife blade.  Falls City is in the southeast quarter of the county.  Falls City is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 52.6% of the county population.

Verdon