During World War II, the U.S. Army constructed the Cornhusker Ammunition Depot west of Grand Island. The munitions plant produced bombs and artillery shells for World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Today it is the site of the annual week long agricultural show, Husker Harvest Days. Today, Hall County is one of the largest regional trading centers in Nebraska. It has grown from a small settlement to a prosperous manufacturing and trading center.
Grand Island is the third largest town and the third largest retail center in Nebraska.
Other towns in Hall County include Doniphan, Wood River, Cairo, and Alda. Yearly thousands of tourists visit Hall County to see the annual migration of the Sandhill Cranes. Their stop along the Platte River from late February through early April is one of the largest congregations of migratory birds on the North American continent. Hall County has been named the number ONE place in the world for bird watchers by Forbes FYI Magazine. Historic guides to downtown Grand Island, the overland trails, historical sites and markers are available through the Visitor and Convention Bureau.