Boone County, Nebraska

Boone County
County
Boone County Courthouse in Albion
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°42′N98°04′W / 41.7°N 98.06°W / 41.7; -98.06
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1871
Named for	Daniel Boone
Seat	Albion
Largest city	Albion
Area
• Total	687 sq mi (1,780 km2)
• Land	687 sq mi (1,780 km2)
• Water	0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population
• Estimate  (2021)	5,386
• Density	7.8/sq mi (3.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.co.boone.ne.us

Boone County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 5,386. ^[1] Its county seat is Albion. ^[2] The county was organized in 1871 ^[3] and named after Daniel Boone. ^[4]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Boone County is represented by the prefix 23 (it had the 23rd-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 687 square miles (1,780 km²), of which 687 square miles (1,780 km²) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) (0.1%) is water. ^[5]

Major highways

• Nebraska Highway 14
• Nebraska Highway 32
• Nebraska Highway 39
• Nebraska Highway 45
• Nebraska Highway 52
• Nebraska Highway 56
• Nebraska Highway 91

Adjacent counties

• Madison County – northeast
• Platte County – southeast
• Nance County – south
• Greeley County – southwest
• Wheeler County – northwest
• Antelope County – north

History

Boone County, Nebraska, was created on March 1, 1871, and named in honor of frontiersman Daniel Boone. The settlement of Boone County began with the arrival of explorers and settlers in the late 1860s. One of the first white settlers was S.D. Avery, who in 1871 established a claim near what would become the town of Albion. The initial settlement was encouraged by the expansion of railroads and the availability of land under the Homestead Act of 1862. ^[6]

The community of Albion was platted in 1872 and became the county seat after a contest with the town of Boone. This rivalry for the county seat was common in many frontier counties, reflecting the ambition and growth aspirations of the nascent communities. Agriculture quickly became the backbone of the local economy, with wheat, corn, and later oats being predominant. ^[6]

The development of Boone County was relatively rapid thanks to its fertile soil and the dedication of its settlers. The railroad, reaching Albion in the early 1880s, played a crucial role in the county's growth, providing access to markets for agricultural products and bringing in more settlers. The county's population and infrastructure expanded, with schools, churches, and businesses being established to support the burgeoning agricultural community. ^[6]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	4,170		—
1890	8,683		108.2%
1900	11,689		34.6%
1910	13,145		12.5%
1920	14,146		7.6%
1930	14,738		4.2%
1940	12,127		−17.7%
1950	10,721		−11.6%
1960	9,134		−14.8%
1970	8,190		−10.3%
1980	7,391		−9.8%
1990	6,667		−9.8%
2000	6,259		−6.1%
2010	5,505		−12.0%
2020	5,379		−2.3%
2021 (est.)	5,386	[1]	0.1%
US Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2013 [1]

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[11] there were 6,259 people, 2,454 households, and 1,700 families in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (3.5 people/km²). There were 2,733 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.25% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.29% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 54.6% were of German, 8.2% Irish, 5.9% Polish, 5.3% Norwegian and 5.1% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,454 households, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.11.

29.10% of the population is under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,444, and the median income for a family was $38,226. Males had a median income of $26,779 versus $18,438 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,831. About 8.30% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.70% of those under age 18 and 11.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Albion (county seat)
• St. Edward

Villages

• Cedar Rapids
• Petersburg
• Primrose

Census-designated places

• Loretto
• Raeville

Unincorporated community

• Akron
• Boone

Politics

Boone County voters have been strongly Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Boone County, Nebraska ^[12]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	2,499	82.20%	496	16.32%	45	1.48%
2020	2,653	82.24%	499	15.47%	74	2.29%
2016	2,299	79.14%	414	14.25%	192	6.61%
2012	2,138	76.19%	615	21.92%	53	1.89%
2008	2,042	72.00%	742	26.16%	52	1.83%
2004	2,309	79.76%	546	18.86%	40	1.38%
2000	2,196	76.73%	575	20.09%	91	3.18%
1996	1,695	57.63%	806	27.41%	440	14.96%
1992	1,589	50.21%	604	19.08%	972	30.71%
1988	2,160	68.57%	976	30.98%	14	0.44%
1984	2,508	78.01%	690	21.46%	17	0.53%
1980	2,598	72.11%	769	21.34%	236	6.55%
1976	2,035	59.21%	1,329	38.67%	73	2.12%
1972	2,406	73.15%	883	26.85%	0	0.00%
1968	2,179	64.01%	934	27.44%	291	8.55%
1964	1,893	49.84%	1,905	50.16%	0	0.00%
1960	2,809	64.49%	1,547	35.51%	0	0.00%
1956	3,021	70.29%	1,277	29.71%	0	0.00%
1952	3,453	72.91%	1,283	27.09%	0	0.00%
1948	2,235	55.69%	1,778	44.31%	0	0.00%
1944	2,865	63.25%	1,665	36.75%	0	0.00%
1940	3,334	62.34%	2,014	37.66%	0	0.00%
1936	2,728	45.28%	3,095	51.37%	202	3.35%
1932	1,862	29.60%	4,360	69.31%	69	1.10%
1928	3,816	62.57%	2,260	37.06%	23	0.38%
1924	2,013	36.36%	1,782	32.18%	1,742	31.46%
1920	3,108	65.97%	1,461	31.01%	142	3.01%
1916	1,225	37.03%	2,005	60.61%	78	2.36%
1912	570	19.30%	1,360	46.05%	1,023	34.64%
1908	1,580	49.14%	1,583	49.24%	52	1.62%
1904	1,823	63.72%	471	16.46%	567	19.82%
1900	1,524	52.28%	1,336	45.83%	55	1.89%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Boone County, Nebraska
• Olson Nature Preserve

References

1. "QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 23, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. (1960). Nebraska Place-Names. University of Nebraska Press. p. 19. ISBN   0803250606.
4. History of the Origin of the Place Names in Nine Northwestern States. 1908. p. 12.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
6. "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska - Boone Co. Part 1". web.archive.org. May 7, 2003. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
7. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
10. "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.
11. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".

External links

• Boone County Online
• Boone County chapter from History of the State of Nebraska. Chicago:The Western Historical Company. A.T. Andreas, Proprietor. 1882.
• Boone County entry from Semi-Centennial History of Nebraska, 1904

41°42′N98°04′W / 41.70°N 98.06°W / 41.70; -98.06