Howard County, Nebraska

Howard County
County
Howard County Courthouse in St. Paul
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°13′N98°31′W / 41.22°N 98.52°W / 41.22; -98.52
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1871
Named for	Oliver O. Howard
Seat	St. Paul
Largest city	St. Paul
Area
• Total	576 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Land	569 sq mi (1,470 km2)
• Water	6.3 sq mi (16 km2)  1.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,475
• Density	11/sq mi (4.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.howardcounty.ne.gov

Howard County is a county in the state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 6,475. ^[1] Its county seat is St. Paul. ^[2] The county was formed in 1871 and named after Civil War General Oliver Otis Howard. ^[3]

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

In the Nebraska license plate system, Howard County is represented by the prefix 49 (it had the 49th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography

The terrain of Howard consists of low rolling hills. The leveled hilltops are mostly used for agriculture. The Upper Loup River flows southeastward into the county near its NW corner, turning eastward to flow toward its junction with Middle Loup River. The Middle Loup River flows northeastward into the county near its SW corner, turning north to join with the Upper Loup River near the county midpoint to form the Loup River, flowing eastward into Merrick County. The county has a total area of 576 square miles (1,490 km²), of which 569 square miles (1,470 km²) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km²) (1.1%) is water. ^[4]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 281
• Nebraska Highway 11
• Nebraska Highway 22
• Nebraska Highway 58
• Nebraska Highway 92

Adjacent counties

• Merrick County – east
• Hall County – south
• Buffalo County – southwest
• Sherman County – west
• Greeley County – north

Protected areas

• Loup Junction State Wildlife Management Area ^[5]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	4,391		—
1890	9,430		114.8%
1900	10,343		9.7%
1910	10,783		4.3%
1920	10,739		−0.4%
1930	10,020		−6.7%
1940	8,422		−15.9%
1950	7,226		−14.2%
1960	6,541		−9.5%
1970	6,807		4.1%
1980	6,773		−0.5%
1990	6,057		−10.6%
2000	6,567		8.4%
2010	6,274		−4.5%
2020	6,475		3.2%
US Decennial Census [6] 1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8] 1990-2000 [9] 2010 [10]

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[11] there were 6,567 people, 2,546 households, and 1,797 families in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km²). There were 2,782 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.69% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,546 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 26.00% 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 2.56 and the average family size was 3.09.

The county population contained 28.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,305, and the median income for a family was $40,259. Males had a median income of $27,270 versus $19,587 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,535. About 8.50% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.30% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• St. Paul (county seat)

Villages

• Cotesfield
• Cushing
• Dannebrog
• Elba
• Farwell
• Howard City
• Wolbach (part)

Census-designated place

• St. Libory

Unincorporated communities

• Dannevirke
• Nysted

Politics

Howard County voters have usually voted Republican for several decades. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	2,786	79.35%	648	18.46%	77	2.19%
2016	2,284	76.29%	544	18.17%	166	5.54%
2012	1,890	65.85%	914	31.85%	66	2.30%
2008	1,847	61.65%	1,083	36.15%	66	2.20%
2004	2,020	67.81%	900	30.21%	59	1.98%
2000	1,760	62.26%	955	33.78%	112	3.96%
1996	1,294	50.10%	853	33.02%	436	16.88%
1992	1,138	39.65%	778	27.11%	954	33.24%
1988	1,526	55.63%	1,186	43.24%	31	1.13%
1984	1,899	67.68%	887	31.61%	20	0.71%
1980	1,971	66.36%	789	26.57%	210	7.07%
1976	1,362	49.78%	1,316	48.10%	58	2.12%
1972	1,691	64.15%	945	35.85%	0	0.00%
1968	1,256	51.37%	1,003	41.02%	186	7.61%
1964	1,019	33.48%	2,025	66.52%	0	0.00%
1960	1,676	52.47%	1,518	47.53%	0	0.00%
1956	1,701	54.00%	1,449	46.00%	0	0.00%
1952	2,115	59.23%	1,456	40.77%	0	0.00%
1948	1,133	37.44%	1,893	62.56%	0	0.00%
1944	1,556	43.25%	2,042	56.75%	0	0.00%
1940	1,696	43.11%	2,238	56.89%	0	0.00%
1936	1,223	27.21%	3,148	70.05%	123	2.74%
1932	734	17.05%	3,409	79.17%	163	3.79%
1928	1,937	46.60%	2,197	52.85%	23	0.55%
1924	1,091	31.58%	1,434	41.51%	930	26.92%
1920	1,508	50.76%	1,311	44.13%	152	5.12%
1916	698	28.08%	1,695	68.18%	93	3.74%
1912	431	19.57%	1,118	50.77%	653	29.65%
1908	977	39.35%	1,435	57.79%	71	2.86%
1904	1,259	56.97%	476	21.54%	475	21.49%
1900	908	40.48%	1,283	57.20%	52	2.32%

See also

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

References

1. "Howard County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 19, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Howard County". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
5. Loup Junction State Wildlife Management Area, St Paul NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
6. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
9. "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.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. Election Results

41°13′N98°31′W / 41.22°N 98.52°W / 41.22; -98.52