Howard County, Nebraska

Howard County, Nebraska

A corridor of Czech heritage, river valleys, and rural pride.

Howard County Nebraska threads the Highway 281 corridor with cultural depth and agricultural strength. From St. Paul’s Czech festivals to the winding Loup River, every town and trail reflects Nebraska’s heartland spirit.

County Seat: St. Paul
Founded: 1871
Named For: Civil War General Oliver Otis Howard
License Plate Prefix: 49
Population: 6,445 (2020 census)
Area: 576 sq mi

History

Howard County was established in 1871 and named after General Oliver Otis Howard. The region was settled by Czech, German, and Scandinavian immigrants who built farms, churches, and schools across the fertile Loup River valley. St. Paul, the county seat, became a cultural and commercial center, known for its festivals and civic pride.

Geography

Location: Central Nebraska
Landscape: River valleys, farmland, and rolling hills
Major Highways: U.S. 281, Nebraska Highways 22, 58
Adjacent Counties:
Greeley (N),
Nance (NE),
Merrick (E),
Hall (S),
Buffalo (SW),
Sherman (W)

Culture & Landmarks

• Howard County Courthouse (St. Paul) – Historic courthouse built in 1912.
• St. Paul Civic Center – Hosts events, performances, and community gatherings.
• Howard County Historical Museum – Preserves pioneer and immigrant heritage.
• Loup River Scenic Byway – Follows the river through farmland and prairie.

Notable Communities

• St. Paul – County seat, known for Czech heritage and community pride.
• Dannebrog – “Danish Capital of Nebraska,” with cultural festivals and historic charm.
• Elba, Cotesfield, Farwell – Small towns with deep agricultural roots.

Events & Festivals

• St. Paul Czech Festival – Celebrates Czech culture with music, food, and parades.
• Dannebrog Danish Days – Honors Danish heritage with traditional events.
• Howard County Fair – Livestock shows, exhibits, and entertainment.
• View the full Howard County Events calendar →

Natural Attractions & Recreation

• Loup River – Fishing, canoeing, and scenic drives.
• Community Parks – Playgrounds and picnic areas in St. Paul and Dannebrog.
• Wildlife Viewing – Deer, birds, and prairie species across the county.

Living in Howard County

Howard County offers a peaceful rural lifestyle with strong cultural roots and community pride. St. Paul anchors the county with services and events, while towns like Dannebrog and Elba preserve the region’s immigrant heritage and agricultural traditions. With its festivals, river views, and welcoming spirit, Howard County is a proud part of Nebraska’s central corridor.

Howard County at a Glance

Howard County, Nebraska — created 1 March 1871 and named for General Oliver Otis Howard, the Civil War general and abolitionist who ran the Freedmen’s Bureau. County seat St. Paul, laid out by the brothers James and Nicholas Paul, who gave it their name; it won the seat by vote in 1874 and incorporated in 1881. Population peaked at 10,783 in 1910 and stands at 6,475 — and Howard is one of the few counties in central Nebraska that actually grew between 2010 and 2020. 250 listings across 9 towns.

Getting there: US-281 runs north and south through St. Paul, with NE-11, 22, 58 and 92 crossing. Central Time.

This is Danish Nebraska. In May 1871 Lars Hannibal led members of the Danish Land and Homestead Company from Wisconsin to settle along Oak Creek, and Dannebrog — named for the Danish national flag — was settled by Danes from Milwaukee that same year. It calls itself the Danish Capital of Nebraska. Columbia Hall, built by the Danish Brotherhood in America in 1908, now houses the Dannebrog Archives and Tourist Center, and the nearby communities of Dannevirke and Nysted carry Danish names too — this is a real settlement cluster, not a single village’s claim.

Born here — and the first name is a big one. Grover Cleveland Alexander was born at Elba on 26 February 1887, one of eight children, and grew up at Elba and St. Paul, digging postholes for the Howard County Telephone Company before baseball. He won 373 games, tying the National League record, took 28 as a rookie in 1911, won three pitching Triple Crowns, and was the only player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.

Also from here: Lt. Gen. Clarence S. Irvine, born at St. Paul in 1898 — the Air Corps’ top aerial gunner, who appeared in the Academy Award-winning film Wings, ran B-29 production in the “Battle of Kansas”, commanded the 509th Bomb Wing and oversaw development of the B-36, B-47 and B-52. Jean Potts, born at St. Paul in 1910, won the 1954 Edgar Award for Best First Novel and has a literary exhibit in the town. And Dorothy Lynch — who created the dressing that bears her name at the St. Paul American Legion Club in 1952, bottled first in her son’s basement in 1955 — was reportedly born at Cushing in this county in 1913.

Howard County · Central · Highway 281 Corridor · Explore Nebraska