[2] In the Nebraska license plate system, Valley County is represented by the prefix 47 (it had the 47th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

[3][4] Its name derives from the local terrain: much of the county consists of valley land lying between the North and Middle Loup Rivers.

[5] On June 12, 2010, the privately owned Bredthauer Dam broke due to heavy rain, flooding rural Valley County and the village of North Loup.

[6][7] Major flooding occurred in the village, with water "eight inches deep and running down Main Street.

The flat river valleys are largely dedicated to agriculture, with some center pivot irrigation employed.

In only one national election since 1916 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.