Merrick County, Nebraska
A corridor of rivers, railroads, and prairie towns.
Merrick County anchors the Platte River Valley with historic communities, fertile farmland, and a proud rail legacy. From Central City’s courthouse square to the quiet charm of Palmer and Clarks, every town and trail reflects Nebraska’s heartland rhythm.
County Seat: Central City
Founded: 1858
Named For: Elvira Merrick, wife of territorial legislator Henry W. DePuy
License Plate Prefix: 46
Population: 7,668 (2020 census)
Area: 494 sq mi
History
Merrick County was established in 1858 and named after Elvira Merrick. The region developed along the Platte River and Union Pacific Railroad, with Central City emerging as a civic and commercial hub. The county’s history includes early settlement, rail expansion, and agricultural innovation.
Geography
Location: Central Nebraska
Landscape: River valleys, farmland, and prairie
Major Highways: U.S. 30, Nebraska Highways 14, 92
Adjacent Counties:
Hamilton (S),
Hall (W),
Nance (N),
Polk (E)
Culture & Landmarks
- Merrick County Courthouse (Central City) – Historic courthouse built in 1911.
- Lincoln Highway – Historic route passing through the county.
- Central City Historical Society Museum – Preserves local heritage and rail history.
Notable Communities
- Central City – County seat and largest town, known for its courthouse square and civic pride.
- Palmer, Clarks, Chapman, Havens – Small towns with deep agricultural roots and historic charm.
Events & Festivals
- Central City Prairie Days – Parade, music, and community celebration.
- Merrick County Fair – Livestock shows, exhibits, and entertainment.
Natural Attractions & Recreation
- Platte River – Canoeing, fishing, and scenic drives.
- Community Parks – Picnic areas and sports fields in Central City and surrounding towns.
- Wildlife Viewing – Birds, deer, and prairie species across the county.
Living in Merrick County
Merrick County offers a peaceful rural lifestyle with strong community ties and a rich rail and river legacy. Central City anchors the county with services and events, while towns like Palmer and Clarks preserve the region’s agricultural traditions. With its festivals, trails, and welcoming spirit, Merrick County is a proud part of Nebraska’s central corridor.
Merrick County at a Glance
Merrick County, Nebraska — established 4 November 1858 and organized 18 April 1864. It is one of the few Nebraska counties named for a woman: Elvira Merrick, the maiden name of the wife of the territorial legislator who introduced the bill creating it. County seat Central City since 1866, though it was called Lone Tree until 1 July 1875, when boosters had it renamed on the grounds that “Lone Tree” made the country sound desolate and would put settlers off. The Lone Tree Monument still marks the landmark cottonwood the town was named for. Population peaked at 10,763 in 1920; 7,668 in 2020. 127 listings across 7 towns.
Getting there: US-30 — the Lincoln Highway Scenic and Historic Byway, a National Scenic Byway running 400 miles — crosses the length of the county, with NE-14, 22, 39 and 92. Union Pacific laid track through in 1866, and the Burlington arrived in the 1880s to make Central City a boomtown. Central Time.
For visitors: flat and gently rolling farm country sloping east, with the Platte River along the southeastern boundary and Prairie Creek through the middle. The Lincoln Highway is the draw — this is one of the better stretches to drive it. Merrick County has no state recreation area or state park; Mormon Island belongs to Hall County, not here.
Born here — an unusually strong list for a county this size. Wright Morris, born at Central City in 1910, the novelist and photographer who won two National Book Awards. Dick Wagner, born there in 1927, who ran the Cincinnati Reds through the Big Red Machine years and their back-to-back World Series wins, and later drafted Craig Biggio for Houston. And Evan Williams, born at Clarks in 1972 and raised on a farm there, who co-founded Blogger, Twitter and Medium.
Merrick County · Central · Highway 30 Corridor · Explore Nebraska
Vehicles registered in Merrick County carry license plate number 46. See what every Nebraska county number means.
Merrick County Businesses & Places
127 listings in Merrick County.
Click a category to see the businesses.
Eat & Drink (7)
- El Agave Mexican Restaurant — Mexican Restaurant, Central City
- Lincoln Manor Bar & Grill — Bar & Grill, Central City
- Rico's Kitchen & Waffles — Cafe / Coffee Shop, Central City
- Runza Central City — Runza, Central City
- Side Street Deli & Catering — Sandwich & Deli, Central City
- Subway – 920 G Street, Central City — Subway, Central City
- Waffles -N- More — Restaurant, Central City
Outdoors & Recreation (2)
- Bader Park — Campgrounds & RV Parks, Chapman
- Dr. Bruce Cowgill WMA — Public Hunting Areas & WMAs, Nebraska
Places to Visit (2)
- Bader Memorial Park — City Parks, Chapman
- Merrick County Historical Museum — History & Heritage Museums, Central City
Events & Venues (2)
- Merrick County Fair — County Fair, Central City
- Merrick County Fairgrounds — Fairground, Central City
Health & Emergency (3)
- Central City Veterinary Clinic — Veterinarian, Central City
- Merrick Medical Center d/b/a Central City Medical Clinic — Medical Clinic, Central City
- Miracle-Ear Hearing Aid Center Central City — Hearing Aids, Central City
Community & Faith (37)
- Archer Cemetery — Archer — Cemeteries, Archer
- Archer Zion UMC — Methodist Church, Archer
- Bureau Cemetery — Central City — Cemeteries, Central City
- Calvary Cemetery — Central City — Cemeteries, Central City
- Central City Cemetery — Central City — Cemeteries, Central City
- Central City Fairview UMC — Methodist Church, Central City
- Central City Friends Meeting — Other Denomination, Central City
- Central City UMC — Methodist Church, Central City
- Central Nebraska Amateur Radio Club — Amateur Radio Club, Chapman
- Chapman Cemetery — Chapman — Cemeteries, Chapman
- Chapman, NE UMC — Methodist Church, Chapman
- Christ Church — Episcopal Church, Central City
- Clarks Cemetery — Clarks — Cemeteries, Clarks
- Clarks UMC — Methodist Church, Clarks
- CNARC Annual Steak Fry & Hamfest — Amateur Radio Event, Chapman
- Fairview Cemetery — Palmer — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- First Baptist Church - Chapman — Baptist Church, Chapman
- Goettsche-Tramm Burial Site — Central City — Cemeteries, Central City
- Grace Lutheran Church — Lutheran Church, Central City
- Heartland EFC — Evangelical Free Church, Central City
- Merrick County Farm Cemetery — Central City — Cemeteries, Central City
- Norwegian Cemetery — Palmer — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Palmer UMC — Methodist Church, Nebraska
- Pierce Chapel UMC — Methodist Church, Clarks
- Prairie Creek Cemetery — Silver Creek — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Restoration Place — Wesleyan Church, Nebraska
- Rose Hill Cemetery — Palmer — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- Saint Lawrence Cemetery — Clarks — Cemeteries, Clarks
- Silver Creek Cemetery — Silver Creek — Cemeteries, Nebraska
- St. John Lutheran Church — Lutheran Church, Nebraska
- St. Lawrence Catholic Church Silver Creek — Catholic Church, Nebraska
- St. Michael Catholic Church Central City — Catholic Church, Central City
- St. Paul Lutheran Church — Lutheran Church, Central City
- St. Peter Catholic Church Clarks — Catholic Church, Clarks
- United Presbyterian Church — Presbyterian Church, Central City
- Weigert Cemetery — Central City — Cemeteries, Central City
- Worms Cemetery — Worms — Cemeteries, Nebraska
Government & Resources (31)
- American Legion Club — Senior Citizen Center, Nebraska
- Central City Area Chamber of Commerce — Chamber of Commerce, Central City
- Central City City Hall — City Hall, Central City
- Central City Police Department — Police Station, Central City
- Central City Post Office — Post Office, Central City
- Central City Public Library — Libraries, Central City
- Central City Senior Center — Senior Citizen Center, Central City
- Central City USDA Service Center — USDA Service Center (FSA/NRCS), Central City
- Chapman Village Office — City Hall, Chapman
- Clarks Police Department — Police Station, Clarks
- Clarks Post Office — Post Office, Clarks
- Clarks Public Library — Libraries, Clarks
- Clarks Village Office — City Hall, Clarks
- Merrick County Assessor — County Assessor, Central City
- Merrick County Attorney's Office — County Attorney, Central City
- Merrick County Clerk — County Clerk, Central City
- Merrick County Court — County Court, Central City
- Merrick County Courthouse — Court House, Central City
- Merrick County Driver License Office — County Driver License, Central City
- Merrick County Emergency Management — Emergency Management, Nebraska
- Merrick County Sheriff — County Sheriff, Central City
- Merrick County Treasurer — County Treasurer, Central City
- Merrick County Veterans Service Office — Veterans Office, Central City
- Merrick County Weed Superintendent — County Weed Control, Central City
- Palmer Fire & Rescue — Fire Station, Nebraska
- Palmer Post Office — Post Office, Nebraska
- Palmer Public Library — Libraries, Nebraska
- Silver Creek Post Office — Post Office, Nebraska
- Silver Creek Township Library — Libraries, Nebraska
- Silver Creek Village Office — City Hall, Nebraska
- United Methodist Church Mobile Food Distribution — Mobile & Pop-Up Food Distribution, Central City
Automotive (13)
- Bills Volume Sales — Used Car Dealer, Central City
- Clarks Trikes And Bikes — Motor Sports, Clarks
- D & E Motors — Used Car Dealer, Central City
- Dons Auto Sales — Used Car Dealer, Nebraska
- Firehouse Repair — Auto Repair, Nebraska
- KGP Auto — Used Car Dealer, Central City
- Mustards Used Cars — Used Car Dealer, Central City
- Pump & Pantry - Central City — Pump & Pantry, Central City
- Pump & Pantry - Chapman — Pump & Pantry, Chapman
- Rasmussen Auto Sales — Used Car Dealer, Central City
- Stewart Auto Sales — Used Car Dealer, Central City
- Summers Auto — Used Car Dealer, Central City
- Trotter Tire & Truck — Auto Repair, Clarks
Education (9)
- Central City Elementary School — Elementary & Middle School, Central City
- Central City High School — High School, Central City
- Central City Middle School — Elementary & Middle School, Central City
- Central City Public Schools — School District (K-12 / General), Central City
- High Plains Community Elementary School — Elementary & Middle School, Clarks
- Merrick County Extension — County Extension Office, Central City
- Palmer Elementary School — Elementary & Middle School, Nebraska
- Palmer Junior-Senior High — High School, Nebraska
- Palmer Public Schools — School District (K-12 / General), Nebraska
Utilities (7)
- Central City Municipal Gas — Natural Gas Provider, Central City
- Central City Municipal Utilities — Electric Power Provider, Central City
- City of Central City — Water Utility / District, Central City
- Village of Chapman — Water Utility / District, Chapman
- Village of Clarks — Water Utility / District, Clarks
- Village of Palmer — Water Utility / District, Nebraska
- Village of Silver Creek — Water Utility / District, Nebraska
Agriculture & Farm (5)
- AKRS Equipment Solutions - Central City — Equipment Dealers, Central City
- Bomgaars – Central City — Bomgaars, Central City
- Central City Veterinary Clinic — Equine Veterinarian, Central City
- Jacob Winsterman, CF - Farrier — Farrier, Central City
- R&K Irrigation – Palmer — T-L Irrigation Dealer, Nebraska
Media (4)
- Central City Republican-Nonpareil — News Paper, Central City
- KOOW-LP 95.1 FM - Central City — Radio Station, Central City
- KZEN 100.3 FM - Central City — Radio Station, Central City
- Palmer Journal — News Paper, Nebraska
Transportation (3)
- Central City Mini Bus — Public Transportation, Central City
- Central City Municipal Airport (Larry Reineke Field) — Municipal / General Aviation Airport, Central City
- Midland Area Agency on Aging - Central City — Public Transportation, Central City
Professional Services (3)
- Christensen Insurance – Central City — Insurance, Central City
- Cornerstone Insurance Group – Central City — Insurance, Central City
- Edgewater Insurance – Palmer — Insurance, Nebraska