Webster County

Webster County

When Webster County was organized, Red Cloud was voted the county seat at the first county election on April 19, 1871. The election was held in the dugout of Silas Garber, Red Cloud's founder and Nebraska's Governor from 1875-1879. Today, Red Cloud remains the county seat and the local courthouse provides numerous employment opportunities for residents of Red Cloud, Guide Rock, and the surrounding area. There are many wonderful places to visit and shop throughout Webster County and we wholeheartedly encourage you to do so. 

County Government and Courthouse

County Government and Courthouse
Webster County Courthouse
County Government and Courthouse

The Webster County Courthouse is located at 621 North Cedar in Red Cloud. The building was built in 1914 in the Second Renaissance Revival style. Today, business for the following county offices is conducted there: Assessor, Attorney, Board of Commissioners, Clerk, Clerk of District Court, Election Commissioner, Emergency Manager, Highway Superintendent, Register of Deeds, Sheriff, Treasurer, Veterans Services Officer, Weed Superintendent, and Surveyor. The Courthouse hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Visit the Official Webster County Government website for more information. 

Sheriff's Department

Sheriff's Department
Sheriff's Department

Located in Red Cloud, the Webster County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement for Red Cloud, Guide Rock, and throughout Webster County. For non-emergency, contact the Sheriff's Department at 402-746-2722.

UNL Extension in Webster County

UNL Extension in Webster County
Webster County Extension
UNL Extension in Webster County

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Webster County provides reliable, research-based information in agriculture and natural resources, consumer and family economics, community and economic development and 4-H/youth development. 

Learn more by visiting the UNL-Extension in Webster County website and via their Facebook page. 

Webster County Fair & Rodeo

Webster County Fair & Rodeo
Webster County Fair
Webster County Fair & Rodeo

Come join the fun at the Webster County Fair & Rodeo in Bladen, NE--this year's dates are July 23-25. Keep up with the latest updates and learn about sponsorship opportunties here: http://webstercountyfair.org/
 

Liberty Cove Recreation Area

Liberty Cove Recreation Area
Liberty Cove Recreation Area

Liberty Cove Recreation Area is located 24 miles northeast of Red Cloud and is located 2 miles west, 2 miles south and 1/4 mile west of Lawrence, NE. Liberty Cove is managed by the Little Blue Natural Resources district and has 36 acres of surface water and 260 acres of land surrounding the structure. 

Water quality at the existing creek is considered excellent due to many natural springs.  The lake is stocked with bluegill, bass, catfish and a few northern pike.

Recreation: Eight RV camper pads with electrical hookups ($15 per night fee), two shelters, two restrooms, boat ramp, boat dock, fishing, swimming, beach, picnicking, grills, camping, playground, well water,  hiking trails, horse riding trail, arboretum, small game hunting, archery for deer and turkey and boats less than 5 mph. 

Winter Sports: Sledding, ice skating, fishing and snowmobiling.

Primary benefits:  Flood control, road and bridge protection, outdoor recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat.

Area highlights:  The community of Lawrence provides gas, food, fishing equipment and swimming pool. 

View a list of the numerous plant species and bird species that Liberty Cove possesses for the nature enthusiast to enjoy.

Cather Country Tour

Cather Country Tour
Pavelka Farmstead
Cather Country Tour

The Country Tour highlights twenty historic sites related to the life and writing of Willa Cather. You may schedule a guided tour of these sites by contacting the Willa Cather Foundation, or you may purchase a detailed Country Tour Book for a self-guided tour. The Country Tour takes visitors through roughly fifty miles of the Webster County countryside, including settings from Lucy Gayheart, My Ántonia, O Pioneers!, One of Ours, short stories "Neighbour Rosicky" and "Peter," and others, as well as many scenes from Cather's own life—the Cather homesteads and the prairies and river where the Cather children played and explored. Roads are not always passable during inclement weather, so please plan accordingly. Call the Cather Foundation at 402-746-2653 for more information. For an overview of the sites in the Red Cloud and Bladen areas that you will visit on the Country Tour, click here


"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea...and there was so much motion in it, the whole country seemed somehow, to be running." — My Ántonia

Webster County Historical Museum

Webster County Historical Museum
Webster County Historical Museum

Housed in a 1909 classic revival style brick mansion, the Webster County Historical Museum is a beautiful landmark and an outstanding resource for learning about the area's rich pioneering and agricultural history. The four floors of the museum bring to life the early settlers of Webster County. It is a treasure trove of information about local families living in the Red Cloud and Guide Rock areas during the late 1800's and early 1900's. Items include books, diaries, Bibles, hymnals, paintings, clothing, and furniture. There are also schoolbooks and desks from the first school house in Webster County, which was opened in Guide Rock in 1867. Mary Kingsley was the first teacher of the Guide Rock school, earning twelve dollars a month in salary. Photographs and a select few brochures and letters from Silas Garber are also available at the museum. Garber was one of the original settlers of Webster County and was the Governor of Nebraska from 1875-1879. There are a few photographs and personal accounts of the "Great Storm of Red Cloud," which happened in 1879, when a storm nearly destroyed the entire town. The majority of the town's buildings were leveled and there was over $10,000 in damages. Museum artifacts also include a 1904 Rumely steam engine and a 1910 Case threshing machine, along with other examples of early day farming machinery. The paleontology exhibit, "Digging Through Time" showcases some of the wondrous fossil finds that have been discovered in Webster County. The musuem's genealogy department is a popular destination for those interested in learning more about their family tree. They have marriage announcements and obituaries that date back to the late 1800s. The department also has old copies of the Blue Hill Leader and the Webster County Argus available for review and research.

The museum is is located 6 blocks west of downtown Red Cloud, on Nebraska's Heritage Highway 136. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1:00-5:00 p.m. April 1-October 30, with the exception of Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and July 4th. The genealogy department is open year round by appointment. Address: 721 West 4th Avenue, P.O. Box 464, Red Cloud, NE, 402-746-2444, email: wchmdirector@gpcom.net .