Colfax

Formed January 1, 1869 (43^rd county)

Colfax County (10,581), Schuyler (6,545)                

The tan brick and masonry Second Renaissance Revival structure was constructed in 1920 on 11^th Street between C and D streets.  Nebraska State Highway 15 is three blocks west of the courthouse.  The designer was George A. Berlinghof.  A military gun and veteran memorials are on the grounds.  An 1871 courthouse was previously in use.  The county was formed on January 1, 1869 from Platte County as the 43^rd county with Schuyler as the only county seat.  The county and county seat are named for United States Vice President Schuyler Colfax. 

Colfax County government consists of a sheriff, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Four District Court Judges and Four County Court Judges serve Colfax, Boone, Butler, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward and York counties (judicial.)  The county is in the eastern part of the state.  The Platte River forms its southern border.  Omaha, Nebraska is east and Lincoln, Nebraska is east of the county.  The county center is 14.6 miles North-Northeast of Schuyler.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Cuming, Dodge, Saunders, Butler, Platte, and Stanton counties. 

The area of the county is 413 square miles.  It is 86 out of 93 in the state.  It ranks 24 out of 93 in population in the state.  It has a density of 25.6 persons per square mile making it 17 out of 93 in the state.  Colfax County has 78.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 30 goes east to west in the county from Dodge County to Platte County.  The county looks like a plow facing south.  Schuyler is located near the southern border of the county.  Schuyler is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 61.9% of the county population.