Hamilton

Formed January 1, 1867 (41^st county)

Hamilton County (9,431), Aurora (4,681)                

The classic red brick and stone structure was constructed in 1895 and is sited on the square at the intersection of 13^th, L, 12^th, and M streets.  Nebraska State Highway 14 is three blocks to the east of the location.  William M. Gray provided the Country Capitol and Romanesque designs.  The structure features a tower and turrets.  The grounds have a gazebo and veteran memorials.  Hamilton County was established on January 1, 1867 from Native American Territory as the 41^st county. 

Hamilton County government consists of a sheriff and 5 Commissioners.  Four District Court Judges and Four County Court Judges serve Hamilton, Boone, Butler, Colfax, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward and York counties.  The county is located in the southeast part of the state.  Grand Island, Nebraska is west and Lincoln, Nebraska is east of the county.  The county center is 5.6 miles Northwest of Aurora.  Orville was the first county seat until 1876 when Aurora took the position.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Merrick, Polk, York, Fillmore, Clay, Adams, and Hall counties.  The county is named for United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.  The county seat is named for Aurora, Illinois. 

The area of the county is 544 square miles.  It is 71 out of 93 in the state.  It ranks 29 out of 93 in population in the state.  It has a density of 17.3 persons per square mile making it 23 out of 93 in the state.  Hamilton County has 66.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 80 crosses the county east to west from York County to Hall County.  United States Highway 34 parallels Interstate Highway 80 from York to Hall counties.  The county looks like a plow pointing north.  Aurora is located slightly south and east of center in the county.  Aurora is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 49.6% of the county population.

Stockham