Bartlett Nebraska 68622

Bartlett is the county seat of Wheeler County, Nebraska, located in the heart of the Sandhills region. Founded in the 1880s and named for Ezra Bartlett Mitchell, the original owner of the townsite, Bartlett became the county seat in 1885 after a contentious election moved the government offices from Cedar City, which collapsed shortly afterward. ZIP code 68622. Population 109 (2020 census).

US Highway 281 runs north–south through Bartlett, concurrent for about 14 miles with Nebraska Highway 70, which splits off eastward toward Elgin just north of town. As the county seat, Bartlett is home to the Wheeler County Courthouse.

Adjacent Counties

Holt County (north) · Antelope County (northeast) · Boone County (southeast) · Greeley County (south) · Valley County (southwest) · Garfield County (west)

Nearby Towns

Ericson, also in Wheeler County (~14 miles south via US-281/NE-70) · Elgin (~25 miles east via NE-70) · Ord (~30 miles southwest, the nearest larger city)

Points of Interest

Bartlett is home to the Herb Mignery Sculpture Garden, featuring works by renowned Western artist and Bartlett native Herb Mignery — 39 bronze sculptures celebrating Nebraska's ranching heritage, one of the largest displays of its kind, located on the grounds of the old Wheeler County Courthouse (now a museum). The current Wheeler County Courthouse, built partially underground, also stands in town, along with two town parks offering camper hookups.

Events

Bartlett is a participating stop on Nebraska's Junk Jaunt, a well-known multi-county Sandhills-wide garage-sale and tourism event held annually in late September across Wheeler and neighboring counties.

Education & Health

Schools: Wheeler Central Public Schools (the Broncos), located in Bartlett, serves the county as its consolidated K-12 district.

Health: Valley County Health System, Ord (~30 miles southwest) — the nearest full-service critical access hospital with emergency care.