Knox County, Nebraska

Knox County
County
Knox County Courthouse in Center
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°38′N97°53′W / 42.63°N 97.88°W / 42.63; -97.88
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1857
Named for	Henry Knox
Seat	Center
Largest city	Creighton
Area
• Total	1,140 sq mi (3,000 km2)
• Land	1,108 sq mi (2,870 km2)
• Water	31 sq mi (80 km2)  2.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,401
• Estimate  (2022)	8,336
• Density	7.4/sq mi (2.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.co.knox.ne.us

Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 8,391. ^[1] Its county seat is Center. ^[2] Knox County was named for Continental and U.S. Army Major General Henry Knox. ^{[3] [4]} In the Nebraska license plate system, Knox County is represented by the prefix 12 (it had the 12th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Knox County was organized by the Territorial Legislature in 1857, and named L'Eau Qui Court, that being the French name for the river named by the Ponca Niobrara—both names meaning, in English, Running Water. The name was changed to Knox by a statute passed February 21, 1873, which took effect April 1, 1873. ^{[5] [6]}

Geography

Lewis and Clark Lake, an impoundment on the Missouri River in the northeastern part of Knox County. Gavins Point Dam in the foreground.

Knox County lies along the north line of Nebraska. Its north boundary line abuts the south boundary line of the state of South Dakota. The terrain of the county consists of low rolling hills sloped to the northeast; most of the flat terrain is used for agriculture. The Missouri River flows eastward along the county's north boundary line. The Niobrara River enters the county's west boundary, flowing eastward then northward to drain into the Missouri River near the village of Niobrara. A smaller drainage, Verdigre Creek, flows northward into the county through the western central part of the county, draining into the Niobrara River shortly upstream of that river's mouth. ^[7] The county has a total area of 1,140 square miles (3,000 km²), of which 1,108 square miles (2,870 km²) is land and 31 square miles (80 km²) (2.8%) is water. ^[8]

Major highways

• Nebraska Highway 12
• Nebraska Highway 13
• Nebraska Highway 14
• Nebraska Highway 59
• Nebraska Highway 84
• Nebraska Highway 121

Adjacent counties

• Bon Homme County, South Dakota - north
• Yankton County, South Dakota - northeast
• Cedar County - east
• Pierce County - southeast
• Antelope County - south
• Holt County - west
• Boyd County - northwest
• Charles Mix County, South Dakota - northwest

Protected areas

• Bazile Creek State Wildlife Management Area ^[9]
• Bloomfield Recreation Area
• Deep Water Recreation Area ^[10]
• Lewis and Clark Lake (part)
• Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area
• Miller Creek Recreation Area ^[11]
• Missouri National Recreational River (part)
• Niobrara State Park
• South Shore Recreation Area

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	152		—
1870	261		71.7%
1880	3,666		1,304.6%
1890	8,582		134.1%
1900	14,343		67.1%
1910	18,358		28.0%
1920	18,894		2.9%
1930	19,110		1.1%
1940	16,478		−13.8%
1950	14,820		−10.1%
1960	13,300		−10.3%
1970	11,723		−11.9%
1980	11,457		−2.3%
1990	9,534		−16.8%
2000	9,374		−1.7%
2010	8,701		−7.2%
2020	8,391		−3.6%
2022 (est.)	8,336		−0.7%
US Decennial Census [12] 1790-1960 [13] 1900-1990 [14] 1990-2000 [15] 2010-2013 [16] [17] 2020-2022 [16]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,701 people, 3,647 households, and 2,368 families in the county. The population density was 7.9 people per square mile (3.1 people/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.2% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 10% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 1.8% from Two or More Races. 2.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[18] there were 9,374 people, 3,811 households, and 2,595 families in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km²). There were 4,773 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.63% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 7.12% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,811 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 29.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98.

The county population contained 25.50% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 23.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,564, and the median income for a family was $34,073. Males had a median income of $23,373 versus $18,319 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,971. About 12.50% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Racial composition	2010 [19]	2000 [20]
White	87.2%	92.2%
Non-Hispanic	85.8%	91.3%
Native American	10%	7.5%
Black or African American	0.4%	0.1%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	2.5%	0.9%
Asian	0.5%	0.2%
Two or More Races	1.8%	0.6%

Communities

Cities

• Bloomfield
• Creighton
• Crofton

Villages

• Bazile Mills
• Center (county seat)
• Niobrara
• Santee
• Verdel
• Verdigre
• Wausa
• Winnetoon

Census-designated place

• Lindy

Unincorporated communities

• Dukeville
• Jelen
• Knoxville
• Mars
• Pishelville
• Sparta
• Venus
• Walnut

Townships

• Addison
• Bohemia
• Central
• Cleveland
• Columbia
• Creighton
• Dolphin
• Dowling
• Eastern
• Frankfort
• Harrison
• Herrick
• Hill
• Jefferson
• Lincoln
• Logan
• Miller
• Morton
• Niobrara
• North Frankfort
• Peoria
• Raymond
• Spade
• Sparta
• Union
• Valley
• Verdigre
• Walnut Grove
• Washington
• Western

Politics

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

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,593	80.78%	786	17.67%	69	1.55%
2020	3,721	79.04%	905	19.22%	82	1.74%
2016	3,188	77.47%	720	17.50%	207	5.03%
2012	2,885	71.48%	1,059	26.24%	92	2.28%
2008	2,728	66.80%	1,255	30.73%	101	2.47%
2004	3,062	72.68%	1,086	25.78%	65	1.54%
2000	2,784	69.98%	1,037	26.07%	157	3.95%
1996	2,123	53.91%	1,266	32.15%	549	13.94%
1992	2,113	49.55%	968	22.70%	1,183	27.74%
1988	2,644	63.76%	1,477	35.62%	26	0.63%
1984	3,364	73.77%	1,149	25.20%	47	1.03%
1980	3,404	71.08%	1,057	22.07%	328	6.85%
1976	2,610	56.08%	1,922	41.30%	122	2.62%
1972	3,318	72.02%	1,289	27.98%	0	0.00%
1968	3,129	68.20%	1,131	24.65%	328	7.15%
1964	2,752	51.26%	2,617	48.74%	0	0.00%
1960	3,847	64.45%	2,122	35.55%	0	0.00%
1956	3,814	64.38%	2,110	35.62%	0	0.00%
1952	4,840	75.47%	1,573	24.53%	0	0.00%
1948	2,778	51.68%	2,597	48.32%	0	0.00%
1944	3,762	60.20%	2,487	39.80%	0	0.00%
1940	4,352	57.79%	3,179	42.21%	0	0.00%
1936	2,949	38.89%	4,449	58.67%	185	2.44%
1932	1,830	25.67%	5,229	73.36%	69	0.97%
1928	3,668	55.46%	2,914	44.06%	32	0.48%
1924	2,405	38.63%	1,532	24.61%	2,289	36.77%
1920	3,678	69.87%	1,470	27.93%	116	2.20%
1916	1,910	44.11%	2,329	53.79%	91	2.10%
1912	1,028	26.58%	1,803	46.61%	1,037	26.81%
1908	1,871	45.67%	2,106	51.40%	120	2.93%
1904	2,163	61.50%	864	24.57%	490	13.93%
1900	1,600	47.80%	1,630	48.70%	117	3.50%

See also

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

References

1. "County 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. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. p.  177.
4. "Knox County". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
5. Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 88. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
6. "Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Knox County, Nebraska" (PDF). Nebraska State Historical Society. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
7. Knox County NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
9. Bazile Creek State Wildlife Management Area, Niobrara NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
10. Deep Water Recreation Area, Crofton NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
11. Miller Creek Recreation Area, Knox County NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
12. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
15. "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.
16. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
17. "QuickFacts: Knox County, Nebraska".
18. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
19. "Knox County NE". State & County QuickFacts. US Census Bureau.
20. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
21. Election Results

External links

• Knox County website

42°38′N97°53′W / 42.63°N 97.88°W / 42.63; -97.88