Valley County, Nebraska

Valley County, Nebraska

County seat: Ord · Created: March 1, 1871; organized 1873 · Named for: its valley land between the North Loup and Middle Loup rivers · License plates: prefix 47 · Population: 4,059 (2020 census); peak 9,823 in 1920 · Area: 570 sq mi · Time zone: Central

About Valley County

Valley County lies in central Nebraska, where the North Loup River crosses the county from northwest to southeast and the Middle Loup runs past Arcadia in the southwest. It has one city, Ord, the county seat; the villages of Arcadia, North Loup and Elyria; and the rural communities of Olean and Sumter. It borders Garfield County on the north, Wheeler on the northeast, Greeley on the east, Sherman on the south and Custer on the west.

The Legislature created the county on March 1, 1871, and it was organized in 1873. Seventh Day Baptists from Wisconsin founded North Loup in 1872, and the Army built Fort Hartsuff in 1874 to guard the valley’s settlers. Ord, platted in 1874, became the county seat. The Union Pacific branch from Grand Island reached North Loup in 1882 and Ord in 1886, and the Burlington reached Arcadia in 1887. Czech families built the Rad Slavin lodge hall west of Ord in 1909. The county peaked at 9,823 people in 1920.

Towns of Valley County

Travel Corridors

NE 11 — the Loup Rivers Scenic Byway, 150 miles from Wood River to Dunning, runs up the North Loup valley through North Loup, Ord and Elyria. Highway 11 Corridor →

NE 70 runs east–west through Arcadia and Ord; NE 22 runs from NE 70 south of Ord to North Loup and Scotia; and NE 58 begins on NE 70 near Arcadia and runs south to Loup City. No U.S. highway or Interstate enters the county.

Cameras: View Valley County cameras → · Road conditions: Nebraska 511

Things to See

Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park, an 1874–81 infantry post just north of Elyria with its original concrete buildings; the 1921 courthouse, the Valley County Museum, Scratchtown Brewing and Evelyn Sharp Field in Ord; the 1917 Carnegie library in Arcadia; and the Rad Slavin Z.C.B.J. Hall west of Ord. Seven places in the county are on the National Register.

Outdoors

Davis Creek Recreation Area, about 5½ miles south of North Loup, has a 1,145-acre lake with about 74 electric campsites, boat ramps and walleye fishing, run by the Lower Loup NRD. Scotia Canal WMA north of North Loup is open to public hunting. Ord has Bussell Park and the nine-hole Ord Golf Club, and Arcadia has riverside camping at Garden Club Park.

Valley County Business Directory

Businesses within 20 miles of: Ord · North Loup · Arcadia · All listings →

Adjacent Counties

Garfield County (north) · Wheeler County (northeast) · Greeley County (east) · Sherman County (south) · Custer County (west).

Events

Each year: Fort Hartsuff’s living-history season from May through September; the Valley County Fair in Ord in late July; Popcorn Days in North Loup in mid-August; the Arcadia Fall Festival around Labor Day; and Nebraska’s Junk Jaunt, based in Ord, the last full weekend of September. Valley County events →

Valley County at a Glance

Valley County, Nebraska — the North Loup valley around Ord, with Fort Hartsuff, popcorn country at North Loup and the Middle Loup at Arcadia. County seat Ord. 111 listings across 7 towns. Central Time.

Getting there: NE 11 up the North Loup valley through North Loup, Ord and Elyria; NE 70 through Arcadia and Ord; NE 22 to North Loup.

For visitors: Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park, downtown Ord, Popcorn Days and Davis Creek Recreation Area. Hospital: Valley County Health System in Ord.