In the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills 

Thomas County is the crossroads of US Hwy 83, and NE Hwy 2 for many Sandhills travelers. All of Thomas County is Sandhills country. Here the grass stabilized dunes are like a great rolling sea with dunes as high as 400 feet and as long as 20 miles. Stretching over 265 miles, the Sandhills were formed by blowing sand during the last 8,000 years or less.

Thomas County is cattle country. Not suitable for farming, this fragile land has benefited from the "hoof action" of cattle compressing grasses and seeds into the mostly sandy soil. The rolling hills provide great protection for the herds from winter winds and the variety of native prairie grasses provide good nutrition. Ranching is the primary way of life for the residents of Thomas County and the area's beef is among the highest quality of any in the nation. Stop by a local restaurant for a great Nebraska steak.

The Dismal and Middle Loup River run through the county providing recreation and habitat for wildlife and water foul. The Dismal River is spring fed with boiling vertical springs and seeps that churn up this shallow sandy river bottom. The Dismal River winds through private lands until it joins the Middle Loup, west of the Nebraska National Forest in Halsey. It is a challenging river for kayak or canoe with fallen trees and cattle fences stretching from shore to shore but the seclusion draws river rafters to its banks every year.

There are a great number of birds native to the Sandhills including the Greater Prairie Chicken and Sharp Tail Grouse. One of the premier bird watching activities is to watch the Greater Prairie Chickens in their "Booming Dance." These birds are hunted in the fall. There's pubic access at the Nebraska National Forest. Turkeys have been reintroduced to the Sandhills and are quite a common site now, especially along the rivers, creeks and deep canyons. There are both Merriam and Rio Grand species in the Sandhills.

The Sandhills are great habitat for both Mule and White Tail Deer. Rabbits, raccoons, coyotes, badgers and skunks can also be seen.

History

Thomas County's early development can be tied directly to the westward advancement of the railroad. As a result, the county's early history dates back only to the 1880s.

The first homestead claim in this area was filed in 1880. It would be seven years later before the Nebraska Legislature would create the county's boundaries and name the area after Civil War Gen. George H. Thomas.

Prior to the county being organized, this area in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills was primarily open range pasture land used by cattlemen who brought their herds north from Texas to sell to the government. The government used the beef to feed the Indian reservations in South Dakota.

But it was the railroad which played the most prominent role in the county's development as it followed the Loup River. By the mid to late 1880s the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy line stretched from the county's east to west boundaries. Along the route the railroad designated five stations: Norway, Natick, Halsey, Thedford and Seneca. The latter three eventually became the county's only settlements.

Thedford was designated as the county seat when the county was organized. In 1887, the year the railroad line reached the settlement, a post office opened. About the same time the county's first courthouse was built. It would be replaced in 1922 by the present courthouse.

Passage of the Kinkaid Act in 1904 had a big impact on Thomas County. In the 1890 census, only 517 residents were reported. With the Kinkaid Act many new settlers came to the area in hopes of farming the 640 acres of land they received. The county's all-time high population of 1,773 residents was recorded in 1920. But since the region was not conducive to farming, many of these "Kinkaiders" left the area by 1930. Those who remained bought the abandoned homesteads and created large ranches. In 1940, 14 ranches were said to contain nearly 3,500 acres each.

In addition to large cattle ranches, Thomas County is also home to the Nebraska National Forest located between the Loup and Dismal Rivers.