Buffalo County
County
Buffalo County Courthouse in Kearney
Buffalo County Courthouse in Kearney
Map of Nebraska highlighting Buffalo 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°52′N 99°04′W / 40.86°N 99.07°W / 40.86; -99.07
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1855 (authorized)
1870 (organized)
Named forAmerican bison
SeatKearney
Largest cityKearney
Area
 • Total975 sq mi (2,530 km2)
 • Land968 sq mi (2,510 km2)
 • Water7.3 sq mi (19 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total50,084
 • Density51/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.buffalogov.org

Buffalo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 50,084,[1] making it Nebraska's fifth-most populous county. Its county seat is Kearney.[2] The county was created in 1855[3] and was organized in 1870.[4][5] It was named after the once-prevalent bison herds of the Great Plains.[6]

Buffalo County is part of the Kearney Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Buffalo County is represented by the prefix 9; when the license plate system was established in 1922, the county ranked ninth in number of registered vehicles.

History

The Union Pacific Railroad came to the area in 1866;[7] with additional settlers, the need to establish government was realized. Patrick Walsh, Martin Slattery, and a Sergeant Cody petitioned the governor to organize Buffalo County in 1869.[7] Wood River Centre (Shelton) was selected through election as county seat. Within a year, the seat was moved to Gibbon.[8] In 1874, voters selected Kearney as the seat.[9]

During the late 19th century and early 20th century, the Watson Ranch, existed in the county. The 8,000 acre ranch extended from the Platte River Valley on the south, to Nebraska's rolling hills on the north, to a point five miles west of downtown Kearney.[10][11]

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 975 square miles (2,530 km2), of which 968 square miles (2,510 km2) is land and 7.3 square miles (19 km2) (0.7%) is water.[12]

Major highways

Transit

Protected area

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860114—
187019369.3%
18807,5313,802.1%
189022,162194.3%
190020,254−8.6%
191021,9078.2%
192023,7878.6%
193024,3382.3%
194023,655−2.8%
195025,1346.3%
196026,2364.4%
197031,22219.0%
198034,79711.5%
199037,4477.6%
200042,25912.9%
201046,1029.1%
202050,0848.6%
US Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010[17]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[18] there were 42,259 people, 15,930 households, and 10,227 families in the county. The population density was 44 inhabitants per square mile (17/km2). There were 16,830 housing units at an average density of 17 units per square mile (6.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.18% White, 0.55% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.20% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 4.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.5% were of German, 8.1% Irish, 7.8% English, 6.8% American and 5.3% Swedish ancestry.

There were 15,930 households, out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.90% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.80% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.02.

The county population contained 25.00% under the age of 18, 17.80% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 19.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,782, and the median income for a family was $46,247. Males had a median income of $30,182 versus $21,977 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,510. About 6.30% of families and 11.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Map of Buffalo County

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Politics

Buffalo County voters have been strongly Republican for decades. Only seven Democratic Party presidential candidates have won the county from 1880 to the present day, the most recent of which being Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

United States presidential election results for Buffalo County, Nebraska[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 16,640 70.18% 6,350 26.78% 721 3.04%
2016 14,569 68.95% 4,763 22.54% 1,797 8.50%
2012 13,570 69.76% 5,365 27.58% 518 2.66%
2008 13,097 67.88% 5,867 30.41% 329 1.71%
2004 14,222 76.43% 4,100 22.03% 286 1.54%
2000 11,931 72.48% 3,927 23.86% 603 3.66%
1996 10,004 63.09% 4,277 26.97% 1,575 9.93%
1992 9,726 55.11% 3,747 21.23% 4,176 23.66%
1988 9,981 67.31% 4,702 31.71% 145 0.98%
1984 11,365 78.11% 3,086 21.21% 99 0.68%
1980 9,769 68.59% 3,167 22.24% 1,307 9.18%
1976 8,095 63.36% 4,308 33.72% 374 2.93%
1972 8,587 74.19% 2,988 25.81% 0 0.00%
1968 6,786 65.29% 2,875 27.66% 733 7.05%
1964 5,425 49.95% 5,436 50.05% 0 0.00%
1960 7,595 66.12% 3,891 33.88% 0 0.00%
1956 7,342 70.31% 3,100 29.69% 0 0.00%
1952 8,467 77.20% 2,501 22.80% 0 0.00%
1948 4,862 56.68% 3,716 43.32% 0 0.00%
1944 6,073 61.19% 3,852 38.81% 0 0.00%
1940 6,387 61.14% 4,060 38.86% 0 0.00%
1936 4,595 41.88% 6,002 54.70% 375 3.42%
1932 3,773 38.02% 5,872 59.18% 278 2.80%
1928 7,460 72.22% 2,801 27.12% 68 0.66%
1924 4,746 54.11% 2,337 26.64% 1,688 19.25%
1920 4,954 65.56% 2,258 29.88% 345 4.57%
1916 2,216 41.79% 2,877 54.25% 210 3.96%
1912 1,081 22.93% 2,061 43.72% 1,572 33.35%
1908 2,526 48.60% 2,520 48.49% 151 2.91%
1904 2,554 62.07% 731 17.76% 830 20.17%
1900 1,916 46.45% 2,056 49.84% 153 3.71%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Buffalo County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ (March 10, 2009) Buffalo County says 1855 was the date, Kearney Hub, Retrieved November 10, 2010
  4. ↑ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska". The Kansas Collection. Archived from the original on April 14, 2003. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Buffalo County Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey" (PDF). Nebraska State Historical Society. August 1, 1993. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006. Retrieved December 13, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. (1960). Nebraska Place-Names. University of Nebraska Press. p. 24. ISBN 0803250606.
  7. 1 2 Bassett, Samuel Clay (1916). Buffalo County, Nebraska, and its people: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. 1. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. pp. 145–161. OCLC 3358457.
  8. ↑ Duncan, Douglas. "Shelton - Buffalo County". Virtual Nebraska. Consortium for the Application of Space Data to Education (CASDE). Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  9. ↑ Bowman, J. R. (1882). Shearer, Frederick E. (ed.). The Pacific tourist. J.R. Bowman's illustrated transcontinental guide of travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. New York: J.R. Bowman. p. 33. OCLC 752667534. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  10. ↑ Holmgren, Philip S. (October 1979). "THE WATSON RANCH - Part I". Buffalo County Historical Society. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Watson, H. D., and the Watson Ranch". History Nebraska. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  12. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  13. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  16. ↑ "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 6, 2014.
  17. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. ↑ Election Results


40°52′N 99°04′W / 40.86°N 99.07°W / 40.86; -99.07

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