Platte County, Nebraska

Platte County
County
County of Platte
Platte County Courthouse
Interactive map of Platte County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Established	January 26, 1856
Named for	Platte River
County seat	Columbus
Largest city	Columbus
Area
• Total	685 sq mi (1,770 km2)
• Land	674 sq mi (1,750 km2)
• Water	11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.5%
Highest elevation	1,657 ft (505 m)
Lowest elevation	1,112 ft (339 m)
Population  (2020)	34,296
• Density	50.9/sq mi (19.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	402/531
FIPS code	31141
GNIS feature ID	835892
Website	www.plattecounty.net

Platte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 34,296. ^[1] Its county seat is Columbus. ^[2] The county was created in 1855. ^{[3] [4]}

Platte County comprises the Columbus, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Platte County is represented by the prefix 10 (it had the 10th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Platte County was officially established in 1856 and the board of commissioners had its first meeting the following year. ^[5]

Platte County had its first presumptive case of COVID-19 in late March 2020. ^[6] As of Oct. 3, 2021, one in seven residents of the county have tested positive for COVID-19 ^[7] and 40% of all residents are vaccinated. ^[8]

Geography

The Platte River flows eastward along the south line of Platte County. The Loup River also flows eastward and east-southeastward through the lower section of the county, discharging into the Platte River near Columbus. The Platte County terrain consists of low rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture, sloping to the east-southeast. ^[9]

The county has an area of 685 square miles (1,770 km²), of which 674 square miles (1,750 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (1.5%) is water. ^[10]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 30
• U.S. Highway 81
• Nebraska Highway 22
• Nebraska Highway 39
• Nebraska Highway 45
• Nebraska Highway 91

Transit

• Express Arrow

Adjacent counties

• Colfax County – east
• Butler County – southeast
• Polk County – south
• Merrick County – south
• Nance County – southwest
• Boone County – west
• Madison County – north
• Stanton County – northeast

Protected areas

• George Syas State Wildlife Management Area ^[11]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	782		—
1870	1,899		142.8%
1880	9,511		400.8%
1890	15,437		62.3%
1900	17,747		15.0%
1910	19,006		7.1%
1920	19,464		2.4%
1930	21,181		8.8%
1940	20,191		−4.7%
1950	19,910		−1.4%
1960	23,992		20.5%
1970	26,508		10.5%
1980	28,852		8.8%
1990	29,820		3.4%
2000	31,662		6.2%
2010	32,236		1.8%
2020	34,296		6.4%
US Decennial Census [12] 1790-1960 [13] 1900-1990 [14] 1990-2000 [15] 2010 [16]

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[17] there were 31,662 people, 12,076 households, and 8,465 families in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile (18 people/km²). There were 12,916 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.29% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.49% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 6.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,076 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 29.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% 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 95.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,359, and the median income for a family was $47,776. Males had a median income of $30,672 versus $21,842 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,064. About 5.40% of families and 7.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Columbus (county seat)
• Humphrey
• Newman Grove (part)

Villages

• Cornlea
• Creston
• Duncan
• Lindsay
• Monroe
• Platte Center
• Tarnov

Census-designated place

• Lakeview

Other unincorporated communities

• Oconee
• Rosenborg
• Saint Bernard
• Tracy Valley

Townships

• Bismark
• Burrows
• Butler
• Columbus
• Creston
• Grand Prairie
• Granville
• Humphrey
• Joliet
• Lost Creek
• Loup
• Monroe
• Oconee
• St. Bernard
• Shell Creek
• Sherman
• Walker
• Woodville

Notable people

• James Keogh, executive editor of Time magazine and the head of the White House speechwriting staff under Richard M. Nixon ^[18]

Politics

Platte County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only one election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Platte County, Nebraska ^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	12,186	77.51%	3,260	20.74%	275	1.75%
2016	10,965	75.97%	2,646	18.33%	822	5.70%
2012	10,061	74.68%	3,148	23.37%	264	1.96%
2008	9,373	69.84%	3,796	28.29%	251	1.87%
2004	11,130	79.57%	2,657	19.00%	200	1.43%
2000	9,861	76.69%	2,612	20.31%	386	3.00%
1996	7,948	64.11%	3,010	24.28%	1,440	11.61%
1992	7,736	55.75%	2,424	17.47%	3,717	26.79%
1988	9,040	72.93%	3,285	26.50%	71	0.57%
1984	10,069	82.38%	2,061	16.86%	92	0.75%
1980	8,803	73.51%	2,389	19.95%	783	6.54%
1976	7,217	64.56%	3,693	33.04%	269	2.41%
1972	7,871	73.38%	2,855	26.62%	0	0.00%
1968	5,817	60.69%	2,999	31.29%	768	8.01%
1964	4,705	47.69%	5,160	52.31%	0	0.00%
1960	6,129	58.28%	4,387	41.72%	0	0.00%
1956	6,574	69.23%	2,922	30.77%	0	0.00%
1952	6,695	71.68%	2,645	28.32%	0	0.00%
1948	3,812	53.47%	3,317	46.53%	0	0.00%
1944	4,509	56.67%	3,448	43.33%	0	0.00%
1940	4,929	56.07%	3,862	43.93%	0	0.00%
1936	2,850	29.96%	6,249	65.70%	413	4.34%
1932	1,864	21.61%	6,691	77.56%	72	0.83%
1928	3,435	41.84%	4,748	57.83%	27	0.33%
1924	2,108	30.70%	2,173	31.64%	2,586	37.66%
1920	4,058	73.88%	1,367	24.89%	68	1.24%
1916	1,918	43.54%	2,412	54.76%	75	1.70%
1912	589	15.18%	2,015	51.93%	1,276	32.89%
1908	1,584	38.21%	2,487	59.99%	75	1.81%
1904	1,947	52.64%	1,511	40.85%	241	6.52%
1900	1,608	42.56%	2,117	56.03%	53	1.40%

See also

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

References

1. "Platte County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 19, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Platte County, Nebraska" (PDF). Nebraska State Historical Society. July 1996. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
4. Andreas, A. T. (1882). "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska". The Kansas Collection. Archived from the original on May 10, 2003. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
5. "Nebraska State Genealogical Society - Platte County". nsgs.org. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
6. STAFF, TELEGRAM. "Platte County has its first presumptive case of COVID-19". Columbus Telegram. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
7. Times, The New York (January 27, 2021). "Platte County, Nebraska Covid Case and Risk Tracker". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved October 3, 2021.
8. Times, The New York (December 17, 2020). "See How Vaccinations Are Going in Your County and State". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved October 4, 2021.
9. Platte County NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)
10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
11. George Syas State Wildlife Management Area, Columbus NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)
12. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 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 11, 2014.
16. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
17. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
18. "James Keogh; Time Editor, Nixon Staffer". The Washington Post. May 15, 2006. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
19. Election Results

41°34′N97°32′W / 41.57°N 97.53°W / 41.57; -97.53