Hall County, Nebraska

Hall County
County
Hall County Courthouse in Grand Island
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°52′N98°30′W / 40.87°N 98.5°W / 40.87; -98.5
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1858
Named for	Augustus Hall
Seat	Grand Island
Largest city	Grand Island
Area
• Total	552 sq mi (1,430 km2)
• Land	546 sq mi (1,410 km2)
• Water	5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  1.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	62,895
• Density	110/sq mi (44/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.hallcountyne.gov

Hall County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 62,895, ^[1] making it Nebraska's fourth-most populous county. Its county seat is Grand Island. ^[2] The county was formed in 1858; it was named for Augustus Hall, an early judge of this territory. ^[3]

Hall County is part of the Grand Island, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Hall County is represented by the prefix 8. Hall County had the eighth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922.

Geography

The Platte River flows northeastward across the lower portion of Hall County; the South Loup River flows northeastward across the NW corner of the county; both flowing to their eventual drainage into the Missouri River.

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 552 square miles (1,430 km²), of which 546 square miles (1,410 km²) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km²) (1.1%) is water. ^[4]

Hall County has the highest density of tornado activity in Nebraska, with 121 tornadoes per 1,000 square miles (2,600 km²), about 4 times the state average.

Major highways

• Interstate 80
• U.S. Route 30
• U.S. Route 34
• U.S. Route 281
• Nebraska Highway 2
• Nebraska Highway 11

Transit

• Burlington Trailways
• Express Arrow

Adjacent counties

• Merrick County – northeast
• Hamilton County – east
• Adams County – south
• Kearney County – southwest
• Howard County – north
• Buffalo County – west

Protected areas

• Cheyenne State Recreation Area ^[5]
• Cornhusker State Wildlife Management Area ^[6]
• Denman Island State Wildlife Management Area (part) ^[7]
• Hannon Federal Waterfowl Production Area ^[8]
• Loch Linda State Wildlife Management Area ^[9]
• Martins Reach State Wildlife Management Area ^[10]
• Mormon Island State Recreation Area ^[11]
• Wood River West State Wildlife Management Area ^[12]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	116		—
1870	1,057		811.2%
1880	8,572		711.0%
1890	16,513		92.6%
1900	17,206		4.2%
1910	20,361		18.3%
1920	23,720		16.5%
1930	27,117		14.3%
1940	27,523		1.5%
1950	32,186		16.9%
1960	35,757		11.1%
1970	42,851		19.8%
1980	47,690		11.3%
1990	48,925		2.6%
2000	53,534		9.4%
2010	58,607		9.5%
2020	62,895		7.3%
2023 (est.)	62,197		−1.1%
US Decennial Census [13] 1790-1960 [14] 1900-1990 [15] 1990-2000 [16] 2010 [17]

As of the 2020 United States Census, ^[18] there were 62,895 people. The population density was 110 inhabitants per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 62.9% White, 3.9% Black or African American, 2.7% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, and 1.7% from two or more races. 31.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[18] there were 53,534 people, 20,356 households, and 14,086 families in the county. The population density was 98 inhabitants per square mile (38/km²). There were 21,574 housing units at an average density of 40 units per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.67% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 8.19% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 14.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 20,356 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.

The county population contained 27.20% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,972, and the median income for a family was $43,963. Males had a median income of $29,158 versus $20,576 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,386. 12.00% of the population and 9.20% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.50% of those under the age of 18 and 8.30% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Communities

Cities

• Grand Island
• Wood River

Villages

• Alda
• Cairo
• Doniphan
• Shelton (part)

Unincorporated communities

• Abbott
• Cameron ^[19]
• Hansen

Politics

Hall County has been a Republican Party stronghold for most of its history at the presidential level. In only four presidential elections from 1880 to the present has a Democratic Party candidate carried the county, the most recent being Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	16,189	66.21%	7,681	31.42%	580	2.37%
2016	14,408	65.31%	6,282	28.48%	1,370	6.21%
2012	12,646	62.51%	7,161	35.40%	422	2.09%
2008	12,977	61.01%	7,855	36.93%	439	2.06%
2004	14,592	68.98%	6,228	29.44%	334	1.58%
2000	11,803	63.64%	5,952	32.09%	791	4.27%
1996	10,183	52.45%	6,708	34.55%	2,525	13.00%
1992	9,341	44.67%	5,558	26.58%	6,014	28.76%
1988	12,062	63.41%	6,853	36.02%	108	0.57%
1984	13,193	73.47%	4,655	25.92%	108	0.60%
1980	12,166	68.13%	4,422	24.76%	1,269	7.11%
1976	10,935	62.90%	6,079	34.96%	372	2.14%
1972	10,987	72.26%	4,218	27.74%	0	0.00%
1968	8,457	61.01%	4,571	32.98%	833	6.01%
1964	6,715	44.80%	8,273	55.20%	0	0.00%
1960	9,763	63.98%	5,496	36.02%	0	0.00%
1956	9,536	66.45%	4,815	33.55%	0	0.00%
1952	10,435	69.37%	4,608	30.63%	0	0.00%
1948	5,694	55.37%	4,590	44.63%	0	0.00%
1944	7,651	61.61%	4,768	38.39%	0	0.00%
1940	7,412	61.26%	4,687	38.74%	0	0.00%
1936	5,146	43.57%	6,295	53.30%	369	3.12%
1932	3,743	35.67%	6,266	59.72%	483	4.60%
1928	6,862	66.58%	3,391	32.90%	53	0.51%
1924	4,040	47.39%	1,863	21.85%	2,622	30.76%
1920	4,719	66.25%	1,724	24.20%	680	9.55%
1916	2,555	48.54%	2,483	47.17%	226	4.29%
1912	1,047	23.73%	2,085	47.26%	1,280	29.01%
1908	2,241	47.87%	2,229	47.62%	211	4.51%
1904	2,508	65.69%	817	21.40%	493	12.91%
1900	2,017	52.15%	1,766	45.66%	85	2.20%

See also

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

References

1. "Hall County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 19, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 147.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
5. Cheyenne State Recreation Area, Wood River NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
6. Cornhusker State Wildlife Management Area, Grand Island NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
7. Denman Island State Wildlife Management Area, Wood River NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
8. Hannon Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Wood River NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
9. Loch Linda State Wildlife Management Area, Grand Island NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
10. Martins Reach State Wildlife Management Area, Wood River NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
11. Mormon Island State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
12. Wood River West State Wildlife Management Area, Wood River NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
13. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
15. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
16. "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 8, 2014.
17. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
18. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
19. Cameron NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
20. Election Results

External links

• Hall County official site Archived November 8, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
• Nebraska Tornado Density

40°52′N98°30′W / 40.87°N 98.50°W / 40.87; -98.50