Custer County, Nebraska

For other uses, see Custer County.

Custer County
County
Custer County Courthouse in Broken Bow
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°23′N99°44′W / 41.39°N 99.73°W / 41.39; -99.73
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	February 17, 1877
Named for	George Armstrong Custer
Seat	Broken Bow
Largest city	Broken Bow
Area
• Total	2,576 sq mi (6,670 km2)
• Land	2,576 sq mi (6,670 km2)
• Water	0.4 sq mi (1 km2)  0.01%
Population
• Estimate  (2021)	10,460 [1]
• Density	4.06/sq mi (1.57/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.co.custer.ne.us

Custer County

Custer County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 10,545. ^[1] Its county seat is Broken Bow. ^[2] The county was formed in 1877 ^[3] and named after General George Armstrong Custer, ^[4] who was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Custer County is represented by the prefix 4 (it had the fourth-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,576 square miles (6,670 km²), of which 2,576 square miles (6,670 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) (0.01%) is water. ^[5] In area, it is the second largest county in Nebraska, behind only Cherry County, slightly more than twice its size.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 183
• Nebraska Highway 2
• Nebraska Highway 21
• Nebraska Highway 40
• Nebraska Highway 47
• Nebraska Highway 70
• Nebraska Highway 92

Adjacent counties

• Valley County – northeast
• Sherman County – southeast
• Buffalo County – southeast
• Dawson County – south
• Lincoln County – southwest
• Logan County – west
• Blaine County – northwest
• Loup County – northeast

History

Custer County, named in honor of General George Armstrong Custer, was officially organized in 1877, although its settlement commenced earlier. The region was once part of the Sioux territory, but following the Indian Wars, particularly after the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the land was opened for homesteading. The first settlers arrived in the early 1870s, inspired by the promise of land through the Homestead Act of 1862. These early pioneers encountered formidable challenges like extreme weather conditions, isolation, and the task of farming in what was considered the Great American Desert. They constructed sod houses due to the absence of timber, and settlements were strategically placed near water sources. ^[6]

The Burlington Railroad's extension through the county in the early 1880s significantly boosted settlement by providing a means for transportation and trade. This led to the establishment of towns like Broken Bow, which was designated as the county seat. The railroad not only facilitated the influx of settlers but also allowed for the export of agricultural products, marking the transition from cattle ranching to more diverse farming practices. ^[7]

Agriculture shifted from cattle ranching to diversified farming, with wheat and corn becoming prominent crops. By the dawn of the 20th century, he community had established schools, churches, and other civic institutions, marking the transition from a frontier settlement to a more organized community.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	2,211		—
1890	21,677		880.4%
1900	19,758		−8.9%
1910	25,668		29.9%
1920	26,407		2.9%
1930	26,189		−0.8%
1940	22,591		−13.7%
1950	19,170		−15.1%
1960	16,517		−13.8%
1970	14,092		−14.7%
1980	13,877		−1.5%
1990	12,270		−11.6%
2000	11,793		−3.9%
2010	10,939		−7.2%
2020	10,545		−3.6%
2021 (est.)	10,460	[1]	−0.8%
US Decennial Census [8] 1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10] 1990-2000 [11] 2010-2013 [12]

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[13] there were 11,793 people, 4,826 households, and 3,320 families in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km²). There were 5,585 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.63% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.3% were of German, 11.9% English, 10.6% Irish and 8.9% American ancestry.

There were 4,826 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.90% were married couples living together, 5.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

The county population contained 26.30% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,677, and the median income for a family was $37,063. Males had a median income of $24,609 versus $19,732 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,171. About 9.10% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.20% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Broken Bow (county seat)
• Sargent

Villages

• Anselmo
• Ansley
• Arnold
• Berwyn
• Callaway
• Comstock
• Mason City
• Merna
• Oconto

Census-designated place

• Westerville

Unincorporated communities

• Cumro
• Etna
• Finchville
• Gates
• Lillian
• Lodi
• Milburn
• New Helena
• Round Valley
• Walworth
• Weissert
• Wescott

Townships

• Algernon
• Ansley
• Arnold
• Berwyn
• Broken Bow
• Cliff
• Comstock
• Corner
• Custer
• Delight
• Douglas Grove
• East Custer
• Elim
• Elk Creek
• Garfield
• Grant
• Hayes
• Kilfoil
• Lillian
• Loup
• Milburn
• Myrtle
• Ryno
• Sargent
• Spring Creek
• Triumph
• Victoria
• Wayne
• Westerville
• West Union
• Wood River

Politics

Custer County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Custer County, Nebraska ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,042	85.33%	786	13.30%	81	1.37%
2020	5,090	84.69%	786	13.08%	134	2.23%
2016	4,695	83.07%	641	11.34%	316	5.59%
2012	4,296	78.14%	1,083	19.70%	119	2.16%
2008	4,301	77.11%	1,192	21.37%	85	1.52%
2004	4,518	80.51%	1,040	18.53%	54	0.96%
2000	4,245	78.41%	976	18.03%	193	3.56%
1996	3,453	64.15%	1,293	24.02%	637	11.83%
1992	3,180	54.64%	1,126	19.35%	1,514	26.01%
1988	4,203	73.40%	1,496	26.13%	27	0.47%
1984	4,749	80.94%	1,090	18.58%	28	0.48%
1980	4,563	76.90%	1,011	17.04%	360	6.07%
1976	3,935	63.72%	1,985	32.15%	255	4.13%
1972	4,836	80.83%	1,147	19.17%	0	0.00%
1968	4,325	70.52%	1,407	22.94%	401	6.54%
1964	3,916	52.98%	3,475	47.02%	0	0.00%
1960	5,716	70.87%	2,350	29.13%	0	0.00%
1956	5,798	70.51%	2,425	29.49%	0	0.00%
1952	7,143	77.17%	2,113	22.83%	0	0.00%
1948	4,057	54.73%	3,356	45.27%	0	0.00%
1944	5,330	61.61%	3,321	38.39%	0	0.00%
1940	6,269	59.66%	4,238	40.34%	0	0.00%
1936	5,250	45.67%	5,907	51.39%	338	2.94%
1932	3,953	35.66%	6,844	61.74%	289	2.61%
1928	8,379	76.40%	2,506	22.85%	82	0.75%
1924	3,833	39.95%	2,575	26.84%	3,187	33.22%
1920	4,974	59.31%	2,739	32.66%	674	8.04%
1916	2,047	34.24%	3,609	60.37%	322	5.39%
1912	1,051	18.20%	2,395	41.46%	2,330	40.34%
1908	2,788	47.01%	2,898	48.86%	245	4.13%
1904	2,658	59.61%	509	11.42%	1,292	28.98%
1900	2,145	47.24%	2,159	47.54%	237	5.22%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Custer County, Nebraska

References

1. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Burr, George L. (1921). History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Vol. 1. S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. p. 105.
4. "Nebraska Association of County Officials : Home". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
6. Butcher, Solomon Devore (1901). S.D. Butcher's Pioneer History of Custer County, and Short Sketches of Early Days in Nebraska. Merchants Publishing Company.
7. Gaston, William Levi; Humphrey, A. R. (1993). History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past, with Special Emphasis Upon the Pioneer Period of the County's History, Its Social, Commercial, Educational, Religious and Civic Development from the Early Days to the Present Time. Higginson Book Company.
8. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
11. "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.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
13. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2008.
14. Election Results

41°23′N99°44′W / 41.39°N 99.73°W / 41.39; -99.73