Buffalo County, Nebraska, USA
County or equivalent
Location overview
Buffalo County lies in south-central Nebraska, with Kearney as its county seat and the Platte River crossing its southern portion. Broad river valleys give way to rolling uplands and tablelands farther north, with a small Sandhills area near Ravenna. The territorial legislature established the county’s boundaries in 1855, and it was organized in 1864 and named for the bison herds that once grazed the valley. Buffalo County had about 51,200 residents in 2024. Agriculture, food production and manufacturing remain important, while Kearney anchors regional health care, higher education, retail, transportation and visitor activity.