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Nebraska State...
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Nebraska Counties
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Nebraska Counties
There is 93 counties in state of Nebraska. |
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Morrill County, Nebraska
Morrill County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat: Bridgeport
Year Organized: 1908
Square Miles: 1,424
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Court House: 6th & Main Street, PO Box 610
County Courthouse
Bridgeport, NE 69336-0610
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Etymology - Origin of County Name
The county was named after Charles H. Morrill, who was
president of the Lincoln Land Company.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts:
Census Bureau Quick Facts
History
Morrill County is among the handful
of Nebraska counties that was organized after the turn of the 20th century. For
many years this area in the central Nebraska Panhandle was part of a larger
Cheyenne County. But in 1907 the first steps were taken to organize Morrill
County when the citizens along the northern boundary of Cheyenne County
petitioned the Board of Commissioners to approve a separation.
A special election was called for Nov. 3, 1908, and the proposal was approved by
the local electorate. Nine days later a proclamation officially creating Morrill
County was signed by Gov. George L. Sheldon. The county was named after Charles
H. Morrill, who was president of the Lincoln Land Company.
Morrill County is the home of many prominent Nebraska landmarks. Chimney Rock,
Courthouse Rock and Jail Rock, and the Mud Springs pony express, stage coach and
telegraph station were all welcome sights to the weary travelers who in the mid
1800s followed the Mormon Trail, Oregon Trail and Deadwood Trail. Today, these
landmarks are popular tourist attractions.
Like many other counties, the 1904 passage of Kinkaid Act attracted many new
settlers to the area. These settlers found the high table lands bordering the
North Platte River Valley ideal for raising grain. The excellent meadows in the
northern part of the county were excellent for cattle ranching.
In the years that immediately preceded the official organization of Morrill
County, the railroads began pushing through the area. The first line was built
by the Burlington Railroad in 1889 from Alliance to Guernsey, Wyo. In 1917 the
Union Pacific Railroad built its line from North Platte to Gering, dissecting
the entire county. Both rail lines resulted in the numerous townsites developing
and prospering.
One of these townsites to benefit from the railroad was Bridgeport, the county
seat, which was established in 1900.
Neighboring Counties:
Cities and Towns:
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- Bayard |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Bridgeport
(County
Seat) |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Broadwater |
village |
Incorporated Area |
County Resources:
Enter County Resources and Information Here
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Online High Schools
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County Resource Guide
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The history of our nation can be seen as a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names we've given our counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic
features of our country!"
But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.
Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally,
act locally." |
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