Nebraska: Cities, Counties, ZIP Codes & Time Zones
This hub collects every place we list in Nebraska: 576 cities, towns and communities in 93 counties. The capital is Lincoln, NE. Omaha, NE is the most populous at about 847,819. Browse the largest cities, the counties, the time zones and the ZIP code ranges used across Nebraska below.
What are the key facts about Nebraska?
| State | Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | NE |
| Capital | Lincoln, NE |
| Places in our data | 576 |
| Places with a city page | 34 |
| Counties | 93 |
| Time zones | Central time (506 places), Mountain time (70 places) |
| ZIP codes linked to places | 587 |
| ZIP prefix range | 680–693 |
| Median place population | 286 |
What are the largest cities in Nebraska?
The 25 largest places in Nebraska by estimated population are ranked below. Omaha, NE leads the list, followed by Lincoln, NE and Bellevue, NE. Select any name for ZIP codes, nearby cities and distances.
| # | City | County | Population | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha, NE | Douglas County | 847,819 | 3,390 |
| 2 | Lincoln, NE | Lancaster County | 289,490 | 3,004 |
| 3 | Bellevue, NE | Sarpy County | 53,544 | 3,230 |
| 4 | Grand Island, NE | Hall County | 53,296 | 1,722 |
| 5 | Kearney, NE | Buffalo County | 34,418 | 2,341 |
| 6 | Fremont, NE | Dodge County | 27,456 | 2,530 |
| 7 | Norfolk, NE | Madison County | 27,032 | 2,155 |
| 8 | Scottsbluff, NE | Scotts Bluff County | 25,114 | 2,194 |
| 9 | Hastings, NE | Adams County | 24,692 | 1,691 |
| 10 | North Platte, NE | Lincoln County | 24,098 | 1,785 |
| 11 | Columbus, NE | Platte County | 23,468 | 2,225 |
| 12 | Papillion, NE | Sarpy County | 20,471 | 2,072 |
| 13 | La Vista, NE | Sarpy County | 17,170 | 3,160 |
| 14 | South Sioux City, NE | Dakota County | 12,809 | 1,997 |
| 15 | Beatrice, NE | Gage County | 12,279 | 1,305 |
| 16 | Chalco, NE | Sarpy County | 10,952 | 3,888 |
| 17 | Lexington, NE | Dawson County | 10,345 | 2,246 |
| 18 | Gering, NE | Scotts Bluff County | 8,128 | 1,888 |
| 19 | Alliance, NE | Box Butte County | 8,092 | 1,621 |
| 20 | Blair, NE | Washington County | 7,892 | 1,432 |
| 21 | York, NE | York County | 7,846 | 1,212 |
| 22 | McCook, NE | Red Willow County | 7,560 | 1,399 |
| 23 | Nebraska City, NE | Otoe County | 7,292 | 1,466 |
| 24 | Ralston, NE | Douglas County | 7,273 | 4,408 |
| 25 | Seward, NE | Seward County | 7,216 | 1,619 |
How are places in Nebraska distributed by size?
The places in our Nebraska data break down as follows: 2 places with 250,000 to 1 million people; 6 places with 25,000 to 100,000 people; 26 places with 5,000 to 25,000 people; 542 places with under 5,000 people. The median place has about 286 residents, so most communities are far smaller than the biggest cities. The densest places with a page are Ralston, NE (4,408 per sq mi), Chalco, NE (3,888 per sq mi), Omaha, NE (3,390 per sq mi), Bellevue, NE (3,230 per sq mi), La Vista, NE (3,160 per sq mi). The least dense are Sidney, NE (816), York, NE (1,212), Offutt AFB, NE (1,272), Holdrege, NE (1,277), Beatrice, NE (1,305). Density labels are explained in our density guide.
Which counties are in Nebraska?
Nebraska has 93 counties or county equivalents in our data. The links below open the 27 that contain at least one place with a full page. Counties are identified by five-digit FIPS codes, which our county guide explains.
What ZIP codes does Nebraska use?
The places in Nebraska are linked to 587 ZIP codes. Their three-digit prefixes run from 680 to 693, and the first digit is 6, pointing to the central Midwest (Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska). Prefixes reveal the regional mail sorting hub, not a county or city. Try the ZIP code lookup to match a code to a place.
What time zones does Nebraska use?
Places in Nebraska fall in these zones in our data: Central time (506 places), Mountain time (70 places). Because the state straddles more than one zone, check the specific city before you schedule calls or travel. Read US time zones explained for how daylight saving time applies.
Which states are near Nebraska?
Measured between the average locations of their places, the closest states are Kansas (194 mi south), South Dakota (214 mi north), Iowa (263 mi east), Minnesota (360 mi northeast), Missouri (366 mi southeast). Distances are straight-line and rough, since state shapes differ greatly.
Where to go next
Figures are estimates from a compiled dataset; confirm official numbers with the Census Bureau.