In the Nebraska license plate system, Kearney County is represented by the prefix 52 (it had the 52nd-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

The terrain of Kearney County consists of gently rolling low hills, mostly devoted to agriculture.

The Platte River flows eastward along the north county boundary.

[3] As of the 2000 United States Census[15] there were 6,882 people, 2,643 households, and 1,902 families in the county.

In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.