Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska

Scotts Bluff County
County
Scotts Bluff County Courthouse in Gering
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°51′N103°43′W / 41.85°N 103.71°W / 41.85; -103.71
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1888
Named for	Scotts Bluff
Seat	Gering
Largest city	Scottsbluff
Area
• Total	745 sq mi (1,930 km2)
• Land	739 sq mi (1,910 km2)
• Water	6.0 sq mi (16 km2)  0.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	36,084
• Density	49.2/sq mi (19.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.scottsbluffcounty.org

Scotts Bluff County is a county on the western border of the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 36,084. ^[1] Its county seat is Gering, ^[2] and its largest city is Scottsbluff.

Scotts Bluff County is included in the Scottsbluff, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Scotts Bluff County is represented by the prefix 21, since the county had the twenty-first-largest number of registered vehicles registered when the state's license-plate system was established in 1922.

History

The county is named for a prominent bluff that served as a landmark for 19th-century pioneers traveling along the Oregon Trail. Scotts Bluff was named for Hiram Scott, a Rocky Mountain Fur Company trapper who died nearby around 1828. ^[3] Washington Irving claimed that, after being injured and abandoned, Scott had crawled sixty miles only to perish near the bluff that now bears his name. ^[4] The bluff is now managed by the National Park Service as Scotts Bluff National Monument.

The town of Gering was founded at the base of the bluff in 1887, and the city of Scottsbluff was founded across the North Platte River in 1900. Joined by the river, the former transportation highway, the two cities now form Nebraska's 7th-largest urban area.

Transportation

Scotts Bluff County Airport (BFF) is Nebraska's third-busiest airport in terms of passenger boardings.

Geography

Scotts Bluff County is on the west side of Nebraska. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of Wyoming. The North Platte River flows east-southeastward through the upper central part of the county. The county's terrain consists of arid rolling hills, about half of which is dedicated to agriculture. The county's lands slope to the east-southeast. ^{[5] [6]}

The county has an area of 745 square miles (1,930 km²), of which 739 square miles (1,910 km²) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km²) (0.8%) is water. ^[7]

Road map of Scotts Bluff County

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 26
• Nebraska Highway 29
• Nebraska Highway 71
• Nebraska Highway 92

Adjacent counties

• Sioux County – north
• Box Butte County – northeast
• Morrill County – east
• Banner County – south
• Goshen County, Wyoming – west

Protected areas

• Kiowa State Wildlife Management Area ^[8]
• Lake Minatare State Recreation Area ^[9]
• North Platte National Wildlife Refuge
• Scotts Bluff National Monument
• Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area ^[10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	1,888		—
1900	2,552		35.2%
1910	8,355		227.4%
1920	20,710		147.9%
1930	28,644		38.3%
1940	33,917		18.4%
1950	33,939		0.1%
1960	33,809		−0.4%
1970	36,432		7.8%
1980	38,344		5.2%
1990	36,025		−6.0%
2000	36,951		2.6%
2010	36,970		0.1%
2020	36,084		−2.4%
2022 (est.)	35,603		−1.3%
US Decennial Census [11] 1790-1960 [12] 1900-1990 [13] 1990-2000 [14] 2010-2013 [1] [15] 2020-2022 [1]

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[16] there were 36,951 people, 14,887 households, and 10,167 families in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19 people/km²). There were 16,119 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.58% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 1.88% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 8.02% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. 17.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.5% were of German, 8.6% English and 6.8% Irish ancestry.

There were 14,887 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

The county population contained 25.90% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,016, and the median income for a family was $38,932. Males had a median income of $30,317 versus $20,717 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,355. About 11.00% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.00% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The economy of Scotts Bluff County is based on agriculture, with the primary crops being sugar beets, corn, and beans.

Communities

Cities

• Gering (county seat)
• Minatare
• Mitchell
• Terrytown
• Scottsbluff

Villages

• Henry
• Lyman
• McGrew
• Melbeta
• Morrill

Unincorporated communities

• Bradley
• Haig

Precincts

• Castle Rock
• Dewey Tabor
• East Winters Creek
• Fanning
• Ford
• Funston
• Gering
• Highland
• Kiowa
• Mitchell
• Roubadeau
• West Winters Creek

Politics

Scotts Bluff County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

United States presidential election results for Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	11,033	73.09%	3,856	25.54%	206	1.36%
2020	10,952	70.55%	4,196	27.03%	376	2.42%
2016	10,076	70.38%	3,207	22.40%	1,034	7.22%
2012	9,648	67.53%	4,327	30.29%	312	2.18%
2008	9,708	65.91%	4,745	32.21%	277	1.88%
2004	10,378	72.12%	3,843	26.71%	169	1.17%
2000	9,397	67.90%	3,937	28.45%	505	3.65%
1996	7,641	56.43%	4,547	33.58%	1,353	9.99%
1992	7,213	48.24%	4,175	27.92%	3,563	23.83%
1988	8,613	65.39%	4,464	33.89%	94	0.71%
1984	10,711	77.18%	3,074	22.15%	93	0.67%
1980	9,504	71.73%	2,854	21.54%	891	6.73%
1976	6,887	60.05%	4,298	37.48%	283	2.47%
1972	8,649	75.78%	2,764	24.22%	0	0.00%
1968	7,356	67.17%	2,649	24.19%	946	8.64%
1964	6,965	52.24%	6,368	47.76%	0	0.00%
1960	8,728	60.72%	5,646	39.28%	0	0.00%
1956	8,027	63.12%	4,690	36.88%	0	0.00%
1952	9,674	72.94%	3,589	27.06%	0	0.00%
1948	5,409	55.22%	4,386	44.78%	0	0.00%
1944	6,947	65.05%	3,733	34.95%	0	0.00%
1940	7,989	64.20%	4,455	35.80%	0	0.00%
1936	4,051	40.53%	5,768	57.70%	177	1.77%
1932	4,108	45.59%	4,792	53.18%	111	1.23%
1928	6,677	81.76%	1,403	17.18%	87	1.07%
1924	3,410	62.29%	1,132	20.68%	932	17.03%
1920	3,189	71.52%	969	21.73%	301	6.75%
1916	1,144	38.98%	1,587	54.07%	204	6.95%
1912	314	18.18%	495	28.66%	918	53.16%
1908	789	54.75%	549	38.10%	103	7.15%
1904	530	67.86%	103	13.19%	148	18.95%
1900	400	56.66%	276	39.09%	30	4.25%

See also

• Lake Minatare Lighthouse
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved September 22, 2013.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "The Life and Legend of Hiram Scott". National Park Service. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
4. Washington, Irving (1837). The Adventures of Captain Bonneville . Retrieved January 29, 2015.
5. Scotts Bluff County NE Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
6. "Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
8. Kiowa State Wildlife Management Area, Morrill NE Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
9. Lake Minatare State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
10. Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
11. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
14. "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.
15. "QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau . July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
16. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. Election Results

41°51′N103°43′W / 41.85°N 103.71°W / 41.85; -103.71