About Our County

County Seat: Valentine
Founded: 1883
Named After: Lt. Samuel A. Cherry
Region: Nebraska Sandhills
Time Zones: Central & Mountain

Quick Facts

• Land Area: 5,960 sq mi (largest in Nebraska)
• Population (2025): ~5,506
• Population Density: <1 person/sq mi

Towns & Villages

• Valentine – 2,633
• Cody – 167
• Merriman – 88
• Crookston – 73
• Kilgore – 69
• Wood Lake – 48
• Nenzel – 17
• Brownlee – 9
• Unincorporated: Sparks, Eli

Schools

Public School Districts:

• Valentine City Schools
• Cody-Kilgore Public Schools
• Plus rural districts

Local Highlights

• Valentine – Cherry County Tourism
• Home to Nebraska’s tallest waterfall (Smith Falls)
• Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge
• Famous for re-mailing Valentine’s Day cards with a special stamp