Thomas

Formed March 31, 1887 (81^st county)

Thomas County (668), Thedford (210)

A Modern building serves the county since 2006.  It replaced 1889 and 1923 versions in Thedford, the only county seat.  The courthouse is on Main Street between Walnut and Oak streets.  Nebraska State Highway 2 is one block north of the location.  C. G. Architects are the red brick and siding building designers.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  Thomas County was created on March 31, 1887 from Native American Territory as the 81^st county.  It is named for Civil War General George H. Thomas.  The county seat is named for Thedford, England. 

The area of the county is 713 square miles.  It is 38 out of 93 in the state.  It ranks 88 out of 93 in population in the state.  It has a density of 0.9 persons per square mile making it 86 out of 93 in the state.  Thomas County has 40.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 83 crosses the county from north to south from Cherry County to Logan County.  Thomas County is a rectangle.  Thedford is located in the northern quarter of the county.  Thedford is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 31.4% of the county population. 

Thomas County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Three District Court Judges and Five County Court Judges serve Thomas, Arthur, Chase, Dawson, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Perkins, and Red Willow counties.  The county is in west central Nebraska.  Grand Island, Nebraska is southeast and Scottsbluff, Nebraska is west of the county.  The county is 4.4 miles South of Thedford.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Cherry, Blaine, Logan, McPherson, and Hooker counties.