Dodge County, Nebraska

Map_of_Nebraska_highlighting_Dodge_County

Dodge County Cameras

Towns in Dodge County Nebraska

Crowell ·
Dodge ·
Fremont ·
Hooper ·
Inglewood ·
Nickerson ·
North Bend ·
Scribner ·
Snyder ·
Uehling ·
Winslow

County Seat: Fremont
Founded: 1855
Named For: Augustus C. Dodge, U.S. Senator from Iowa
License Plate Prefix: 5
Population: 37,167 (2020 census)
Area: 535 sq mi

History

Dodge County was established in 1855 and named after Senator Augustus C. Dodge. Early settlement centered on the Platte River and the convergence of trails, ferries, and later railroads that made the region a major transportation hub. Fremont, founded in 1856, became the county seat and grew rapidly as a commercial, educational, and industrial center. North Bend, Hooper, Scribner, and Dodge developed as agricultural and rail‑supported communities, each contributing to the county’s economic and cultural identity.

The county’s history reflects pioneer migration, river‑valley development, and the rise of Fremont as one of eastern Nebraska’s most important regional cities.

Geography

Location: East‑central Nebraska along the Platte River
Landscape: River valleys, fertile farmland, rolling prairie, and expanding urban centers

Adjacent Counties:

Colfax County (west)
Cuming County (northwest)
Burt County (north)
Washington County (east)
Douglas County (southeast)
Saunders County (south)

Culture & Landmarks

Midland University – A major educational and cultural institution in Fremont.
Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area – One of Nebraska’s most popular outdoor destinations for camping, fishing, and boating.
Historic Downtown Fremont – Architecture, shops, and landmarks reflecting 19th‑century development.

Notable Communities

Fremont – County seat and major regional commercial center.
North Bend – Community with strong agricultural and local traditions.
Hooper – Town known for rural heritage and community events.
Scribner – Historic rail town with deep farming roots.
Dodge, Inglewood, Ames – Small towns and villages with close‑knit rural identity.

Events & Attractions

Fremont’s John C. Fremont Days – One of Nebraska’s largest community festivals.
Dodge County Fair – Livestock shows, rodeo events, and agricultural exhibits.
Outdoor Recreation – Fishing, boating, and scenic drives along the Platte River and Fremont Lakes.

Living in Dodge County

Dodge County blends agriculture, industry, education, and small‑town life. Fremont provides major services, healthcare, and commerce, while North Bend, Hooper, Scribner, and rural areas maintain long‑standing farming traditions. Residents value the area’s heritage, economic diversity, and strong community identity.

Dodge County at a Glance

Dodge County, Nebraska — named for Augustus C. Dodge, the Iowa senator who co-sponsored the Kansas–Nebraska Act. County seat Fremont, named for the explorer and 1856 presidential candidate John C. Frémont, and now Nebraska’s sixth-largest city. The county sits where the Platte and Elkhorn rivers come together, on the old Mormon and military road west, and it grew as a rail and milling town before becoming a food-processing center. 515 listings across 11 towns.

Getting there: US-30 east and west, US-275 toward Omaha and Norfolk, plus US-77, NE-79 and NE-91. Dodge County has no interstate — it is served by I-80 some twenty miles south. Union Pacific and BNSF both run through, and the Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad operates heritage excursions. Central Time.

The March 2019 flood defines the county’s recent history. When the Platte and Elkhorn broke out together, every road into Fremont was cut and the city became an island, supplied by air and by boat. It is the single most important thing to understand about the geography here: this is a two-river confluence town on flat bottomland, and the rivers matter.

For visitors: Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area — twenty sandpit lakes west of town, with camping, boating and swimming, and one of the busiest state areas in eastern Nebraska. The Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad runs tourist trains toward Hooper. Midland University has been in Fremont since 1919. Hooper, Scribner, North Bend and Snyder are the Elkhorn-valley farm towns strung along the rail lines.

Economy: food processing dominates. The big pork plant — about 1,500 workers — is WholeStone Farms, which bought the site from Hormel in December 2018 for $30 million with a continuing supply agreement; Hormel had owned it since 1947 and it was one of only two Spam plants in the country. Anything describing Hormel as Fremont’s largest employer is out of date. A large Costco poultry complex also operates here.

Born here: actress Marg Helgenberger was born in Fremont in 1958 and raised at North Bend. Two names local lists claim that belong elsewhere: Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore, was born on a homestead near Bear Lake, Idaho, in 1867 — his family was living in Fremont by the time he was seven; and Ben Sasse was born at Plainview in Pierce County, though he grew up in Fremont and later led Midland University there.

Dodge County · Metro · Highway 30 Corridor · Explore Nebraska

Vehicles registered in Dodge County carry license plate number 5. See what every Nebraska county number means.