Blaine County, Nebraska

Blaine County, Nebraska
County
The Blaine County Courthouse in Brewster
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Coordinates: 41°55′55″N99°59′47″W / 41.931945°N 99.996407°W / 41.931945; -99.996407
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	March 5, 1885 (created) 1886 (organized)
Named after	James G. Blaine
Seat	Brewster
Largest village	Dunning
Area
• Total	714.337 sq mi (1,850.12 km2)
• Land	710.702 sq mi (1,840.71 km2)
• Water	3.635 sq mi (9.41 km2)  0.51%
Population  (2020)
• Total	431
• Estimate  (2024)	454
• Density	0.606/sq mi (0.234/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	308
Congressional district	3rd
Website	blainecounty.nebraska.gov
• Nebraska county number 05 [1] • Nebraska license plate prefix 86 [2]

Blaine County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 431, ^[3] and was estimated to be 454 in 2024, ^[4] making it the third-least populous county in Nebraska and the seventh-least populous in the United States. The county seat is Brewster and the largest village is Dunning. ^[5]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Blaine County was represented by the prefix "86" (as it had the 86th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Blaine County was created on March 5, 1885 ^{[6] [7]} and organized in 1886. ^[8] It is named after presidential candidate James G. Blaine.

Blaine County, named after James G. Blaine, a prominent American politician, was established on March 23, 1885. The settlement of Blaine County, like the rest of the Sandhills region, began later than many other Nebraska counties due to its less accessible and perceived less fertile location than other parts of Nebraska. Not until the passage of the Kinkaid Act in 1904, which allowed homesteaders to claim 640 acres instead of the usual 160 under the Homestead Act, did significant settlement in the county occur. ^[9]

The first settlements in Blaine County were primarily for ranching rather than farming. The town of Brewster, established in 1884, became the county seat. Ranching, particularly cattle, became the economic mainstay, as the sandy soil was better suited for grazing than for crop cultivation. The settlers adapted to the environment by focusing on livestock, with cattle drives and the eventual development of cattle breeding being central to the county's economy.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 714.337 square miles (1,850.12 km²), of which 710.702 square miles (1,840.71 km²) is land and 3.635 square miles (9.41 km²) (0.51%) is water. ^[10] It is the 39th-largest county in Nebraska by total area. ^[11]

Major highways

• Nebraska Highway 2
• Nebraska Highway 7
• Nebraska Highway 91

Adjacent counties

• Loup County – east
• Custer County – south
• Logan County – southwest
• Thomas County – west
• Cherry County – northwest
• Brown County – north

National protected area

• Nebraska National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	1,146		—
1900	603		−47.4%
1910	1,672		177.3%
1920	1,778		6.3%
1930	1,584		−10.9%
1940	1,538		−2.9%
1950	1,203		−21.8%
1960	1,016		−15.5%
1970	847		−16.6%
1980	867		2.4%
1990	675		−22.1%
2000	583		−13.6%
2010	478		−18.0%
2020	431		−9.8%
2024 (est.)	454	[12]	5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [13] 1790–1960 [14] 1900–1990 [15] 1990–2000 [16] 2010–2020 [4]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 431. The median age was 49.2 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 112.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110.4 males age 18 and over. ^[17]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.1% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. ^[18]

There were 199 households in the county, of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 299 housing units, of which 33.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.8% were owner-occupied and 34.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 583 people, 238 households, and 168 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.82 inhabitants per square mile (0.3/km²). There were 333 housing units at an average density of 0.47 per square mile (0.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.97% White, 0.51% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from some other races and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.17% of the population. 45.1% were of German, 12.2% English, 10.2% Irish and 8.4% American ancestry.

There were 238 households, of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.00% were married couples living together, 2.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.

The county population contained 26.20% under the age of 18, 3.90% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 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 $25,278, and the median income for a family was $28,472. Males had a median income of $17,917 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,323. About 18.70% of families and 19.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.70% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Villages

• Brewster (county seat)
• Dunning
• Halsey (partial)

Unincorporated communities

• Purdum
• Linscott

Politics

Blaine County voters are strongly Republican. In only four national elections since 1900 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate, and none since 1936.

Political Party		Number of registered voters (March 1, 2026) [19]	Percent
	Republican	299	84.46%
	Independent	30	8.47%
	Democratic	21	5.93%
	Libertarian	4	1.13%
	Legal Marijuana Now	0	0.00%
Total		354	100.00%

United States presidential election results for Blaine County, Nebraska ^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
1900	103	57.54%	75	41.90%	1	0.56%
1904	127	70.17%	34	18.78%	20	11.05%
1908	220	56.12%	160	40.82%	12	3.06%
1912	126	29.03%	163	37.56%	145	33.41%
1916	184	40.71%	246	54.42%	22	4.87%
1920	328	63.81%	176	34.24%	10	1.95%
1924	253	43.40%	132	22.64%	198	33.96%
1928	484	73.11%	175	26.44%	3	0.45%
1932	244	35.41%	431	62.55%	14	2.03%
1936	342	47.77%	365	50.98%	9	1.26%
1940	454	59.35%	311	40.65%	0	0.00%
1944	366	59.61%	248	40.39%	0	0.00%
1948	252	50.40%	248	49.60%	0	0.00%
1952	458	76.97%	137	23.03%	0	0.00%
1956	416	73.63%	149	26.37%	0	0.00%
1960	420	78.80%	113	21.20%	0	0.00%
1964	326	62.57%	195	37.43%	0	0.00%
1968	344	79.45%	64	14.78%	25	5.77%
1972	343	85.96%	56	14.04%	0	0.00%
1976	281	66.59%	133	31.52%	8	1.90%
1980	361	81.67%	63	14.25%	18	4.07%
1984	363	88.32%	48	11.68%	0	0.00%
1988	338	82.24%	72	17.52%	1	0.24%
1992	256	56.51%	64	14.13%	133	29.36%
1996	284	75.13%	53	14.02%	41	10.85%
2000	299	85.67%	43	12.32%	7	2.01%
2004	301	88.79%	38	11.21%	0	0.00%
2008	266	84.18%	43	13.61%	7	2.22%
2012	268	88.45%	29	9.57%	6	1.98%
2016	276	87.07%	30	9.46%	11	3.47%
2020	280	88.33%	35	11.04%	2	0.63%
2024	250	85.62%	37	12.67%	5	1.71%

References

1. "Nebraska County Names and Numbers" (PDF). Nebraska Department of Revenue . Retrieved March 8, 2026.
2. "Nebraska County Codes". 15 Q Net. November 17, 2002. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
3. "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 8, 2026.
4. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Blaine County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties . Retrieved March 8, 2026.
6. "Nebraska: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
7. Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. (1960). Nebraska Place-Names. University of Nebraska Press. p. 18. ISBN   0803250606.
8. "Blaine County, Nebraska : Historical Note" (PDF). Nebraska State Historical Society . Retrieved March 8, 2026.
9. Buechler, August F.; Barr, Robert J. (1920). History of Hall County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past with Special Emphasis Upon the Pioneer Period of the County's History, and Chronological Presentation of Its Social, Commercial, Educational, Religious, and Civic Development from the Early Days to the Present Time, and Special Analysis of Its Military and Civil Participation in the Late World War. Western Publishing and Engraving Company.
10. "2025 County Gazetteer Files – Nebraska". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 8, 2026.
11. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Blaine County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
12. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024" . Retrieved March 8, 2026.
13. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
15. Forstall, Richard L. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
16. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
17. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
18. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
19. "Voter Statistics Count Report" (PDF). nebraska.gov. Secretary of State of Nebraska. March 2, 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 8, 2026.