Population5,561 (July 1, 2025 estimate)
River Days and Wide Open Sandhills Skies
Cherry County, NebraskaValentine is a starting point for Cherry County’s Niobrara River outings and Sandhills scenery. Smith Falls State Park and the Niobrara National Scenic River Visitor Center offer different ways to get acquainted with the landscape. Choose an outfitter for a planned river trip, or begin with a visitor center stop. Distances matter here, so check routes, operating seasons and the local time zone before combining several destinations in one day.
Cherry County at a Glance
Population5,561 (July 1, 2025 estimate)
County SeatValentine
Largest CommunityValentine
EstablishedAuthorized 1883; organized 1883
ZIP Codes14 wholly or partly within county
Total Area6,009.60 square miles (land and water; 2024 Gazetteer)
Major RoutesUS 20; US 83; NE 12; NE 61; NE 97
Area Codes308, 402, and 531
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Meet Local Businesses
Explore featured businesses from the county and surrounding region. These paid advertisements link residents with local services; confirm location and service availability directly with each business.
Explore Your County
Discover Cherry County
Cherry County is more than a single stop in Valentine. Its local guide should help you connect a place you want to explore with the information you need to get there. Begin with Smith Falls State Park, then look at the surrounding communities and official visitor resources before adding another destination. A short, well-planned route leaves room for a meal, a conversation or an unexpected discovery without turning the day into a race between attractions.
For people who call Cherry County home, the useful details are often the everyday ones: which office handles a question, where to find a library, or how to check transportation options. Keep the official county website close at hand and use the resource links below to reach the organization responsible for each service. Visitor information and government information serve different purposes; together, they offer a more useful picture of life around Valentine and beyond.
What Shapes This Place
A Local Starting Point
Begin with Smith Falls State Park and check its current information before setting out. Build your route around the stops that suit your interests and the time you have.
Everyday Connections
Use Cherry County government and provider links to find the right office or organization. Confirm the details of your visit directly, especially when traveling from another community.
Explore With Context
Keep Valentine and the surrounding county in view as you plan. Check destination locations carefully, and give nearby regional attractions their own place on your itinerary.
Local places, useful connections, and time to explore
A Closer Look
Cherry County in Pictures
Places and perspectives from Cherry County
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Meet Local Businesses
Explore featured businesses from the county and surrounding region. These paid advertisements link residents with local services; confirm location and service availability directly with each business.
Everyday Essentials
Find the Right Local Resource
Start with official offices and service providers. Statewide directories are identified so you can select your local community.
Government
Schools
Hospitals & Health
Public Safety
Emergency Management
State Parks
Trails & Recreation
Utilities
Service boundaries can differ within Cherry County. Use these official tools to identify service at your address; contact your city or village for municipal water and sewer.
Find your electric supplier — Nebraska Power Review Board service-area map
Locate natural gas service territories — Nebraska Public Service Commission
Check broadband providers by street address — FCC National Broadband Map
Request underground utility locations before digging — Nebraska 811
Natural gas utility information — Nebraska Public Service Commission
Libraries
Courts
DMV
Transportation
Postal Services
Veterans Services
Employment
Cherry County Questions, Answered
Useful starting points for residents and visitors
Before You Go
Plan With Local Information
Check the source for hours, availability and visit details.
Valentine is the county seat. Start with the Cherry County government website to find the right office for your visit.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 5,561 residents as of July 1, 2025. This is a population estimate, not a new census count. Census population source.
The county covers approximately 6,009.60 square miles including land and water, calculated from the Census Bureau’s 2024 Gazetteer. Gazetteer source.
The Nebraska Association of County Officials lists authorization in 1883 and organization in 1883. These describe different stages of establishing county government. County history and profile.
Begin with Smith Falls State Park and Niobrara National Scenic River Visitor Center. Use the local information source to plan your stops and check current visitor arrangements.
Cherry County government is the official starting point. Select the office responsible for your task and confirm its hours and required documents before traveling to Valentine.
Use the Nebraska DMV location directory and select Cherry County. Check the service type and schedule; a county treasurer’s vehicle service is not automatically a driver examination appointment.
Use the Nebraska county veteran service officer directory to locate the entry for Cherry County. Contact the listed office to discuss services and arrange a visit.
Search the Nebraska Library Commission directory by community, beginning with Valentine. Ask the individual library about current hours, card eligibility and visitor access.
Start with the Nebraska public transit provider directory and confirm coverage for your pickup and destination. Availability, advance booking and fares depend on the provider; a nearby agency does not establish county-wide service.
Use USPS ZIP Code Lookup for the complete street address. ZIP delivery areas do not necessarily follow county boundaries, so the ZIP for Valentine should not be used for every address in Cherry County.
The at-a-glance count includes 14 ZIP codes wholly or partly within Cherry County, including PO Box and unique codes where listed. Source: ZIP Data Maps county coverage list, checked October 9, 2026. Postal areas can cross county boundaries.
Featured Advertisers
Meet Local Businesses
Explore featured businesses from the county and surrounding region. These paid advertisements link residents with local services; confirm location and service availability directly with each business.
My Local Guide
Explore Cherry County
Find Your Next Local StopBrowse places to eat, shop and spend time together. Nearby and regional options are labeled where included. Check destinations for current hours, admission and seasonal access.
Kids’ Fun
- Niobrara National Scenic River Visitor Center — Valentine. Exhibits, a short film and ranger information introduce the river’s natural history.
- Valentine City Park — Valentine. Walk shaded trails beside Minnechaduza Creek; camping and facility rentals are separate.
- Marsh Lake Overlook Trail — South of Valentine. A short nature trail introduces families to refuge grasslands and marshes.
Restaurants
- Scotty’s Ranchland Foods & Deli — Valentine. A grocery-store deli stop on West Highway 20.
- Bunkhouse Restaurant & Saloon — Valentine. A local meal stop near Highways 20 and 83.
- Bordertown Steakhouse — Kilgore, Cherry County. A steakhouse stop on North Main Street; check service days before making the drive.
Shopping & Retail
- Broken Spoke Boutique — Valentine. Boutique fashion, jewelry and Nebraska souvenirs at 205 North Main Street.
- Young’s Western Wear — Valentine. Western apparel, boots and accessories on North Main Street.
- Janine’s Flower Exchange — Valentine. Flowers and gifts at 262 North Main Street.
Clothing & Boutiques
- Broken Spoke Boutique — Valentine. Boutique fashion, jewelry and Nebraska souvenirs at 205 North Main Street.
- Young’s Western Wear — Valentine. Western apparel, boots and accessories on North Main Street.
- Humdinger Boots — Valentine. Western and work boots, clothing and accessories on South Hall Street.
Outdoor Fun
- Valentine City Park — Valentine. Walk shaded trails beside Minnechaduza Creek; camping and facility rentals are separate.
- Cowboy Trail — Valentine. Walk or cycle the local rail-trail segment and plan a trip toward the Niobrara River bridge; check current trail alerts.
- Valentine National Wildlife Refuge — South of Valentine. Birdwatching, short nature trails and designated wildlife-viewing routes; check road closures before traveling.
Free Things To Do
- Valentine City Park Walk — Valentine. Enjoy the public trails and creek scenery; camping and rentals are separate.
- Cowboy Trail Walk — Valentine. Take a self-guided walk on the public rail trail; check alerts before setting out.
- Niobrara Visitor Center Exhibits — Valentine. Visit the national park visitor center for exhibits and trip-planning information without booking a river trip.
Make time for a local discovery.Keep Exploring Cherry County