Jefferson County, Nebraska

Coordinates: 40°10′N 97°09′W / 40.17°N 97.15°W / 40.17; -97.15
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jefferson County
County
Jefferson County Courthouse in Fairbury
Jefferson County Courthouse in Fairbury
Map of Nebraska highlighting Jefferson 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°10′N 97°09′W / 40.17°N 97.15°W / 40.17; -97.15
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded26 January 1856 (founded)
1864 (organized)
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatFairbury
Largest cityFairbury
Area
 • Total576 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land570 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water5.5 sq mi (14 km2)  1.0%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2021)
7,176
 • Density12.6/sq mi (4.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.jefferson.ne.us

Jefferson County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,240.[1] Its county seat is Fairbury.[2] The county was named for Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Jefferson County is represented by the prefix 33 (it had the thirty-third-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History[edit]

Jefferson County was founded on 26 January 1856, and its governing structure was organized in 1864.[3][4] It was named for Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States.[5]

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed south out of Jefferson County.

Geography[edit]

Jefferson County lies on the south line of Nebraska. Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of Kansas. The terrain of Jefferson County consists of low rolling hills, whose leveled tops are largely used for agriculture. The Little Blue River flows southeastward through the southwestern-middle of the county. The county has a total area of 576 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 570 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km2) (1.0%) is water.[6]

Major highways[edit]

Protected areas[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18702,440—
18808,096231.8%
189014,85083.4%
190015,1962.3%
191016,85210.9%
192016,140−4.2%
193016,4091.7%
194015,532−5.3%
195013,623−12.3%
196011,620−14.7%
197010,436−10.2%
19809,817−5.9%
19908,759−10.8%
20008,333−4.9%
20107,547−9.4%
20207,240−4.1%
2021 (est.)7,176[1]−0.9%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2013[14]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[15] there were 8,333 people, 3,527 households, and 2,352 families in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 3,942 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.42% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,527 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 29.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.20% 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 2.85.

The county population contained 23.30% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 22.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,629, and the median income for a family was $40,747. Males had a median income of $26,929 versus $18,594 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,380. About 8.00% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.20% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[edit]

City[edit]

Villages[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Politics[edit]

Jefferson County is strongly Republican, having only backed the Democratic Party presidential candidate four times since 1900, all in years which the party won nationally by a landslide.

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Nebraska[16][17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,616 70.13% 1,016 27.24% 98 2.63%
2016 2,399 68.66% 837 23.96% 258 7.38%
2012 2,166 62.86% 1,195 34.68% 85 2.47%
2008 2,103 56.88% 1,520 41.11% 74 2.00%
2004 2,600 64.82% 1,352 33.71% 59 1.47%
2000 2,351 61.11% 1,361 35.38% 135 3.51%
1996 1,979 49.17% 1,520 37.76% 526 13.07%
1992 1,783 39.70% 1,506 33.53% 1,202 26.76%
1988 2,471 57.16% 1,819 42.08% 33 0.76%
1984 3,116 68.89% 1,367 30.22% 40 0.88%
1980 3,090 67.59% 1,125 24.61% 357 7.81%
1976 2,628 54.88% 2,068 43.18% 93 1.94%
1972 3,008 67.08% 1,476 32.92% 0 0.00%
1968 2,793 60.23% 1,572 33.90% 272 5.87%
1964 2,275 44.79% 2,804 55.21% 0 0.00%
1960 4,047 68.11% 1,895 31.89% 0 0.00%
1956 4,267 71.25% 1,722 28.75% 0 0.00%
1952 4,941 76.12% 1,550 23.88% 0 0.00%
1948 3,352 60.29% 2,208 39.71% 0 0.00%
1944 4,257 66.06% 2,187 33.94% 0 0.00%
1940 4,980 64.35% 2,759 35.65% 0 0.00%
1936 3,048 39.98% 4,526 59.37% 50 0.66%
1932 2,453 33.14% 4,819 65.10% 130 1.76%
1928 4,359 65.96% 2,193 33.18% 57 0.86%
1924 2,752 48.12% 1,824 31.89% 1,143 19.99%
1920 3,488 67.94% 1,408 27.43% 238 4.64%
1916 1,813 46.85% 1,841 47.57% 216 5.58%
1912 655 18.58% 1,396 39.60% 1,474 41.82%
1908 1,941 50.49% 1,787 46.49% 116 3.02%
1904 2,067 66.63% 659 21.24% 376 12.12%
1900 1,862 53.09% 1,587 45.25% 58 1.65%

See also[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. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 81. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  4. ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska". The Kansas Collection. Archived from the original on March 24, 2003. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  5. ^ History of Nebraska[usurped]
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  7. ^ Alexandria State Recreation Area, Alexandria NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
  8. ^ Buckley State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
  9. ^ Rock Glen SWMA, Jefferson County NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
  10. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  13. ^ "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 8, 2014.
  14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ^ Election Results
  17. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,205 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 226 votes and Prohibition Eugene Chafin received 43 votes.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jefferson County, Nebraska.

Official website

40°10′N 97°09′W / 40.17°N 97.15°W / 40.17; -97.15

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