Phelps

Formed February 27, 1873 (62^nd county)

Phelps County (8,964), Holdrege (5,511)

There is a unique arch to the 1910 brown brick and masonry facility.  The courthouse is on a square surrounded by 5^th, West, 6^th, and East avenues.  United States Highway 6 travels one block south of the courthouse.  The architect was William F. Gernandt for this Beaux Arts facility.  A Justice Center was added to the east side of the structure in 2004.  The courthouse features a working clock in the arch and veteran memorials are on the grounds.  An 1884 facility was in Holdrege earlier.  Williamsburg, Phelps Center, and Holdrege have all been the county seat.  The county was established on February 27, 1873 from Kearney County as the 62^nd county.  Phelps County is named for settler William Phelps.  The county seat is named for railroad officer George W. Holdrege. 

Phelps County government consists of a sheriff and 7 Commissioners.  Two District Court Judges serve Phelps, Adams, Franklin, Harlan, Kearney, and Webster counties and Three County Court Judges serve Phelps, Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Franklin, Harlan, Kearney, Nuckolls, and Webster counties.  The county is in southern Nebraska.  Grand Island, Nebraska is northeast and Scottsbluff, Nebraska is northwest of the county.  The Platte River forms its northern border.  The county is 6.6 miles Northwest of Holdrege.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Buffalo, Kearney, Franklin, Harlan, Furnas, Gosper, and Dawson counties. 

The area of the county is 540 square miles.  It is 73 out of 93 in the state.  It ranks 31 out of 93 in population in the state.  It has a density of 16.6 persons per square mile making it 26 out of 93 in the state.  Phelps County has 76.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highways 6/34 cross the county east to southwest from Kearney County to Harlan County.  United States Highway 183 passes north to south from Buffalo County to Harlan County.  The county is an overall rectangle with the top shaved.  Holdrege is in the southern quarter of the county.  Holdrege is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 61.5% of the county population.  The county is pronounced FELPS.  The county seat is pronounced HOEL-DREG.