County · code 31095
Jefferson CountyNebraska
Jefferson County is a county in Nebraska with its seat in Fairbury. The county was formed on January 26, 1856, and named after Thomas Jefferson.
- Founded1856
- County seatFairbury
- Named forThomas Jefferson
- Land area570 sq mi + 5.5 sq mi water
- Population7,240 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped7,638 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Jefferson on the map of Nebraska
Nebraska has 93 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Formed in 1856 from Jones County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Jefferson County was created on January 26, 1856, by Nebraska Territory from the extinct Jones County, though it was not fully organized at that time. In 1864, Jefferson County was fully organized, and in 1867, it gained all remaining territory of Jones County after that county was eliminated. In 1871, Jefferson County lost territory to the creation of Thayer County.
- 1856Jefferson County created Jefferson created by Nebraska Territory from Jones (extinct); Jefferson not fully organized.from Jones· Neb. Terr. Laws 1855-1856, 2d reg. sess., sec. 2/p. 200
- 1864Changed In 1864 Jefferson was fully organized. · History of Neb., 990-991
- 1867Gained territory Jefferson gained all of Jones (extinct); Jones eliminated.from Jones· Neb. Terr. Laws 1867, 12th reg. sess., pp. 50-51
- 1871Lost territory Jefferson lost to creation of Thayer. Act passed 1 March 1871; successful referendum on creation of Thayer was held 9 May 1871. · Neb. Laws 1871, 8th sess., pp. 200-202
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Jefferson
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 7,638 parcels. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
checked 15 October 2026 -
Address points Official
One point per address, 4,600 in all from Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC), 911 Department.
checked 13 October 2026 -
Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
Jefferson by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Jefferson County's official site
We have found the county's site but not its offices yet; start there.
County government
- County government
The official website of Jefferson County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Jefferson County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about Jefferson County
- When was Jefferson County founded?
- Jefferson County was founded in 1856, formed from Jones County, and named after Thomas Jefferson.
- What is the county seat of Jefferson County?
- The county seat of Jefferson County is Fairbury.
- Is there an online parcel map for Jefferson County?
- Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 7,638 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Jefferson County's boundary or name changed?
- Jefferson County was created in 1856 from Jones County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 3 later changes, chiefly involving Jones County and Thayer County.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Jefferson County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby