Dawson County
County
Dawson County Courthouse in Lexington
Dawson County Courthouse in Lexington
Map of Nebraska highlighting Dawson 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°49′W / 40.87°N 99.81°W / 40.87; -99.81
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1860 (authorized by Territorial Legislature)
1871 (authorized by proclamation of Acting Governor)
Named forJacob Dawson
SeatLexington
Largest cityLexington
Area
 • Total1,019 sq mi (2,640 km2)
 • Land1,013 sq mi (2,620 km2)
 • Water6.3 sq mi (16 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total24,111
 • Density24/sq mi (9.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.dawsoncountyne.org

Dawson County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 24,111.[1] Its county seat is Lexington.[2]

Dawson County is part of the Lexington, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Dawson County is represented by the prefix 18 (it had the 18th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Dawson County was established by the territorial legislature in 1860; it officially became a county in 1871 by proclamation of acting Governor William James. The county website states that the county was named for Jacob Dawson, the first postmaster in the settlement of Lancaster County, Nebraska.[3][4] Other sources state that it was named after Pennsylvania Congressman John Littleton Dawson.[5]

Geography

Dawson County lies near the center of Nebraska, in the portion of the state that observes Central Time. According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,019 square miles (2,640 km2), of which 1,013 square miles (2,620 km2) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km2) (0.6%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Transit

Protected areas

  • Bitterns Call State Wildlife Management Area[7]
  • Dogwood State Wildlife Management Area[8]
  • East Willow Island State Wildlife Management Area[9]
  • Gallagher Canyon State Recreation Area[10]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
186016—
1870103543.8%
18802,9092,724.3%
189010,129248.2%
190012,26421.1%
191015,96130.1%
192016,0040.3%
193017,87511.7%
194017,8900.1%
195019,3938.4%
196019,4050.1%
197019,7711.9%
198022,30412.8%
199019,940−10.6%
200024,36522.2%
201024,326−0.2%
202024,111−0.9%
US Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010[15] 2020[16]

As of the 2020 United States Census,[17] there were 24,111 people and 8,965 households in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 10,341 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 72.7% White, 5.5% Black or African American, 2.5% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 28.7% from other races, and 10.4% from two or more races. 35.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In the 2000 United States Census it was reported that 32.0% were of German, 6.7% American, 6.7% Irish and 6.4% English ancestry.

There were 8,965 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.21.

The county population contained 29.20% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,132, and the median income for a family was $42,224. Males had a median income of $26,865 versus $20,569 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,973. About 8.60% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Politics

United States presidential election results for Dawson County, Nebraska[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 6,524 70.98% 2,497 27.17% 170 1.85%
2016 5,984 69.30% 2,136 24.74% 515 5.96%
2012 5,460 69.47% 2,199 27.98% 200 2.54%
2008 5,460 68.37% 2,399 30.04% 127 1.59%
2004 6,149 77.29% 1,728 21.72% 79 0.99%
2000 5,511 73.41% 1,740 23.18% 256 3.41%
1996 4,794 59.44% 2,180 27.03% 1,091 13.53%
1992 4,714 53.64% 1,741 19.81% 2,334 26.56%
1988 5,529 71.30% 2,184 28.16% 42 0.54%
1984 6,887 81.92% 1,487 17.69% 33 0.39%
1980 6,689 77.70% 1,463 16.99% 457 5.31%
1976 5,413 67.79% 2,395 29.99% 177 2.22%
1972 6,211 81.35% 1,424 18.65% 0 0.00%
1968 5,221 71.97% 1,614 22.25% 419 5.78%
1964 4,577 54.70% 3,790 45.30% 0 0.00%
1960 6,480 73.07% 2,388 26.93% 0 0.00%
1956 6,503 76.13% 2,039 23.87% 0 0.00%
1952 7,130 79.66% 1,820 20.34% 0 0.00%
1948 4,203 61.75% 2,603 38.25% 0 0.00%
1944 5,017 68.85% 2,270 31.15% 0 0.00%
1940 5,445 66.02% 2,803 33.98% 0 0.00%
1936 3,573 46.39% 4,021 52.21% 108 1.40%
1932 2,859 38.09% 4,513 60.13% 133 1.77%
1928 5,125 74.25% 1,718 24.89% 59 0.85%
1924 3,016 50.67% 1,526 25.64% 1,410 23.69%
1920 3,384 65.99% 1,444 28.16% 300 5.85%
1916 1,444 40.74% 1,989 56.12% 111 3.13%
1912 449 13.22% 1,613 47.48% 1,335 39.30%
1908 1,737 46.05% 1,926 51.06% 109 2.89%
1904 1,712 61.52% 457 16.42% 614 22.06%
1900 1,280 46.36% 1,399 50.67% 82 2.97%
1896 1,128 44.29% 1,357 53.28% 62 2.43%
1892 1,188 48.23% 182 7.39% 1,093 44.38%
1888 1,087 61.31% 614 34.63% 72 4.06%
1884 686 63.23% 384 35.39% 15 1.38%
1880 347 65.97% 179 34.03% 0 0.00%

See also

Robert Henri Museum in Cozad

References

  1. ↑ "Dawson County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ About Dawson County (DC website; accessed 19 January 2019)
  4. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). "Nebraska Place-Names". University of Nebraska Department of English. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Dawson, John L."[usurped] Nebraska State Historical Society.[usurped] Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  7. ↑ Bitterns Call State Wildlife Management Area, Cozad NE Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
  8. ↑ Dogwood State Wildlife Management Area, Lexington NE Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
  9. ↑ East Willow Island State Wildlife Management Area, Cozad NE Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
  10. ↑ Gallagher Canyon State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
  11. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census". Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  17. ↑ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".

40°52′N 99°49′W / 40.87°N 99.81°W / 40.87; -99.81

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