Keith County, Nebraska

Keith County, Nebraska

County seat: Ogallala · Created: February 27, 1873; organized May 3, 1873 · Named for: M. C. Keith, North Platte rancher · License plates: prefix 68 · Population: 8,335 (2020 census); peak 9,364 in 1980 · Area: 1,110 sq mi · Time zone: Mountain

About Keith County

Keith County lies where the North and South Platte rivers run side by side across western Nebraska, with the Sandhills to the north and wheat country to the south. Lake McConaughy, Nebraska's largest reservoir, fills the North Platte valley behind Kingsley Dam. The Oregon, California and Mormon trails followed the two rivers: emigrants forded the South Platte at the Lower California Crossing and climbed California Hill west of Brule, and the Pony Express kept stations at Alkali, Sand Hill and Diamond Springs in 1860–61. The Union Pacific built up the South Platte in 1867. The Legislature created the county on February 27, 1873, and it was organized on May 3, 1873, at Louis Aufdengarten's house in Ogallala; it is named for M. C. Keith, a North Platte rancher whose grandson Keith Neville became governor (some sources mention a John Keith). Voters split off the southern part as Perkins County in 1887.

From about 1875 to 1884 Ogallala was the northern end of the Texas cattle trail, where herds met the railroad. In 1906–09 the Union Pacific built its North Platte Valley branch past Keystone and Lemoyne. Kingsley Dam, a New Deal project built in 1936–41 and among the largest hydraulic-fill dams of its time, created Lake McConaughy and forced Lemoyne to move uphill. Interstate 80 arrived in the late 1960s, and the county's population peaked at 9,364 in 1980. In March 2026 the Morrill Fire, the largest recorded wildfire in Nebraska (about 642,000 acres), burned south to the lake's north shore and forced Lemoyne's evacuation, and by late summer drought had dropped Lake McConaughy below 30 percent of capacity, closing its public boat ramps.

Towns of Keith County

Travel Corridors

I-80 — along the South Platte, with exits at Brule (117), Ogallala (126), Roscoe (133) and Paxton (145). I-80 Corridor →

US 30 — the Lincoln Highway, through Brule, Ogallala, Roscoe and Paxton. US 30 Corridor →

NE 92 — along the north shore of Lake McConaughy from Lewellen through Lemoyne to NE 61 at Martin, and on to Arthur. NE 92 Corridor →

Other highways — US 26 begins at I-80 in Ogallala and runs northwest to Ash Hollow and Scottsbluff; NE 61 runs from Grant north through Ogallala, across Kingsley Dam, to Arthur.

Cameras: View Keith County cameras → · Road conditions: Nebraska 511

Things to See

In Ogallala, Front Street, Boot Hill, the 1887 Mansion on the Hill and the 1938 post office mural Long Horns. Near Brule, the Oregon Trail ruts on California Hill and the Diamond Springs stage station site; east of Roscoe, the Alkali Station marker. In Keystone, the 1908 Little Church, shared by Catholics and Protestants. North of Ogallala, Kingsley Dam and the Lake McConaughy Visitor and Water Interpretive Center. The county has 14 National Register listings, the newest the Up/Over sculpture at the I-80 rest area near Roscoe (2026).

Outdoors

Lake McConaughy, about 22 miles long, is known for its white sand beaches, walleye and wipers, and camping: seven campgrounds and more than 950 beach sites, with its own day-of-week fee schedule. Below the dam, Lake Ogallala has trout fishing and winter eagle viewing. In 2026 the lake was below 30 percent of capacity and all public boat ramps were closed; check with Game and Parks, (308) 284-8800, before you go. The Ogallala Strip WMA follows the South Platte west of Ogallala. Golf: Crandall Creek in Ogallala and Bayside on the south shore.

Keith County Business Directory

Businesses within 20 miles of: Ogallala · Paxton · Brule · Lemoyne · All listings →

Adjacent Counties

Arthur County (north) · McPherson County (northeast, on Central Time) · Lincoln County (east, on Central Time) · Perkins County (south) · Deuel County (west) · Garden County (northwest); Sedgwick County, Colorado, touches only at the southwest corner.

Events

2026 dates: the Ogallala Round-Up Rodeo, July 25–26; the Keith County Fair in Ogallala, July 29–August 1; Brule Day, August 1; the Paxton Labor Day Celebration, September 5–7; the Indian Summer Rendezvous in Ogallala, September 17–19; the Keith County Holiday Craft Fair, November 21; and the Christmas Parade of Lights in Ogallala, December 3.

Keith County at a Glance

Keith County, Nebraska — the two Platte rivers, Lake McConaughy and Ogallala, the old end of the Texas cattle trail. County seat Ogallala; Mountain Time.

Getting there: I-80 and US 30 along the South Platte; US 26 from Scottsbluff; NE 61 from Grant and Arthur; NE 92 along the north shore.

For visitors: Lake McConaughy and Kingsley Dam, Front Street and Boot Hill in Ogallala, California Hill near Brule, the Little Church at Keystone and Ole's in Paxton. Hospital: Ogallala Community Hospital.