Antelope

Formed January 1, 1871 (46^th county)

Antelope County (6,292), Neligh (1,538)

The pleasant red brick Federalist and Beaux Arts facility, built in 1894, has been remodeled and enlarged in 2003.  It is located on L, 5^th, Main, and 6^th streets.  United States Highway 275 is L Street.  George E. McDonald and Fred Thornton were the architects.  An Annex was added in 1966.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  The county was created on January 1, 1871 from Native American Territory as the 46^th county.  Oakdale was the first county seat until 1874 when Neligh became the seat.  Antelope County is named for the local herds.  The county seat is named for settler John D. Neligh. 

Antelope County government consists of a sheriff, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Two District Court Judges and Three County Court Judges serve Antelope, Cuming, Knox, Madison, Pierce, Stanton and Wayne counties (judicial.)  The county is located in the northeast part of the state.  Grand Island, Nebraska is south and Omaha, Nebraska is southeast.  The county center is 5.3 miles North-Northwest of Neligh.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Knox, Pierce, Madison, Boone, Wheeler, and Holt counties. 

The area of the county is 857 square miles.  It is 24 out of 93 in the state.  It ranks 46 out of 93 in population in the state.  It has a density of 7.3 persons per square mile making it 52 out of 93 in the state.  Antelope County has 59.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 20 travels east to west in the county from Pierce County to Holt County.  United States Highway 275 goes southeast to northwest from Madison County to Holt County.  The county is a tall rectangle.  Neligh is located slightly south and east of center in the county.  Neligh is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 23.9% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced NEE-LEE.