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Nemaha County, Nebraska

Coordinates: 40°23′N 95°51′W / 40.39°N 95.85°W / 40.39; -95.85
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Nemaha County
Nemaha County Courthouse in Auburn
Nemaha County Courthouse in Auburn
Map of Nebraska highlighting Nemaha County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Map of the United States highlighting Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°23′N 95°51′W / 40.39°N 95.85°W / 40.39; -95.85
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1855
SeatAuburn
Largest cityAuburn
Area
 • Total410 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Land407 sq mi (1,050 km2)
 • Water2.2 sq mi (6 km2)  0.5%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2021)
7,064
 • Density17.2/sq mi (6.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitenemahacounty.ne.gov

Nemaha County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,074.[1] Its county seat is Auburn.[2]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Nemaha County is represented by the prefix 44 (it had the forty-fourth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

The county forms the core of the Nemaha Half-Breed Reservation formed in the Fourth Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1830 as land for the offspring of traders and Native Americans. The grounds of modern Indian Cave State Park mark where the county's first community, Saint Deroin, was founded in 1853 by members of the reservation as a trading post on the Missouri River. When white settlement was permitted in the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854, this area was part of Forney County (named for US cabinet member John W. Forney) which stretched along the Little Nemaha River from the Missouri River to west of Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1855 Nemaha County was formally founded with Brownville as its county seat. Johnson County, also founded in 1855, was initially administratively attached to Nemaha, but was organized as a stand-alone county in 1857.

Brownville was the biggest city in Nebraska at the time and several firsts occurred in the county including: in 1861 the first state normal school was founded at what today is Peru State College; Daniel Freeman filed the first claim under the Homestead Act of 1862 for land on January 1, 1863, at the Brownville land office.[3]

The Nebraska State Fair was held in the county at Brownville in 1870–1871.

In 1883 the county seat was moved to Auburn.

In 1974 the Cooper Nuclear Station was commissioned south of Brownville.

Geography

Nemaha County lies on the eastern edge of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Missouri (across the Missouri River). Most of the county's eastern border follows the Missouri River bordering Atchison County, Missouri. In the county's extreme northeast corner, the border follows the river's former course, lying nearly two miles (3 km) east of the present-day channel. This de facto enclave is McKissick Island. The Nemaha River flows southeastward through the upper eastern portion of the county, discharging into the Missouri River below the village of Nemaha.[4]

The county's terrain consists of low rolling hills, sloping eastward to the Missouri River valley. Much of the terrain is devoted to agriculture. The county has a total area of 410 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 407 square miles (1,050 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (0.5%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Protected area

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18603,139
18707,593141.9%
188010,45137.6%
189012,93023.7%
190014,95215.6%
191013,095−12.4%
192012,547−4.2%
193012,356−1.5%
194012,7813.4%
195010,973−14.1%
19609,099−17.1%
19708,976−1.4%
19808,367−6.8%
19907,980−4.6%
20007,576−5.1%
20107,248−4.3%
20207,074−2.4%
2021 (est.)7,064[1]−0.1%
US Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[10]

As of the 2000 United States Census[11] there were 7,576 people, 3,047 households, and 1,980 families in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (7/km2). There were 3,439 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.60% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,047 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.00% were non-families. 30.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.

The county population contained 23.20% under the age of 18, 11.90% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,588, and the median income for a family was $43,780. Males had a median income of $30,956 versus $19,263 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,004. About 8.30% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Precincts

Nemaha County has the following precincts (which are similar to townships)[12]

  • Aspinwall
  • Bedford
  • Benton
  • Brownville
  • Douglas
  • Glen Rock
  • Lafayette
  • London
  • McKissick Island
  • Nemaha
  • Peru
  • St. Deroin
  • Washington

Politics

Nemaha County voters are reliably Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. (With that being 1964)

Presidential election results
Presidential Elections Results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 70.7% 2,428 26.8% 921 2.1% 74
2016 66.9% 2,116 24.8% 785 8.2% 260
2012 62.6% 2,012 35.1% 1,128 2.3% 74
2008 61.4% 2,134 35.7% 1,240 2.9% 100
2004 69.9% 2,595 28.7% 1,066 1.5% 54
2000 64.6% 2,177 31.6% 1,063 3.8% 129
1996 51.9% 1,888 33.9% 1,232 14.2% 515
1992 44.0% 1,696 28.8% 1,110 27.2% 1,048
1988 60.6% 2,295 38.5% 1,457 0.9% 35
1984 72.6% 2,752 26.5% 1,004 1.0% 37
1980 68.9% 2,695 23.8% 930 7.3% 286
1976 59.1% 2,093 39.7% 1,406 1.3% 45
1972 74.1% 2,600 25.9% 909
1968 63.5% 2,290 28.4% 1,023 8.2% 295
1964 48.2% 1,936 51.8% 2,084
1960 68.8% 3,031 31.2% 1,377
1956 68.7% 3,141 31.3% 1,434
1952 72.3% 3,735 27.7% 1,432
1948 58.9% 2,413 41.2% 1,687
1944 64.7% 3,267 35.3% 1,785
1940 60.0% 3,817 40.0% 2,549
1936 43.9% 2,720 55.8% 3,459 0.4% 23
1932 36.4% 2,075 62.9% 3,593 0.7% 41
1928 68.1% 3,777 31.9% 1,767 0.1% 4
1924 49.0% 2,378 38.5% 1,871 12.5% 607
1920 64.0% 2,888 33.5% 1,512 2.5% 111
1916 45.2% 1,438 52.2% 1,658 2.6% 83
1912 22.5% 672 46.0% 1,374 31.5% 941
1908 47.3% 1,583 50.0% 1,674 2.7% 90
1904 60.6% 1,946 24.5% 786 14.9% 477
1900 48.9% 1,783 48.8% 1,779 2.4% 86

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Bureau, US Census. "County Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2022. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ The First Homesteader National Park Service
  4. ^ Nemaha County NE Google Maps (accessed 25 January 2019)
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  6. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ "Precincts of Nemaha County NE".
  13. ^ Election Results

40°23′N 95°51′W / 40.39°N 95.85°W / 40.39; -95.85