Nemaha County, Nebraska

Coordinates: 40°23′N 95°51′W / 40.39°N 95.85°W / 40.39; -95.85
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nemaha County
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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Protected area[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

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 (6.9 people/km2). There were 3,439 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/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[edit]

Cities[edit]

Villages[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Ghost town[edit]

Precincts[edit]

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[edit]

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)

United States presidential election results for Nemaha County, Nebraska[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,428 70.75% 921 26.84% 83 2.42%
2016 2,116 66.94% 785 24.83% 260 8.23%
2012 2,012 62.60% 1,128 35.10% 74 2.30%
2008 2,134 61.43% 1,240 35.69% 100 2.88%
2004 2,595 69.85% 1,066 28.69% 54 1.45%
2000 2,177 64.62% 1,063 31.55% 129 3.83%
1996 1,888 51.94% 1,232 33.89% 515 14.17%
1992 1,696 44.01% 1,110 28.80% 1,048 27.19%
1988 2,295 60.60% 1,457 38.47% 35 0.92%
1984 2,752 72.55% 1,004 26.47% 37 0.98%
1980 2,695 68.91% 930 23.78% 286 7.31%
1976 2,093 59.06% 1,406 39.67% 45 1.27%
1972 2,600 74.10% 909 25.90% 0 0.00%
1968 2,290 63.47% 1,023 28.35% 295 8.18%
1964 1,936 48.16% 2,084 51.84% 0 0.00%
1960 3,031 68.76% 1,377 31.24% 0 0.00%
1956 3,141 68.66% 1,434 31.34% 0 0.00%
1952 3,735 72.29% 1,432 27.71% 0 0.00%
1948 2,413 58.85% 1,687 41.15% 0 0.00%
1944 3,267 64.67% 1,785 35.33% 0 0.00%
1940 3,817 59.96% 2,549 40.04% 0 0.00%
1936 2,720 43.86% 3,459 55.77% 23 0.37%
1932 2,075 36.35% 3,593 62.94% 41 0.72%
1928 3,777 68.08% 1,767 31.85% 4 0.07%
1924 2,378 48.97% 1,871 38.53% 607 12.50%
1920 2,888 64.02% 1,512 33.52% 111 2.46%
1916 1,438 45.23% 1,658 52.15% 83 2.61%
1912 672 22.50% 1,374 46.00% 941 31.50%
1908 1,583 47.30% 1,674 50.01% 90 2.69%
1904 1,946 60.64% 786 24.49% 477 14.86%
1900 1,783 48.88% 1,779 48.77% 86 2.36%
1896 1,449 42.33% 1,930 56.38% 44 1.29%
1892 1,105 40.96% 367 13.60% 1,226 45.44%
1888 1,427 51.59% 1,094 39.55% 245 8.86%
1884 1,690 57.74% 1,207 41.24% 30 1.02%
1880 1,473 63.00% 857 36.66% 8 0.34%

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "County Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  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. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. 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

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