Lancaster County, Nebraska

Coordinates: 40°47′N 96°41′W / 40.78°N 96.69°W / 40.78; -96.69
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lancaster County
Lancaster County Courthouse in Lincoln
Lancaster County Courthouse in Lincoln
Flag of Lancaster County
Official seal of Lancaster County
Map of Nebraska highlighting Lancaster 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°47′N 96°41′W / 40.78°N 96.69°W / 40.78; -96.69
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1859
Named forLancaster, England
SeatLincoln
Largest cityLincoln
Area
 • Total846 sq mi (2,190 km2)
 • Land838 sq mi (2,170 km2)
 • Water8.8 sq mi (23 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total322,608
 • Density380/sq mi (150/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitelancaster.ne.gov

Lancaster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 322,608,[1] making it the second-most populous county in Nebraska. Its county seat is Lincoln,[2] the state capital. The county was created in 1859.

Lancaster County is part of the Lincoln, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Lancaster County was represented by the prefix 2 (it had the second-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922). In 2002, the state discontinued the 1922 system in Lancaster, Douglas and Sarpy counties.

Geography[edit]

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 846 square miles (2,190 km2), of which 838 square miles (2,170 km2) is land and 8.8 square miles (23 km2) (1.0%) is water.[3]

Major highways[edit]

Transit[edit]

Climate[edit]

In 2004,[4] Lancaster County was named a StormReady county by the National Weather Service.[5]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Protected areas[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860153
18707,0744,523.5%
188028,090297.1%
189076,395172.0%
190064,835−15.1%
191073,79313.8%
192085,90216.4%
1930100,32416.8%
1940100,5850.3%
1950119,74219.0%
1960155,27229.7%
1970167,9728.2%
1980192,88414.8%
1990213,64110.8%
2000250,29117.2%
2010285,40714.0%
2020322,60813.0%
2023 (est.)326,7161.3%
US Decennial Census[15]
1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17]
1990–2000[18] 2010[19]

2020 Census[edit]

As of the 2020 United States Census,[20] there were 322,608 people in the county. The population density was 381 people per square mile (147 people/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.7% White, 4.5% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 4.7% Asian American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 3.3% from two or more races. 8.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census[edit]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[20] there were 250,291 people, 99,187 households, and 60,702 families in the county. The population density was 298 people per square mile (115 people/km2). There were 104,217 housing units at an average density of 124 per square mile (48/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.07% White, 2.82% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 2.86% Asian American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. 3.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.1% were of German, 7.9% English and 7.8% Irish ancestry.

There were 99,187 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 23.50% under the age of 18, 15.40% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,850, and the median income for a family was $53,676. Males had a median income of $34,720 versus $25,614 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,265. About 5.50% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Villages[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Other unincorporated communities[edit]

Census divisions[edit]

Lancaster County is divided into the following census divisions, called precincts, except for the City of Lincoln.

  • Buda
  • Centerville
  • Denton
  • Elk
  • Grant
  • Highland
  • Lancaster
  • City of Lincoln
  • Lincoln
  • Little Salt
  • Middle Creek
  • Mill
  • Nemaha
  • North Bluff
  • Oak
  • Olive Branch
  • Panama
  • Rock Creek
  • Saltillo
  • South Pass
  • Stevens Creek
  • Stockton
  • Waverly
  • West Oak
  • Yankee Hill

Politics[edit]

Lancaster County has historically been somewhat conservative for an urban county. In the last 30 national elections, Lancaster County selected the Republican Party candidate 78% of the time. However, it has become more competitive in recent years, largely due to the influence of Lincoln and the University of Nebraska. Since 1988, the margin in the county has been 10 points or less all but once. In 2008, Barack Obama won a narrow majority in Lancaster County, becoming the first Democrat to carry the county since 1964, and only the second since 1936. The county gave a narrow plurality to Hillary Clinton in 2016. As of January 2024, Republicans maintain a relative advantage in party registration in the county.[21]

Registered voters by party in Lancaster County on January 1, 2024[22]
Republican Democratic Libertarian Non-Partisan Total
79,855 (39.84%) 68,660 (34.25%) 3,316 (1.65%) 48,605 (24.25%) 200,436 (100%)
United States presidential election results for Lancaster County, Nebraska[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 70,092 44.58% 82,293 52.34% 4,830 3.07%
2016 61,588 45.21% 61,898 45.44% 12,737 9.35%
2012 62,434 49.02% 62,015 48.69% 2,906 2.28%
2008 59,398 46.59% 65,734 51.56% 2,358 1.85%
2004 69,764 56.03% 52,747 42.36% 1,998 1.60%
2000 55,514 51.82% 44,650 41.68% 6,968 6.50%
1996 44,812 45.86% 43,339 44.36% 9,557 9.78%
1992 41,590 39.46% 41,402 39.28% 22,407 21.26%
1988 44,744 49.87% 44,396 49.48% 583 0.65%
1984 48,778 59.31% 32,898 40.00% 569 0.69%
1980 38,780 50.87% 27,162 35.63% 10,291 13.50%
1976 39,041 56.47% 28,301 40.94% 1,789 2.59%
1972 42,573 62.15% 25,924 37.85% 0 0.00%
1968 33,051 55.52% 23,539 39.54% 2,940 4.94%
1964 23,887 40.91% 34,503 59.09% 0 0.00%
1960 37,725 62.57% 22,564 37.43% 0 0.00%
1956 35,591 64.94% 19,217 35.06% 0 0.00%
1952 36,797 67.49% 17,728 32.51% 0 0.00%
1948 23,620 56.29% 18,338 43.71% 0 0.00%
1944 26,715 58.01% 19,338 41.99% 0 0.00%
1940 27,384 58.63% 19,321 41.37% 0 0.00%
1936 20,902 47.39% 22,366 50.71% 838 1.90%
1932 20,772 52.29% 18,190 45.79% 761 1.92%
1928 30,523 75.17% 9,840 24.23% 242 0.60%
1924 18,061 54.40% 11,563 34.83% 3,575 10.77%
1920 15,638 62.58% 8,435 33.75% 917 3.67%
1916 7,042 42.20% 9,093 54.49% 553 3.31%
1912 2,566 18.16% 6,708 47.47% 4,857 34.37%
1908 7,428 45.15% 8,540 51.91% 485 2.95%
1904 8,167 70.77% 1,981 17.16% 1,393 12.07%
1900 7,465 55.27% 5,677 42.03% 365 2.70%
1896 6,513 52.17% 5,687 45.55% 284 2.27%
1892 5,858 52.69% 1,283 11.54% 3,977 35.77%
1888 5,677 56.97% 3,508 35.20% 780 7.83%
1884 4,011 62.69% 2,180 34.07% 207 3.24%
1880 3,397 69.50% 1,381 28.25% 110 2.25%

Representatives[edit]

  • Roma Amundson, District 4 Commissioner, retired U.S. Brigadier General

Education[edit]

School districts include:[24]

See also[edit]

Notable native[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Lancaster County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  4. ^ "cpsws2004photos5". High Plains Regional Climate Center. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  5. ^ "Nebraska StormReady Communities". National Weather Service. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  6. ^ Bluestem Lake State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  7. ^ Conestoga Lake State Recreation Area, Denton NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  8. ^ Frank Shoemaker Marsh Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  9. ^ Holmes Lake Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  10. ^ Olive Creek Lake State Recreation Area, Hallam NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  11. ^ Stagecoach Lake State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  12. ^ Wagon Train Lake State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  13. ^ Wildwood Lake State Management Area, Valparaiso NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  14. ^ Yankee Hill State Wildlife Management Area Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  15. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  16. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  17. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  18. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  19. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  21. ^ "2020 Eligible Voter Statistics" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. December 1, 2020.
  22. ^ Statewide registration statistics by party Nebraska.gov
  23. ^ Election Results
  24. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lancaster County, NE" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2022. - Text list

External links[edit]

40°47′N 96°41′W / 40.78°N 96.69°W / 40.78; -96.69