Phelps County, Nebraska

Phelps County
Phelps County Courthouse in Holdrege
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°31′N 99°25′W / 40.51°N 99.41°W / 40.51; -99.41
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1873
Named afterWilliam Phelps
SeatHoldrege
Largest cityHoldrege
Area
  Total
540 sq mi (1,400 km2)
  Land540 sq mi (1,400 km2)
  Water0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
8,968
  Density17/sq mi (6.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.phelpsgov.org

Phelps County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 8,968. Its county seat is Holdrege. The county was formed in 1873, and was named for William Phelps (1808–1889), a steamboat captain and early settler.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Phelps County is represented by the prefix 37 (it had the 37th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

It is considered part of the Kearney μSA's development and expansion plans.