Merrick County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,668. Its county seat is Central City.

Merrick County is part of the Grand Island, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Merrick County is represented by the prefix 46 (it had the 46th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Merrick County was formed in 1858, and was organized in 1864. It was named for Elvira Merrick, the maiden name of the wife of territorial legislator Henry W. DePuy, who introduced the bill that created the county.

When first formed, the county was bounded on the south by the Platte River, and by straight lines on the north, east, and west; enclosing 180 square miles (470 km) of the Pawnee Reservation, which had been established in 1857. In 1873, the state legislature removed these reservation lands from the county, leaving it with a jagged northern border from which narrow panhandles extended northward from the northeast and northwest corners. In 1897, the Pawnee Reservation became Nance County.

The terrain of Merrick County is low rolling plains, sloping to the east and northeast. Most of the area is under cultivation. The Platte River flows northeastward along the southeast border line of the county. A smaller drainage, Prairie Creek, parallels the river, flowing northeastward through the center of the county before discharging into the Platte River northeast of Merrick County. The county has an area of 494 square miles (1,280 km), of which 485 square miles (1,260 km) is land and 9.6 square miles (25 km) (1.9%) is water.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	109		—
1870	557		411.0%
1880	5,341		858.9%
1890	8,758		64.0%
1900	9,255		5.7%
1910	10,379		12.1%
1920	10,763		3.7%
1930	10,619		−1.3%
1940	9,354		−11.9%
1950	8,812		−5.8%
1960	8,363		−5.1%
1970	8,751		4.6%
1980	8,945		2.2%
1990	8,049		−10.0%
2000	8,204		1.9%
2010	7,845		−4.4%
2020	7,668		−2.3%
2021 (est.)	7,665		0.0%
US Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 8,204 people, 3,209 households, and 2,307 families in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km). There were 3,649 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 98.32% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,209 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.

The county population contained 27.50% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,961, and the median income for a family was $39,729. Males had a median income of $26,998 versus $19,828 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,958. About 7.00% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

• Central City (county seat)

• Chapman
• Clarks
• Palmer
• Silver Creek

• Archer

Merrick County voters have been strongly Republican for decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

United States presidential election results for Merrick County, Nebraska

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,551	81.30%	730	16.71%	87	1.99%
2020	3,419	79.85%	743	17.35%	120	2.80%
2016	2,926	77.24%	602	15.89%	260	6.86%
2012	2,490	71.37%	925	26.51%	74	2.12%
2008	2,375	69.22%	986	28.74%	70	2.04%
2004	2,771	75.77%	833	22.78%	53	1.45%
2000	2,380	71.26%	848	25.39%	112	3.35%
1996	2,084	58.67%	997	28.07%	471	13.26%
1992	1,854	48.65%	864	22.67%	1,093	28.68%
1988	2,376	66.15%	1,192	33.18%	24	0.67%
1984	2,700	76.14%	818	23.07%	28	0.79%
1980	2,710	73.36%	712	19.27%	272	7.36%
1976	2,229	60.21%	1,360	36.74%	113	3.05%
1972	2,418	73.16%	887	26.84%	0	0.00%
1968	2,031	65.88%	840	27.25%	212	6.88%
1964	1,798	50.81%	1,741	49.19%	0	0.00%
1960	2,744	68.98%	1,234	31.02%	0	0.00%
1956	2,857	71.73%	1,126	28.27%	0	0.00%
1952	3,288	77.31%	965	22.69%	0	0.00%
1948	2,074	62.08%	1,267	37.92%	0	0.00%
1944	2,691	65.94%	1,390	34.06%	0	0.00%
1940	2,886	66.31%	1,466	33.69%	0	0.00%
1936	2,367	48.43%	2,401	49.13%	119	2.44%
1932	1,698	36.16%	2,881	61.35%	117	2.49%
1928	3,269	69.57%	1,403	29.86%	27	0.57%
1924	2,324	54.34%	1,137	26.58%	816	19.08%
1920	2,385	65.11%	1,075	29.35%	203	5.54%
1916	1,178	44.82%	1,349	51.33%	101	3.84%
1912	526	22.66%	950	40.93%	845	36.41%
1908	1,133	46.92%	1,081	44.76%	201	8.32%
1904	1,275	61.09%	400	19.17%	412	19.74%
1900	1,212	52.29%	996	42.97%	110	4.75%

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Merrick County, Nebraska

41°10′N 98°02′W / 41.17°N 98.03°W / 41.17; -98.03