In the Nebraska license plate system, Buffalo County is represented by the prefix 9; when the license plate system was established in 1922, the county ranked ninth in number of registered vehicles.

The Union Pacific Railroad came to the area in 1866;[7] with additional settlers, the need to establish government was realized.

Patrick Walsh, Martin Slattery, and a Sergeant Cody petitioned the governor to organize Buffalo County in 1869.

[7] Wood River Centre (Shelton) was selected through election as county seat.

The 8,000 acre ranch extended from the Platte River Valley on the south, to Nebraska's rolling hills on the north, to a point five miles west of downtown Kearney.

10.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race As of the 2000 United States Census,[18] there were 42,259 people, 15,930 households, and 10,227 families in the county.

Only seven Democratic Party presidential candidates have won the county from 1880 to the present day, the most recent of which being Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.