Phelps County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 8,968.^[1] Its county seat is Holdrege.^[2] The county was formed in 1873, and was named for William Phelps (1808–1889), a steamboat captain and early settler.^[3][4][5][6]

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Phelps County
County
Phelps County Courthouse in Holdrege
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°31′N 99°25′W
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1873
Named for	William Phelps
Seat	Holdrege
Largest city	Holdrege
Area
• Total	540 sq mi (1,400 km2)
• Land	540 sq mi (1,400 km2)
• Water	0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,968
• Density	17/sq mi (6.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.phelpsgov.org

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In the Nebraska license plate system, Phelps County is represented by the prefix 37 (it had the 37th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

It is considered part of the Kearney μSA's development and expansion plans.

Phelps County terrain consists of low rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture, sloping to the east, and dropping off toward the river basin along its northern boundary line. The Platte River flows eastward along the north line.^[7][8]

The county has a total area of 540 square miles (1,400 km²), of which 540 square miles (1,400 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) (0.1%) is water.^[9]

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[23] there were 9,747 people, 3,844 households, and 2,683 families in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km²). There were 4,191 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.79% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 2.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,844 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 26.50% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,319, and the median income for a family was $44,943. Males had a median income of $28,962 versus $21,741 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,044. About 6.20% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.10% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Phelps County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Phelps County, Nebraska