Pawnee County, Nebraska

Pawnee County
County
Pawnee County Courthouse in Pawnee City
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°08′N96°14′W / 40.13°N 96.24°W / 40.13; -96.24
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1854
Named for	Pawnee people
Seat	Pawnee City
Largest city	Pawnee City
Area
• Total	433 sq mi (1,120 km2)
• Land	431 sq mi (1,120 km2)
• Water	1.9 sq mi (5 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,544
• Density	5.9/sq mi (2.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Pawnee County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 2,544. ^[1] Its county seat is Pawnee City. ^[2]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Pawnee County is represented by the prefix 54 (it had the fifty-fourth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Pawnee County was formed in 1854. ^[3] It was named for the Pawnee Native American tribe. ^[4]

On May 30, 1879, the "Irving, Kansas Tornado" passed through Pawnee County. This tornado measured F4 on the Fujita scale, and had a damage path 800 yards wide and 100 miles. ^[5]

Geography

Pawnee County lies on the south line of Nebraska. Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of Kansas. The Big Nemaha River flows southeastward through the NE corner of the county, and smaller local drainages flow upward through the county to discharge into the Big Nemaha. The county's terrain consists of rolling hills, with its planar areas largely devoted to agriculture. ^[6] The county has an area of 433 square miles (1,120 km²), of which 431 square miles (1,120 km²) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) (0.4%) is water. ^[7]

Major highways

• Nebraska Highway 4
• Nebraska Highway 8
• Nebraska Highway 50
• Nebraska Highway 65
• Nebraska Highway 99
• Nebraska Highway 105

Adjacent counties

• Richardson County − east
• Nemaha County, Kansas − southeast
• Marshall County, Kansas − southwest
• Gage County − west
• Johnson County − north
• Nemaha County − northeast

Protected areas

• Bowwood State Wildlife Management Area ^[8]
• Burchard State Wildlife Management Area ^[9]
• Mayberry State Wildlife Management Area ^[10]
• Pawnee Prairie State Wildlife Management Area ^[11]
• Prairie Knoll State Wildlife Management Area ^[12]
• Table Rock State Wildlife Management Area ^[13]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	882		—
1870	4,171		372.9%
1880	6,920		65.9%
1890	10,340		49.4%
1900	11,770		13.8%
1910	10,582		−10.1%
1920	9,578		−9.5%
1930	9,423		−1.6%
1940	8,514		−9.6%
1950	6,744		−20.8%
1960	5,356		−20.6%
1970	4,473		−16.5%
1980	3,937		−12.0%
1990	3,317		−15.7%
2000	3,087		−6.9%
2010	2,773		−10.2%
2020	2,544		−8.3%
2022 (est.)	2,528		−0.6%
US Decennial Census [14] 1790-1960 [15] 1900-1990 [16] 1990-2000 [17] 2010 [18] 2020 [1] 2022 [19]

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[20] there were 3,087 people, 1,339 households, and 850 families in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km²). There were 1,587 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.87% White, 0.19% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.03% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,339 households, out of which 24.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.50% were non-families. 32.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86.

The county population contained 22.70% under the age of 18, 5.10% from 18 to 24, 21.00% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 27.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 92.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,000, and the median income for a family was $36,326. Males had a median income of $24,770 versus $17,976 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,687. About 6.80% of families and 11.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Pawnee City (county seat)

Villages

• Burchard
• Du Bois
• Lewiston
• Steinauer
• Table Rock

Politics

Pawnee County voters have been Republican-leaning for decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected a Democratic Party candidate.

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,085	78.34%	284	20.51%	16	1.16%
2020	1,071	74.95%	322	22.53%	36	2.52%
2016	974	73.40%	279	21.02%	74	5.58%
2012	899	67.04%	400	29.83%	42	3.13%
2008	859	62.07%	483	34.90%	42	3.03%
2004	986	66.49%	481	32.43%	16	1.08%
2000	937	61.69%	522	34.36%	60	3.95%
1996	766	48.82%	580	36.97%	223	14.21%
1992	670	37.06%	566	31.31%	572	31.64%
1988	975	55.46%	767	43.63%	16	0.91%
1984	1,306	69.32%	552	29.30%	26	1.38%
1980	1,418	71.15%	431	21.63%	144	7.23%
1976	990	52.86%	845	45.11%	38	2.03%
1972	1,299	71.26%	524	28.74%	0	0.00%
1968	1,209	60.30%	583	29.08%	213	10.62%
1964	1,166	51.21%	1,111	48.79%	0	0.00%
1960	1,728	63.13%	1,009	36.87%	0	0.00%
1956	1,830	64.17%	1,022	35.83%	0	0.00%
1952	2,432	75.02%	810	24.98%	0	0.00%
1948	1,725	57.58%	1,271	42.42%	0	0.00%
1944	2,254	63.87%	1,275	36.13%	0	0.00%
1940	2,643	62.35%	1,596	37.65%	0	0.00%
1936	2,074	47.09%	2,297	52.16%	33	0.75%
1932	1,568	36.90%	2,641	62.16%	40	0.94%
1928	2,825	64.29%	1,547	35.21%	22	0.50%
1924	2,147	55.85%	1,365	35.51%	332	8.64%
1920	2,510	69.88%	972	27.06%	110	3.06%
1916	1,228	49.66%	1,171	47.35%	74	2.99%
1912	593	25.06%	958	40.49%	815	34.45%
1908	1,468	54.94%	1,115	41.73%	89	3.33%
1904	1,739	68.38%	562	22.10%	242	9.52%
1900	1,632	56.90%	1,121	39.09%	115	4.01%

See also

• List of people from Pawnee County, Nebraska
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pawnee County, Nebraska

References

1. "Pawnee 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. "Pawnee County". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
4. Swanton, John Reed (1952). The Indian Tribes of North America. US Government Printing Office. p. 290. ISBN   978-0-8063-1730-4.
5. "File Not Found". www.kansas.net. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
6. "Pawnee County · Nebraska". Pawnee County · Nebraska.
7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
8. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
9. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
10. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
11. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
12. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
13. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
14. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
15. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
16. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
17. "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 11, 2014.
18. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
19. "QuickFacts Pawnee County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 1, 2024.
20. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
21. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

External links

• Official website
• Pawnee County tourism website

40°08′N96°14′W / 40.13°N 96.24°W / 40.13; -96.24