Valley

Formed January 1, 1871 (53^rd county)

Valley County (4,055), Ord (2,111)

A red/brown brick Beaux Arts courthouse for Valley County was built in 1921.  It is located on a square at 15^th, L, 16^th, and M streets.  L Street is Nebraska State Highway 70 in this part of the town.  William F. Gernandt is the architect of this columned structure.  An 1885 version preceded the current one also in Ord, the only county seat.  Valley County was created on January 1, 1871 from Native American Territory as the 53^rd county.  Its name is a geographical description of the area.  The county seat is named for General E. O. C. Ord. 

Valley County government consists of a sheriff, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 7 Commissioners (legislative.)  Two District Court Judges and Three County Court Judges serve Valley, Blaine, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Holt, Howard, Keya Paha, Loup, Rock, Sherman, and Wheeler counties (judicial.)  Valley County is in central Nebraska.  Grand Island, Nebraska is south and Omaha, Nebraska is east of the county.  The county is 5.4 miles Southwest of Ord.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Garfield, Wheeler, Greeley, Sherman, and Custer counties. 

The area of the county is 568 square miles.  It is 64 out of 93 in the state.  It ranks 60 out of 93 in population in the state.  It has a density of 7.1 persons per square mile making it 53 out of 93 in the state.  Valley County has 66.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  The county is a rectangle.  Ord is located in the northeast quarter of the county.  Ord is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 52.1% of the county population.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  The county seat is pronounced OERD.

Ord