Dodge County, Nebraska

Dodge County
County
Dodge County Courthouse in Fremont
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°35′N96°39′W / 41.58°N 96.65°W / 41.58; -96.65
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1855
Named for	Augustus C. Dodge
Seat	Fremont
Largest city	Fremont
Area
• Total	543 sq mi (1,410 km2)
• Land	529 sq mi (1,370 km2)
• Water	14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	37,167
• Density	68/sq mi (26/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	dodgecounty.nebraska.gov

Dodge County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 37,167. ^[1] Its county seat is Fremont. ^[2] The county was formed in 1855 and named after Iowa Senator Augustus C. Dodge. ^[3]

Dodge County comprises the Fremont, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA Combined Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Dodge County is represented by the prefix 5 (it had the fifth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922). ^[4]

Geography

The Elkhorn River runs through the NE part of Dodge County. It drains into the Platte River below the SE corner of the county. The Platte River runs along the south line of Dodge County.

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 543 square miles (1,410 km²), of which 529 square miles (1,370 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (2.6%) is water. ^[5]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 30
• U.S. Highway 77
• U.S. Highway 275
• Nebraska Highway 79
• Nebraska Highway 91

Transit

• Express Arrow

Adjacent counties

• Burt County – northeast
• Washington County – east
• Douglas County – southeast
• Saunders County – south
• Colfax County – west
• Cuming County – north

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	309		—
1870	4,212		1,263.1%
1880	11,263		167.4%
1890	19,260		71.0%
1900	22,298		15.8%
1910	22,145		−0.7%
1920	23,197		4.8%
1930	25,273		8.9%
1940	23,799		−5.8%
1950	26,265		10.4%
1960	32,471		23.6%
1970	34,782		7.1%
1980	35,847		3.1%
1990	34,500		−3.8%
2000	36,160		4.8%
2010	36,691		1.5%
2020	37,167		1.3%
2023 (est.)	37,187		0.1%
US Decennial Census [6]

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[7] there were 36,160 people, 14,433 households, and 9,756 families in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile (26 people/km²). There were 15,468 housing units at an average density of 29 units per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.90% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 2.06% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 3.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 48.1% were of German, 7.6% Irish, 5.7% English and 5.4% American ancestry.

There were 14,433 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.80% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.95.

The county population contained 24.70% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,188, and the median income for a family was $44,790. Males had a median income of $31,108 versus $20,915 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,757. About 5.30% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.30% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Fremont (county seat)
• Hooper
• North Bend
• Scribner

Villages

• Dodge
• Inglewood
• Nickerson
• Snyder
• Uehling
• Winslow

Census-designated place

• Ames

Other unincorporated communities

• Centerville
• Crowell
• Everett
• Pleasant Valley
• Purple Cane
• Ridgeley
• Webster

Bygone cities

• Jalapa

Townships

• Cotterell
• Cuming
• Elkhorn
• Everett
• Hooper
• Logan
• Maple
• Nickerson
• Pebble
• Platte
• Pleasant Valley
• Ridgeley
• Union
• Webster

Politics and government

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

In the Nebraska Legislature, Dodge County is represented by Lynne Walz. While elections to the Legislature are nonpartisan, Walz is a Democrat.

United States presidential election results for Dodge County, Nebraska ^[8]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,795	65.39%	5,434	32.92%	279	1.69%
2020	10,984	64.85%	5,544	32.73%	410	2.42%
2016	9,933	63.96%	4,544	29.26%	1,052	6.77%
2012	8,995	60.17%	5,673	37.95%	282	1.89%
2008	8,557	55.03%	6,689	43.02%	304	1.95%
2004	10,716	66.26%	5,250	32.46%	206	1.27%
2000	8,871	61.30%	5,021	34.69%	580	4.01%
1996	7,484	50.95%	5,181	35.27%	2,023	13.77%
1992	7,271	44.30%	4,667	28.44%	4,474	27.26%
1988	8,417	57.66%	6,116	41.90%	64	0.44%
1984	10,201	70.15%	4,266	29.34%	74	0.51%
1980	9,522	66.82%	3,564	25.01%	1,164	8.17%
1976	8,982	62.03%	5,283	36.48%	216	1.49%
1972	9,837	72.00%	3,826	28.00%	0	0.00%
1968	8,059	63.78%	3,755	29.72%	822	6.51%
1964	6,812	50.30%	6,731	49.70%	0	0.00%
1960	9,638	67.21%	4,702	32.79%	0	0.00%
1956	9,210	69.26%	4,088	30.74%	0	0.00%
1952	9,256	71.54%	3,682	28.46%	0	0.00%
1948	5,848	54.56%	4,870	45.44%	0	0.00%
1944	6,803	61.39%	4,278	38.61%	0	0.00%
1940	7,141	62.51%	4,282	37.49%	0	0.00%
1936	4,561	40.22%	6,317	55.71%	461	4.07%
1932	3,489	32.14%	7,247	66.76%	119	1.10%
1928	6,250	60.59%	4,030	39.07%	35	0.34%
1924	3,798	45.63%	2,183	26.23%	2,342	28.14%
1920	4,832	70.40%	1,799	26.21%	233	3.39%
1916	2,446	46.10%	2,644	49.83%	216	4.07%
1912	1,330	29.33%	1,987	43.81%	1,218	26.86%
1908	2,437	46.34%	2,664	50.66%	158	3.00%
1904	2,789	59.38%	1,646	35.04%	262	5.58%
1900	2,632	51.49%	2,410	47.14%	70	1.37%

Law enforcement

The Dodge County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency for Dodge County, Nebraska. The Sheriff's Office is located at 428 N. Broad St in Fremont.

Currently, DCSO serves the county and its incorporated cities within the county. The only village that relies solely on DCSO for police services is North Bend, Nebraska, which is known as a contract city. All other cities within the county have some type of police department or city marshal.

See also

• Dodge County Sheriff's Office
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dodge County, Nebraska

References

1. "Dodge County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 17, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Dodge County". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
4. "History Of Nebraska Passenger Vehicle License Plates". Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
6. "US Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
7. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
8. Election Results

External links

• Official Website Archived February 4, 2018, at the Wayback Machine

41°35′N96°39′W / 41.58°N 96.65°W / 41.58; -96.65