Kearney is the county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 33,790 in the 2020 census, making it the 5th mo…Kearney is the county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 33,790 in the 2020 census, making it the 5th most populous city in Nebraska. It is home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The westward push of the railroad as the Civil War ended gave new birth to the community.