Nance

Formed January 1, 1879 (68^th county)

Nance County (3,377), Fullerton (1,252)

A brown brick Modern courthouse, built in 1974, is on Esther Street between 2^nd and 3^rd streets.  Nebraska State Highway 6 is six blocks to the west of the courthouse.  The building’s designer was George E. Clayton.  It replaced a classier 1895 version also in Fullerton, the only county seat.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  The county was created on January 1, 1879 from Native American Territory as the 68^th county.  Nance County is named for Governor Albinus Nance.  The county seat is named for Randall Fuller. 

Nance County government consists of a sheriff, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 7 Commissioners (legislative.)  Four District Court Judges and Four County Court Judges serve Nance, Boone, Butler, Colfax, Hamilton, Merrick, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward and York counties (judicial.)  The county is in eastern Nebraska.  Grand Island, Nebraska is southwest and Lincoln, Nebraska is southeast of the county.  The county center is 4 miles Northeast of Fullerton.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Boone, Platte, Merrick, Howard, and Greeley counties. 

The area of the county is 441 square miles.  It is 81 out of 93 in the state.  It ranks 64 out of 93 in population in the state.  It has a density of 7.7 persons per square mile making it 50 out of 93 in the state.  Nance County has 66.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  The county looks like a very fat pistol.  Fullerton is located in the southern third of the county.  Fullerton is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 37.1% of the county population.