Dawson County

Dawson County is an administrative area in central Nebraska featuring flat plains, working agricultural land, and major transportation corridors including Interstate 80 and Highway 30. Several towns and smaller communities are scattered throughout the territory.

This area was established as an administrative county in 1860, named for Jacob Dawson who served as the first postmaster in Lancaster County. Settlement and growth followed westward expansion and the arrival of railway lines through the region.

Communities like Lexington and Cozad anchor different parts of this county, each maintaining its own local traditions and connections to farming life. Visitors passing through notice how agriculture shapes daily rhythms across towns and surrounding areas.

Main highways like Interstate 80 run through the area and make it easy to move between different towns and communities. Travelers will find services like gas stations, restaurants, and lodging options along these routes.

The area functions as a key transportation hub between eastern and western Nebraska along the Historic Lincoln Highway, an important route from the early automobile era. This historic connection still shapes how many small towns in the region look and function.

Location: Nebraska

Inception: 1860

Capital city: Lexington

Shares border with: Custer County, Gosper County, Frontier County, Lincoln County, Buffalo County, Phelps County

Website: http://dawsoncountyne.net

GPS coordinates: 40.87000,-99.81000

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:55