Jefferson

Formed January 26, 1856 (22^nd county)

Jefferson County (7,242), Fairbury (3,964)                

The Beaux Arts stone courthouse was built in 1892 on 4^th, D, 5^th, E streets.  United States Highway 136 passes 10 blocks north of the site.  Jefferson County was organized on January 26, 1856 from Native American Territory as the 22^nd county with Fairbury as the only county seat.  J. C. Holland was the architect of the courthouse.  The building features a domed tower with Lady Justice overlooking the entrance.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  The county is named for United States President Thomas Jefferson.  The county seat is named for Fairbury, Illinois. 

Jefferson County government consists of a sheriff, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Three District Court Judges serve Jefferson, Clay, Fillmore, Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline and Thayer counties and Three County Court Judges serve Jefferson, Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, and Thayer counties (judicial.)  Jefferson County is on the southern border with Kansas.  Lincoln, Nebraska is northeast and Grand Island, Nebraska is northwest of the county.  The county center is 1.5 miles North of Fairbury.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Saline and Gage counties and Kansas and Thayer and Fillmore counties. 

The area of the county is 573 square miles.  It is 56 out of 93 in the state.  It ranks 40 out of 93 in population in the state.  It has a density of 12.6 persons per square mile making it 38 out of 93 in the state.  Jefferson County has 70.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 136 crosses east to west through the county from Gage County to Thayer County.  The county is a rectangle with Fairbury located south and west of center in the county.  Fairbury is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 54.7% of the county population.