In 1855, the Nebraska Territorial Legislature changed the boundaries of the eight counties defined by Acting Territorial Governor Cuming in 1854. In addition, this first legislature defined sixteen new counties — including York County.

York County extended north to the Platte River and included what is now called Polk County. Our neighbor to the east was Greene County.

The Nebraska Territory now had twenty-four counties: Blackbird, Buffalo, Burt, Cass, Clay, Cuming, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Gage, Greene, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lancaster, Loup, McNeal, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, Washington, York. Pierce and Forney, counties originally defined in 1854, were no longer used as county names.

Many of the county names used in this 1855 division remain today, but today's location may vary. For example, in 1855 Clay County was southeast of York County; today Clay County is southwest of York County.

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