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A National Forest to Call Their Own
Thomas County, Nebraska
Population: 629
Seat: Thedford
Founded in 1887, Thomas County is one of the most sparsely
populated counties in America today. As of 2006, the U.S. Census
Bureau estimates that there are 629 people living within the
county making Thomas County the 10th least populated county in the
United States.
 The
Nebraska National Forest, Bessie Ranger District is located in
Thomas County. The area includes 90,444 acres of gently rolling
Sandhills and 20,000 acres of man-planted trees. Dunes in the Sand
Hills may exceed 330 ft (100 m) in height. The average elevation
of the Sand Hills region gradually increases from about 1800 ft
(600 m) in the east to about 3600 ft (900 m) in the west.
The
area is open for recreation. Camping facilities, showers, shelter
house, tennis courts, canoeing down the Dismal River and softball
diamond available. Scott Lookout Tower provides a view of the
Sandhills scenery. Tower open afternoons from Memorial through
Labor Day. For more information: call (308) 533-2257.
The 713 square miles that make up Thomas County take in
Thedford, Halsey and Seneca. In 2000 the census
bureau reported the total county population as 729. By 2005 the
population had dwindled to 631.
 Thedford,
as the county seat, houses county. state and federal offices with
four churches as well as K-12 schools. Thedford is a community of
nearly 400 with quite a variety of businesses and entrepreneurs
for the size of the population. There are full service gas
stations with convenience stores, a diesel repair shop, motels,
lounges, a grocery store, lumber and hardware store, construction
companies, a veterinary clinic, an art gallery, and newspaper
office.
Preservation of the town and community pride
are revealed through a sense of identification with a neat,
respectable and conservative atmosphere. In addition, people
living here have a perception of individuality and uniqueness not
often seen in more metropolitan areas. This ideology has carried
forward from the past as has the value of continuing to perform
traditional skills and heritage crafts.
Thomas County is a place where the people,
geography, beauty, diversity, and heritage have resulted in an
often overlooked place that is comfortable to live in and
enjoyable to visit.
Researchers, genealogists and journalists can reach Thomas County
officials at (308) 645-2261.
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