Douglas County, Nebraska

Not to be confused with Douglas, Nebraska.

Douglas County
County
Douglas County Courthouse in Omaha
Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°17′43″N96°09′16″W / 41.29535°N 96.15448°W / 41.29535; -96.15448
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	November 23, 1854
Named for	Stephen A. Douglas
Seat	Omaha
Largest city	Omaha
Area
• Total	339 sq mi (880 km2)
• Land	328 sq mi (850 km2)
• Water	11 sq mi (30 km2)  3.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	584,526
• Estimate  (2023)	589,540
• Density	1,700/sq mi (670/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.douglascounty-ne.gov

Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population is 584,526. It is the state's most populous county, home to just under 30% of Nebraska's residents. Its county seat is Omaha, ^[1] the state's largest city. The county was established in 1854 and named after Stephen A. Douglas (1813–1861), who was then serving as a U.S. senator from Illinois. ^{[2] [3]}

Douglas County is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metropolitan Statistical Area. ^[4]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Douglas County was represented by the prefix "1" (as it had the 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 the three most populous counties: Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy counties. ^[5]

Geography

Douglas County is on the eastern border of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Iowa, across the Missouri River. The Elkhorn River runs southward through the west-central part of Douglas County, and it is bordered on east (Missouri River) and west (Platte River) by rivers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 339 square miles (880 km²), of which 328 square miles (850 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (3.2%) is water. ^[6]

Major highways

• Interstate 80
• Interstate 480
• Interstate 680
• U.S. Highway 6
• U.S. Highway 75
• U.S. Highway 275
• Nebraska Highway 31
• Nebraska Highway 36
• Nebraska Highway 50
• Nebraska Highway 64
• Nebraska Highway 85
• Nebraska Highway 92
• Nebraska Highway 133

Transit

• Amtrak California Zephyr ( Omaha station )
• Burlington Trailways ( Omaha Bus Station )
• Express Arrow ( Omaha Bus Station )
• Jefferson Lines ( Omaha Bus Station )
• Metro Transit

Adjacent counties

• Dodge County – northwest
• Washington County – north
• Pottawattamie County, Iowa – east
• Sarpy County – south
• Saunders County – west

Protected areas

• Bluestem Prairie Preserve ^[7]
• Two Rivers State Recreation Area ^[8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	4,328		—
1870	19,982		361.7%
1880	37,645		88.4%
1890	158,008		319.7%
1900	140,590		−11.0%
1910	168,546		19.9%
1920	204,524		21.3%
1930	232,982		13.9%
1940	247,562		6.3%
1950	281,020		13.5%
1960	343,490		22.2%
1970	389,455		13.4%
1980	397,038		1.9%
1990	416,444		4.9%
2000	463,585		11.3%
2010	517,110		11.5%
2020	584,526		13.0%
2023 (est.)	589,540		0.9%
US Decennial Census [9] 1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11] 1990-2000 [12] 2010-2019 [13]

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 584,526 people in the county. The population density was 1,724 people per square mile (666 people/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.8% White, 11.5% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 4.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 2.8% from two or more races. 12.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 517,110 people and 206,522 households in the county. The population density was 1,574 people per square mile (608 people/km²). There were 219,580 housing units at an average density of 669 units per square mile (258/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.4% White, 11.6% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.7% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. 11.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30% were of German, 15% Irish, 8.0% English, and 4.9% Italian ancestry.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,878, and the median income for a family was $67,666. Males had a median income of $44,542 versus $35,801 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,092. About 9.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile (541 people/km²). There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 units per square mile (225/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.96% White, 11.50% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.71% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.40% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 6.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.3% were of German, 11.5% Irish and 6.2% English ancestry.

There were 182,194 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.12.

The county population contained 26.60% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,209, and the median income for a family was $54,651. Males had a median income of $36,577 versus $27,265 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,879. About 6.70% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Douglas County is governed by a board of seven county commissioners, elected to staggered ^[14] four–year terms. County courthouse positions are also elected on a partisan basis. Most of the county's offices are located at the Douglas County Courthouse.

Douglas County Commission

District	Commissioner
1	Roger Garcia
2	James Cavanaugh
3	Chris Rodgers (Vice-chair) [15]
4	P.J. Morgan
5	Maureen Boyle
6	Mary Ann Borgeson (Chair) [15]
7	Mike Friend

Douglas County Officeholders

Office	Officeholder
Assessor/Register of Deeds	Walt Peffer [16]
County Attorney	Donald Kleine [17]
County Clerk/Comptroller	Dan Esch [18]
Clerk of the District Court	Crystal Rhoades
County Engineer	Todd Pfitzer
County Sheriff	Aaron Hanson
County Treasurer	John W. Ewing
Public Defender	Tom Riley

For much of the time after World War II, Douglas County was one of the more conservative urban counties in the United States. It supported the Republican candidate for president in all but one election from 1952 to 2004. However, it has become a far more competitive county in national elections compared to the rest of the state in the last ten years. Barack Obama won a majority of the county's votes in 2008, becoming the first Democrat to do so since 1964. He also narrowly carried the 2nd congressional district as well, garnering him one electoral vote statewide. It swung back to the Republican column in 2012 with Mitt Romney winning the county by an even closer majority. The county swung back to Democratic hands in 2016 with Hillary Clinton winning a plurality of its votes, but unlike Obama eight years prior she failed to carry the 2nd congressional district. In 2020, Joe Biden won the county by 11 points, a 56-year high for Democrats, and flipped the 2nd district back into the Democratic column.

As of January 2025, Douglas County is one of the only two counties in Nebraska (alongside Thurston) to have a plurality of registered Democrats. ^[19]

Political Party		Number of registered voters (January 1, 2025) [20]	%
	Democratic	135,721	36.54
	Republican	132,438	35.65
	Independent	93,810	25.25
	Libertarian	5,650	1.52
	Legal Marijuana Now	3,859	1.04
Total		371,478	100.00

United States presidential election results for Douglas County, Nebraska ^[21]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	120,919	43.95%	148,733	54.06%	5,493	2.00%
2020	119,159	43.09%	150,350	54.37%	7,031	2.54%
2016	108,077	44.95%	113,798	47.33%	18,558	7.72%
2012	113,220	50.56%	106,456	47.54%	4,251	1.90%
2008	106,291	46.89%	116,810	51.53%	3,600	1.59%
2004	120,813	58.34%	83,330	40.24%	2,928	1.41%
2000	101,025	55.16%	73,347	40.05%	8,784	4.80%
1996	92,334	51.38%	70,708	39.34%	16,679	9.28%
1992	93,512	46.73%	67,097	33.53%	39,512	19.74%
1988	99,916	56.27%	76,541	43.11%	1,108	0.62%
1984	112,676	65.26%	58,979	34.16%	1,003	0.58%
1980	96,908	59.12%	51,668	31.52%	15,354	9.37%
1976	93,204	58.73%	61,877	38.99%	3,626	2.28%
1972	101,579	67.82%	48,201	32.18%	0	0.00%
1968	69,808	50.89%	51,617	37.63%	15,739	11.47%
1964	61,613	44.30%	77,480	55.70%	0	0.00%
1960	72,005	52.92%	64,060	47.08%	0	0.00%
1956	73,270	59.39%	50,110	40.61%	0	0.00%
1952	71,457	56.24%	55,591	43.76%	0	0.00%
1948	47,175	48.92%	49,258	51.08%	0	0.00%
1944	53,443	45.60%	63,762	54.40%	0	0.00%
1940	53,325	44.38%	66,840	55.62%	0	0.00%
1936	35,349	33.01%	70,245	65.60%	1,482	1.38%
1932	33,938	35.81%	59,347	62.62%	1,483	1.56%
1928	47,551	52.60%	42,267	46.75%	587	0.65%
1924	29,390	44.98%	18,672	28.58%	17,278	26.44%
1920	28,543	57.81%	18,439	37.34%	2,393	4.85%
1916	14,557	35.13%	24,796	59.84%	2,084	5.03%
1912	6,185	21.12%	12,908	44.08%	10,189	34.80%
1908	14,066	45.80%	15,583	50.74%	1,064	3.46%
1904	15,248	57.87%	6,831	25.93%	4,270	16.21%
1900	14,266	50.88%	13,241	47.23%	530	1.89%
1896	12,326	49.95%	11,755	47.64%	596	2.42%
1892	10,702	48.27%	2,904	13.10%	8,566	38.63%
1888	10,237	47.53%	10,810	50.19%	493	2.29%
1884	4,894	51.61%	4,516	47.62%	73	0.77%
1880	3,290	55.87%	2,407	40.87%	192	3.26%

Communities

Cities

• Bennington
• Omaha (county seat)
  • East Omaha
  • Elkhorn (Omaha)
  • Millard (Omaha)
  • North Omaha
  • South Omaha
  • West Omaha
• Ralston
• Valley

Villages

• Boys Town
• Waterloo

Census-designated places

• King Lake
• Venice

Unincorporated communities

• Briggs
• Debolt
• Elk City
• Irvington
• Lane

Education

School districts include: ^[22]

• Arlington Public Schools
• Bennington Public Schools
• Douglas County West Community Schools
• Elkhorn Public Schools
• Fort Calhoun Community Schools
• Fremont Public Schools
• Gretna Public Schools
• Millard Public Schools
• Omaha Public Schools
• Ralston Public Schools
• Westside Community Schools
• Yutan Public Schools

A state-operated school, Nebraska School for the Deaf, was formerly in the county.

See also

• Ackerhurst Dairy Barn
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas County, Nebraska

References

1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
2. About Douglas County: History. DC website.
3. Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 55. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
4. US OMB. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
5. "History Of Nebraska Passenger Vehicle License Plates". Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
7. Bluestem Prairie Preserve, Omaha NE Google Maps (accessed 20 January 2019)
8. Two Rivers State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 20 January 2019)
9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
12. "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.
13. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
14. "Board members are elected to four-year terms, staggered, with three or four members elected every two years."
15. 1 2 Douglas County Commissioners. (January 10, 2017). Board of County Commissioners. Retrieved from
16. "Unopposed for Douglas County assessor, Walt Peffer outlines plans to review valuations". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
17. "Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine switches to GOP after Democrats' critical resolution". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
18. "Home - Douglas County Clerk/Comptroller". Douglas County. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
19. "2020 Eligible Voter Statistics" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. December 1, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 9, 2021.
20. "Voter Registration Statistics" (PDF). nebraska.gov. January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
21. Election Results
22. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Douglas County, NE" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022. - Text list

External links

• Official website

41°17′43″N96°09′16″W / 41.29535°N 96.15448°W / 41.29535; -96.15448