WHEELER County is situated a little northeast of the center of the State, and is in extent forty-eight miles from east to west and twenty-four miles north and south. It is bounded on the north by Holt County, on the east by Antelope and Boone, on the south by Greeley and Valley, and on the west by the great extent of unorganized territory in Nebraska.

The county is quite well watered. In the eastern part of the county and flowing in a south easterly direction is Beaver Creek. Flowing in the same general direction, and entirely across the county from near the northwest corner is Cedar Creek. Flowing in the same direction and across the southwestern comer of the county is the North Loup River. Emptying into this from the north, is Calamus Creek Besides these principal streams there are a large number of draws and cañons which enter into them and which contain running water for a portion of the year. Along all the streams of the county are numerous clear and cool springs.

The valleys of the larger streams are broad and fertile. The uplands or divides between the streams are in many places rough and hilly, though there is a very large acreage upon them susceptible of cultivation.

The two great resources of the county are farming and grazing. The population is less than a thousand. Many of the settlers are engaged in stock-raising and a large number of cattle roam over the prairies, and find the richest of pasturage both along the streams and cañons, and upon the hills, while good water is attainable not only on the streams but in the deep draws. Along the valley lands are the principal settlements, and a large number of farms have been opened, where good crops of all kind of products, common to this latitude, have been raised.

The county was originally composed of government lands, some of which has been entered by the settlers already there, but by far the greater portion of it is yet subject to entry as homestead, pre-emption, or timber culture claims.

The organization of the county was made on the 11th day of April, 1881. J. F. Cummings was elected county clerk, and the county seat may be said to be located at Cummingsville, a post office on Cedar Creek, and here the county records are kept.

Ever since the organization of the county there has been considerable trouble and dissension among the settlers relative to a division of the county making two counties of the territory now comprising one. It is now just double the size of the ordinary counties of the state and whether done soon or not there is no doubt that eventually it will be divided into two.

Wheeler has advantages that must necessarily make it, when thoroughly developed, one of the most prosperous interior counties of the State.