County GIS · State lines · October 20, 2026
Iowa–Nebraska Border Counties: Parcel Maps on Both Sides
All 14 counties on the Iowa–Nebraska line, with seats, 2023 populations and a link to each official parcel map, plus what changes at the state line.
Looking for the counties on the Iowa–Nebraska border and their parcel maps? According to the Census Bureau's county adjacency file, 6 Iowa counties touch 8 Nebraska counties along the line. Each one keeps its own property records and its own parcel viewer, so land near the line often means checking two counties in two states.
Below you will find every county on both sides of the line, who borders whom, and what changes when you cross from one records office to the other.
Iowa–Nebraska border at a glance
- Counties on the line: 14 (6 in Iowa, 8 in Nebraska)
- With a verified public parcel viewer in our directory: 14 of 14
- Residents, 2023 estimates: about 243,384 on the Iowa side and 888,911 on the Nebraska side
- Most populous on each side: Woodbury County, IA (105,951) and Douglas County, NE (589,540)
- Largest by land area: Pottawattamie County, IA (951 sq mi) and Otoe County, NE (616 sq mi)
Iowa counties on the line
| County | Seat | Land (sq mi) | 2023 pop. | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fremont County | Sidney | 511 | 6,458 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Harrison County | Logan | 697 | 14,670 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Mills County | Glenwood | 437 | 14,633 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Monona County | Onawa | 694 | 8,493 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Pottawattamie County | Council Bluffs | 951 | 93,179 | ArcGIS Map Viewer |
| Woodbury County | Sioux City | 873 | 105,951 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
Nebraska counties on the line
| County | Seat | Land (sq mi) | 2023 pop. | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burt County | Tekamah | 492 | 6,727 | gWorks |
| Cass County | Plattsmouth | 557 | 27,446 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| Dakota County | Dakota City | 264 | 21,268 | gWorks |
| Douglas County | Omaha | 326 | 589,540 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Otoe County | Nebraska City | 616 | 16,335 | gWorks |
| Sarpy County | Papillion | 238 | 199,886 | county web map |
| Thurston County | Pender | 394 | 6,557 | gWorks |
| Washington County | Blair | 390 | 21,152 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
Which counties face each other
The Census adjacency file pairs counties that share a boundary. Use it to find the county across the line from the one you know:
- Fremont County, IA borders Cass County, NE, Otoe County, NE
- Harrison County, IA borders Burt County, NE, Washington County, NE
- Mills County, IA borders Cass County, NE, Sarpy County, NE
- Monona County, IA borders Burt County, NE, Thurston County, NE
- Pottawattamie County, IA borders Douglas County, NE, Sarpy County, NE, Washington County, NE
- Woodbury County, IA borders Dakota County, NE, Thurston County, NE
What changes when you cross the line
- Different viewers. On the Iowa side the official maps run on: Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) (5); ArcGIS Map Viewer (1). On the Nebraska side: gWorks (4); Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) (2); ArcGIS Experience Builder (1); county web map (1). Search boxes, parcel ID formats and the details shown in pop-ups will differ.
- Different records offices. Deeds, plats and tax bills are kept by the county where the parcel sits.
- Different rules. Zoning, septic permits and property tax are set locally and by each state, so check with the county on the side where you plan to build or buy.
Researching a tract that crosses the line
- Find the parcel in both counties' viewers. Each side will show only its own piece, with its own parcel number.
- Pull the recorded deed from each county's register or recorder, since each county records only the land inside its own boundary.
- Expect two tax bills, one from each county, and check each state's rules for homestead or farm exemptions.
- For a sale, a fence or a building permit, hire a licensed surveyor familiar with the line; tax-map lines are drawings, not surveys.
A quick way to check which side a spot is on
Open the Platbookmapper Land Map, search the nearest county, and tap the spot. The land report shows which county it falls in, along with flood zone, elevation, soil and wetlands, and links to that county's parcel map.
Related guides
More: Iowa counties · Nebraska counties
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file, used for which counties share the line.
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files, 2020 county land area.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2023 (July 1, 2023 estimates)
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 20, 2026) for each county's official parcel viewer.
- County seats: Wikidata (county seat property), cross-checked against Census place names.