Towns in Butler County Nebraska
Explore Butler County
Butler County, Nebraska
County seat: David City · Created: 1856; organized October 21, 1868 · Named for: William O. Butler, Kentucky congressman and Mexican War general · License plates: prefix 25 · Population: 8,369 (2020 census); peak 15,703 in 1900 · Area: 591 sq mi · Time zone: Central
About Butler County
Butler County is rolling farm country in east-central Nebraska, bounded on the north by the Platte River, with the Big Blue River crossing its southwest corner. David City is the county seat; the villages are Rising City, Bellwood, Brainard, Dwight, Ulysses, Octavia, Bruno, Linwood, Abie, Garrison and Surprise; Loma is an unincorporated community, and Savannah, the first county seat, is a ghost town. The county borders Colfax County on the north, Platte on the northwest, Saunders on the east, Seward on the south, York at the southwest corner and Polk on the west.
The territorial legislature drew the county in 1856, and it was organized on October 21, 1868. It is named for William O. Butler, not for Governor David Butler, who took office later. Savannah, near the Platte, was the seat until David City won it by 39 votes in 1873 after four elections. The Union Pacific’s Omaha & Republican Valley line crossed the county in 1877–78, the Lincoln & Northwestern (Burlington) in 1880, and the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley in 1887–88, founding most of the villages. Czech settlers from Spillville, Iowa, came to Abie in 1869, and Moravians named Bruno for Brno. The population peaked at 15,703 in 1900 and was about 8,500 in 2025. Nebraska’s 2020 center of population lies in the county, about 3 miles west of Garrison.
Towns of Butler County
Cities and villages
David City
Butler County seat of 2,995 on NE 15, birthplace of Hallmark founder J. C. Hall, with the county hospital and the Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art.
Rising City
Village of 356 on NE 92 in western Butler County, founded on the Union Pacific in 1878; birthplace of CliffsNotes founder Cliff Hillegass.
Bellwood
Village of 407 on NE 64 between David City and Columbus, laid out on J. D. Bell’s tree-planted land when the railroad came in 1880.
Brainard
Czech village of 336 southeast of David City, home of East Butler schools and the west end of the Oak Creek Trail, near Timber Point lake.
Dwight
Village of 229 in southern Butler County with the National Register Assumption church, school and grottoes and an 1887 railroad depot.
Abie
Czech village of 65 settled from Spillville, Iowa, in 1869, with its 1905 school (now Abie’s Place) and 1923 Sokol hall still standing.
Bruno
Moravian village of 95 in eastern Butler County, founded on the railroad in 1887 and named for Brno.
Linwood
Village of 94 on Skull Creek near the Platte, once a railroad junction; site of Butler County’s first house (1857).
Surprise
Mill town of 37 on the Big Blue River, with a 1913 opera house and an 1897 truss bridge, both on the National Register.
Ulysses
Village of 196 on the Big Blue River, laid out in 1868 and named for General Ulysses S. Grant.
Garrison
Village of 55 south of David City, named for abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, about 3 miles from Nebraska’s 2020 center of population.
Octavia
Village of 107 in northeastern Butler County, founded on the railroad in 1887 and named for pioneer Octavia Speltz.
Former towns and post office communities
Edholm
Former post-office settlement in northeastern Butler County, south of Schuyler; post office 1892 to 1933.
Loma
Czech crossroads on the Oak Creek Trail southeast of Brainard, with St. Luke’s Czech shrine; a 1995 Hollywood film location.
Millerton
Former post-office settlement southwest of David City, named for pioneer William P. Miller; post office 1888 to 1934.
Nimburg
Former Czech post-office settlement north of Abie; post office (spelled Nimberg) 1888 to 1895.
Appleton
Rural Butler County post office of 1874 to 1880, about 4 miles from present Octavia.
Savannah
First Butler County seat (1869–73), near the Platte and Shinn’s Ferry north of Bellwood; no traces remain.
Travel Corridors
Butler County has no Interstate or U.S. highway of its own; US 81 touches its western edge. NE 15 runs north–south through David City, from Seward to Schuyler. NE 92 crosses east–west through Rising City and shares NE 15 for about a mile and a half just south of David City. Highway 92 Corridor → NE 64 runs from US 81 through Bellwood to NE 15 north of David City, and NE 66 runs from NE 15 near Dwight east to Valparaiso. State spurs reach Linwood (12A), Bruno (12B), Ulysses (12C) and Dwight (12D).
Cameras: View Butler County cameras → · Road conditions: Nebraska 511
Things to See
In David City: the Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art, which calls itself the nation’s only agrarian art museum; Thorpe’s Opera House and the City Park and Municipal Auditorium (both on the National Register); and the Butler County Historical Museum. Elsewhere: the Assumption church, school and grottoes and the 1887 railroad depot in Dwight; the Surprise Opera House and the 1897 Big Blue River Bridge at Surprise; Abie’s 1923 Sokol hall; the Woodbury Cutoff ruts near Brainard; and the Shinn’s Ferry marker north of Bellwood.
Parks and Outdoors
There is no state park or state recreation area in the county. Timber Point, a Lower Platte South NRD area southeast of Brainard, has a 29-acre lake, a boat ramp, fishing and three free camping pads. The Oak Creek Trail, a 13-mile crushed-stone rail trail, runs from Brainard through Loma to Valparaiso. David City has a city park, a golf course and a campground; Camp Moses Merrill is near Linwood.
Butler County Business Directory
Businesses within 20 miles of: David City · Brainard · All listings →
Adjacent Counties
Colfax County (north) · Platte County (northwest) · Saunders County (east) · Seward County (south) · York County (southwest corner) · Polk County (west).
Events
The Butler County Fair is held at the fairgrounds in David City in mid-July (July 14–19 in 2026, per an event listing), and downtown David City hosts Christmas on the Bricks in December.
Events in Butler County
- Butler County Fair (David City)
The Butler County Fair is held annually in July at the fairgrounds in David City, the county seat, at 62 L Street.
Know of another event in the county? Tell us about it.
Butler County at a Glance
Butler County, Nebraska — drawn in 1856 and organized October 21, 1868; named for William O. Butler, the Kentucky congressman and Mexican War general. County seat David City, which won the seat from Savannah by 39 votes in 1873. Population 8,369 in 2020 and about 8,500 in 2025, gaining slightly; the 1900 peak was 15,703. 216 listings across 18 towns.
A Czech and German county: Czech families from Spillville, Iowa, settled Abie in 1869; Moravians named Bruno for Brno; and Dwight’s Assumption church, school and grottoes and Abie’s Sokol hall still stand.
Getting there: NE 15 runs north–south through David City; NE 92 crosses through Rising City; NE 64 and NE 66 fill in. Central Time.
Born in Butler County: Hallmark founder J. C. Hall, singer Ruth Etting, Senator Roman Hruska, painter Dale Nichols and wrestling coach Hugo Otopalik (all David City); CliffsNotes founder Clifton Hillegass and Congressman Walter Judd (Rising City); Archbishop Jerome Hanus (Brainard); and Medal of Honor recipient Ernest Kouma (Dwight).
Vehicles registered in Butler County carry license plate number 25. See what every Nebraska county number means.
Butler County Businesses & Places
216 listings in Butler County.
Click a category to see the businesses.
Eat & Drink (12)
- Abie's Place — Diner / Family Restaurant, Abie
- Cy's Café — Cafe / Coffee Shop, Dwight
- District 10 — Bar, Linwood
- Duerings 5th St Pub & Grill — Bar & Grill, David City
- El Centenario — Mexican Restaurant, David City
- Frommy's Pizza, Grill and Pub — Bar & Grill, Bellwood
- Loma Tavern — Restaurant, Loma
- Nowhere Special Steakhouse & Saloon — Bar, Linwood
- Runza David City — Runza, David City
- Subway – 404 E Street, David City — Subway, David City
- The Brainard Bar — Bar, Brainard
- The Hideout Bar & Grill — Bar & Grill, Nebraska
Stay (1)
- Rose Motel — Motel, David City
Outdoors & Recreation (8)
- Brainard Disc Golf Course — Disc Golf Course, Brainard
- Butler County Fairgrounds — Campgrounds & RV Parks, David City
- Camp Moses Merrill — Campgrounds & RV Parks, Linwood
- David City Golf Course — Golf Course, David City
- David City Park Campground — Campgrounds & RV Parks, David City
- Oak Creek Trail — Trails & Rail Trails, Brainard
- Redtail WMA — Public Hunting Areas & WMAs, Dwight
- Timber Point — Lakes & Reservoirs, Brainard
Places to Visit (7)
- Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art — Specialty Museums, David City
- Butler County Historical Museum — History & Heritage Museums, David City
- Dwight Assumption Parish, Chapel and Grottoes — Specialty Museums, Dwight
- Dwight Railroad Depot — Attraction, Dwight
- Shinn’s Ferry Historical Marker — Historic Marker, Bellwood
- Surprise Opera House — Attraction, Nebraska
- Thorpe Opera House Foundation — Specialty Museums, David City
Events & Venues (3)
- Butler County Fair — County Fair, David City
- Butler County Fairgrounds — Fairground, David City
- Camp Moses Merrill — Camp & Retreat Center, Linwood
Health & Emergency (4)
- Butler County Clinic — Medical Clinic, David City
- Butler County Health Care Center — Hospital, David City
- E Street Discount Pharmacy — Pharmacy, David City
- Witter Family Medicine — Medical Clinic, David City
Shopping & Gifts (5)
- AbBee's Honey & Andy's Nuts — Specialty Foods, Dwight
- AMT Water Softeners — Retail, Dwight
- Bunches of Stitches — Fabric & Quilt Shop, Dwight
- David City Ace Hardware — Hardware Store, David City
- Smart Dollars Salvage Grocery — Grocery, David City
Community & Faith (70)
- Amateur Radio Repeaters - Butler County (via RepeaterBook.com) — Amateur Radio Repeater, Nebraska
- Assumption Catholic Church Dwight — Catholic Church, Dwight
- Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery — Appleton — Cemeteries, Appleton
- Bellwood Cemetery — Bellwood — Cemeteries, Bellwood
- Bellwood UMC — Methodist Church, Bellwood
- Blue Valley Cemetery — Surprise — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Bohemian National Cemetery — Abie — Cemeteries, Abie
- Bohemian National Cemetery — Brainard — Cemeteries, Brainard
- Bohemian National Cemetery — Bruno — Cemeteries, Bruno
- Brainard IOOF Cemetery — Brainard — Cemeteries, Brainard
- Brainard UMC — Methodist Church, Brainard
- Brooks Cemetery — Brainard — Cemeteries, Brainard
- Butler Center Cemetery — David City — Cemeteries, David City
- Catholic Cemetery of Presentation Church and Saint Mary — Bellwood — Cemeteries, Bellwood
- Circle Mound Cemetery — Rising City — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Crocker Cemetery — David City — Cemeteries, David City
- David City Cemetery — David City — Cemeteries, David City
- David City St Luke's UMC — Methodist Church, David City
- Dawson Cemetery — Linwood — Cemeteries, Linwood
- Edholm Valley Cemetery — Edholm — Cemeteries, Edholm
- Fairview Cemetery — Rising City — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Faith Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery East — Garrison — Cemeteries, Garrison
- Faith Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery West — Surprise — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- First English Lutheran Church — Lutheran Church, Nebraska
- Fricke Cemetery — Bruno — Cemeteries, Bruno
- Garrison Cemetery — Garrison — Cemeteries, Garrison
- Good Hope Cemetery — Dwight — Cemeteries, Dwight
- Grim Cemetery — Ulysses — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Holy Trinity Catholic Church Brainard — Catholic Church, Brainard
- Holy Trinity Cemetery — Brainard — Cemeteries, Brainard
- Immaculate Conception Ulysses — Catholic Church, Nebraska
- Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery — Rising City — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Immanuel Lutheran Church (Rising City) — Lutheran Church, David City
- Knauber Cemetery — Ulysses — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Linwood Hill Cemetery — Linwood — Cemeteries, Linwood
- McDonald Cemetery — Bellwood — Cemeteries, Bellwood
- McNally Cemetery — Bellwood — Cemeteries, Bellwood
- Nimburg Cemetery — Abie — Cemeteries, Abie
- Oak Creek Cemetery — Brainard — Cemeteries, Brainard
- Old Catholic Cemetery — Brainard — Cemeteries, Brainard
- Old David City Cemetery — David City — Cemeteries, David City
- Old Saint Joseph Cemetery — Bellwood — Cemeteries, Bellwood
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery — Rising City — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Pleasant View Cemetery — Bellwood — Cemeteries, Bellwood
- Presentation Bellwood — Catholic Church, Bellwood
- Redeemer Lutheran Church — Lutheran Church, David City
- Rising City UMC — Methodist Church, Nebraska
- Rising Sun Cemetery — Rising City — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Saint Anthony Catholic Cemetery — Bruno — Cemeteries, Bruno
- Saint Francis Catholic Cemetery — David City — Cemeteries, David City
- Saint Josephs Catholic New Cemetery — Bellwood — Cemeteries, Bellwood
- Saint Lukes Cemetery — Loma — Cemeteries, Loma
- Saint Marys Cemetery — David City — Cemeteries, David City
- Saint Marys Cemetery — Linwood — Cemeteries, Linwood
- Saint Marys Cemetery — Ulysses — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Saint Peters Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery — Surprise — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery — Abie — Cemeteries, Abie
- Savannah Cemetery — Bellwood — Cemeteries, Bellwood
- St. Anthony Bruno — Catholic Church, Bruno
- St. Francis Catholic Church David City — Catholic Church, David City
Government & Resources (46)
- Abie Fire Department — Fire Station, Abie
- Abie Post Office — Post Office, Abie
- Abie Village Office — City Hall, Abie
- Bellwood Fire Hall — Fire Station, Bellwood
- Bellwood Post Office — Post Office, Bellwood
- Bellwood Village Office — City Hall, Bellwood
- Brainard Post Office — Post Office, Brainard
- Brookestone of David City — Assisted Living, David City
- Bruno Village Office — City Hall, Bruno
- Butler County Assessor — County Assessor, David City
- Butler County Attorney's Office — County Attorney, David City
- Butler County Chamber of Commerce — Chamber of Commerce, David City
- Butler County Clerk — County Clerk, David City
- Butler County Court — County Court, David City
- Butler County Courthouse — Court House, David City
- Butler County Driver License Office — County Driver License, David City
- Butler County Emergency Management — Emergency Management, David City
- Butler County Senior Services/ David City Senior Center — Senior Citizen Center, David City
- Butler County Sheriff — County Sheriff, David City
- Butler County Treasurer — County Treasurer, David City
- Butler County Veterans Service Office — Veterans Office, David City
- Butler County Weed Superintendent — County Weed Control, David City
- David City City Hall — City Hall, David City
- David City Housing Authority — Housing Authority, David City
- David City Police Department — Police Station, David City
- David City Post Office — Post Office, David City
- David City USDA Service Center — USDA Service Center (FSA/NRCS), David City
- Dwight Community Library — Libraries, Dwight
- Dwight Fire Hall — Fire Station, Dwight
- Dwight Post Office — Post Office, Dwight
- Dwight Village Office — City Hall, Dwight
- Garrison Village Office — City Hall, Garrison
- Hruska Memorial Public Library - David City — Libraries, David City
- Linwood Fire Department — Fire Station, Linwood
- Linwood Post Office — Post Office, Linwood
- Linwood Village Office — City Hall, Linwood
- Octavia Village Office — City Hall, Nebraska
- Rising City Community Library — Libraries, Nebraska
- Rising City Fire Department — Fire Station, Nebraska
- Rising City Post Office — Post Office, Nebraska
- Rising City Village Office — City Hall, Nebraska
- St. Joseph’s Villa — Assisted Living, David City
- Surprise Village Office — City Hall, Nebraska
- Ulysses Post Office — Post Office, Nebraska
- Ulysses Township Library — Libraries, Nebraska
- Ulysses Village Office — City Hall, Nebraska
Automotive (13)
- 5 Star Automotive — Used Car Dealer, David City
- Beringer Radiator Repair — Auto Repair, Nebraska
- Bongers Auto — Used Car Dealer, David City
- CTF Service — Auto Repair, Brainard
- D & D Truck Sales — Truck Dealership, Dwight
- Johnston Auto Sales — Used Car Dealer, Nebraska
- Kobza Motors — Auto Repair, David City
- Lincoln Auto Sales — Used Car Dealer, Brainard
- LJ Auto Sales — Used Car Dealer, Bruno
- Northside Inc — Auto Repair, David City
- Raskey Motor Company — Used Car Dealer, Brainard
- Schmid & Sons — Auto Repair, David City
- Varela Auto Sales — Used Car Dealer, Nebraska
Utilities (12)
- Brainard Municipal Utilities — Electric Power Provider, Brainard
- Butler Public Power District — Electric Power Provider, David City
- City of David City — Water Utility / District, David City
- David City Municipal Utilities — Electric Power Provider, David City
- Mid-Nebraska Communications, Inc. — Telephone & Internet Provider, Bellwood
- Village of Abie — Water Utility / District, Abie
- Village of Bellwood — Water Utility / District, Bellwood
- Village of Brainard — Water Utility / District, Brainard
- Village of Bruno — Water Utility / District, Bruno
- Village of Dwight — Water Utility / District, Dwight
- Village of Rising City — Water Utility / District, Nebraska
- Village of Ulysses — Water Utility / District, Nebraska
Education (11)
- Aquinas Catholic Elementary School David City — Faith-Based School, David City
- Aquinas Middle High School David City — Faith-Based School, David City
- Bellwood Elementary School — Elementary & Middle School, Bellwood
- Butler County Extension — County Extension Office, David City
- David City Elementary School — Elementary & Middle School, David City
- David City Public Schools — School District (K-12 / General), David City
- David City Secondary School — Elementary & Middle School, David City
- East Butler Public Schools — School District (K-12 / General), Brainard
- Elementary School at Brainard — Elementary & Middle School, Brainard
- Elementary School at Dwight — Elementary & Middle School, Dwight
- High School at Brainard — High School, Brainard
Agriculture & Farm (8)
- AKRS Equipment Solutions - David City — Equipment Dealers, David City
- Benes Service Co. — Equipment Dealers, David City
- Central Valley Ag – Rising City — Farm Coop, Nebraska
- Critser Performance Horses — Horse Trainer, Bellwood
- Frontier Cooperative - Bellwood — Farm Coop, Bellwood
- Frontier Cooperative - Brainard — Farm Coop, Brainard
- Mark Edmister - Farrier — Farrier, Brainard
- Mighty and Meek Farrier Service — Farrier, Bruno
Professional Services (7)
- Cornerstone Bank - Rising City — Banking, Nebraska
- Eberle Insurance — Insurance, David City
- First National Bank of Omaha - David City — Banking, David City
- FNIC – David City — Insurance, David City
- INSight Partners Insurance — Insurance, David City
- Jones Group – David City — Insurance, David City
- Nebraska Title Company - David City — David City
Personal Services (4)
- Kracl Funeral Home — Funeral Home, David City
- Renner Photography — Photographer, Bellwood
- Roberts Funeral Home — Funeral Home, David City
- Shear Appearances — Beauty Salon, Bellwood
Transportation (3)
- Butler County Rural Service — Public Transportation, David City
- Butler County Senior Services Transportation — Public Transportation, David City
- David City Municipal Airport — Municipal / General Aviation Airport, David City
Media (1)
- David City Banner-Press — News Paper, David City
Manufacturing & Industrial (1)
- Ellison & Graves — General / Custom Manufacturing, Nebraska
Trades & Construction (1)
- Odell Concrete & Construction — Concrete and Flatwork Contractor, Nebraska
Land & Property Services (1)
- Standing C Excavating — Excavating Contractor, Linwood