Nuckolls County Courthouse is the location of the county court (Box 372) and the district court (Box 362). The county court is in the Tenth county court judicial district of Nebraska while the district court is in the First district court judicial district of Nebraska. While passing through the length of Nuckolls county SR 14 connects with SR 4, US 136 and SR 8.

although land owned by an early settler was selected as the county seat in the Fall of 1872 it was not until 11 years later that the Village of Nelson was incorporated by the petition of its residents. Some think that the stone faces on the old Stansbury building are of early residents of the area. Hunting and fishing are popular sports in the surrounding area, but in Nelson outdoor recreation is available at Harbine park with illuminated hard surface tennis courts, playground equipment, sand volleyball courts, baseball fields, a swimming pool, a picnic shelter, a running track and horseshoe pits. There is also overnight camping available with sites equipped with electric outlets, water, sewer and charcoal grills.