Valley County, Nebraska

Not to be confused with Valley, Nebraska.

Valley County
County
Valley County Courthouse in Ord
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°34′N98°59′W / 41.57°N 98.98°W / 41.57; -98.98
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1871 (formed) 1873 (organized)
Seat	Ord
Largest city	Ord
Area
• Total	570 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Land	568 sq mi (1,470 km2)
• Water	2.4 sq mi (6 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,059
• Density	7.1/sq mi (2.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Valley County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 4,059. ^[1] Its county seat is Ord. ^[2]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Valley County is represented by the prefix 47 (it had the 47th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Valley County was formed in 1871 and organized in 1873. ^{[3] [4]} Its name derives from the local terrain: much of the county consists of valley land lying between the North and Middle Loup Rivers. ^[5]

On June 12, 2010, the privately owned Bredthauer Dam broke due to heavy rain, flooding rural Valley County and the village of North Loup. ^{[6] [7]} Major flooding occurred in the village, with water "eight inches deep and running down Main Street." ^[8] North Loup was evacuated for the flood's duration. ^[9]

Geography

The North Loup River flows southeastward through the upper portion of the county, while the Middle Loup River runs southeastward through the lower portion. The terrain consists of rolling hills. The flat river valleys are largely dedicated to agriculture, with some center pivot irrigation employed. ^[10] The county has an area of 570 square miles (1,500 km²), of which 568 square miles (1,470 km²) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) (0.4%) is water. ^[11]

Major highways

• Nebraska Highway 11
• Nebraska Highway 22
• Nebraska Highway 58
• Nebraska Highway 70

Protected area

• Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park ^[12]
• Scotia Canal State Wildlife Management Area ^[13]

Adjacent counties

• Wheeler County – northeast
• Greeley County – east
• Sherman County – south
• Custer County – west
• Garfield County – north

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	2,324		—
1890	7,092		205.2%
1900	7,339		3.5%
1910	9,480		29.2%
1920	9,823		3.6%
1930	9,533		−3.0%
1940	8,163		−14.4%
1950	7,252		−11.2%
1960	6,590		−9.1%
1970	5,783		−12.2%
1980	5,633		−2.6%
1990	5,169		−8.2%
2000	4,647		−10.1%
2010	4,260		−8.3%
2020	4,059		−4.7%
US Decennial Census [14] 1790-1960 [15] 1900-1990 [16] 1990-2000 [17] 2010 [18]

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[19] there were 4,647 people, 1,965 households, and 1,298 families in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km²). There were 2,273 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.15% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.80% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. 1.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,965 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 31.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.

The county population contained 24.70% under the age of 18, 4.80% from 18 to 24, 22.60% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,926, and the median income for a family was $35,571. Males had a median income of $25,224 versus $17,217 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,996. About 10.10% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Ord (county seat)

Villages

• Arcadia
• Elyria
• North Loup

Unincorporated communities

• Olean
• Sumter

Townships

• Arcadia
• Davis Creek
• Elyria
• Enterprise
• Eureka
• Geranium
• Independent
• Liberty
• Michigan
• Noble
• North Loup
• Ord
• Springdale
• Vinton
• Yale

Politics

Valley County voters are strongly Republican. In only one national election since 1916 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Valley County, Nebraska ^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	1,901	81.10%	412	17.58%	31	1.32%
2016	1,780	80.73%	339	15.37%	86	3.90%
2012	1,657	75.49%	498	22.69%	40	1.82%
2008	1,657	68.39%	706	29.14%	60	2.48%
2004	1,801	75.32%	564	23.59%	26	1.09%
2000	1,610	71.14%	583	25.76%	70	3.09%
1996	1,346	56.27%	758	31.69%	288	12.04%
1992	1,173	45.29%	716	27.64%	701	27.07%
1988	1,604	64.08%	873	34.88%	26	1.04%
1984	2,055	73.21%	739	26.33%	13	0.46%
1980	2,101	71.73%	655	22.36%	173	5.91%
1976	1,587	57.31%	1,042	37.63%	140	5.06%
1972	2,011	72.29%	771	27.71%	0	0.00%
1968	1,759	64.41%	793	29.04%	179	6.55%
1964	1,657	51.75%	1,545	48.25%	0	0.00%
1960	2,045	62.10%	1,248	37.90%	0	0.00%
1956	2,189	66.78%	1,089	33.22%	0	0.00%
1952	2,630	71.92%	1,027	28.08%	0	0.00%
1948	1,670	54.66%	1,385	45.34%	0	0.00%
1944	2,096	58.70%	1,475	41.30%	0	0.00%
1940	2,449	60.63%	1,590	39.37%	0	0.00%
1936	2,033	49.65%	1,960	47.86%	102	2.49%
1932	1,584	39.04%	2,400	59.16%	73	1.80%
1928	2,768	69.27%	1,205	30.16%	23	0.58%
1924	2,014	55.04%	802	21.92%	843	23.04%
1920	1,935	64.80%	912	30.54%	139	4.66%
1916	840	36.44%	1,388	60.22%	77	3.34%
1912	552	26.73%	788	38.16%	725	35.11%
1908	1,040	48.46%	1,045	48.70%	61	2.84%
1904	1,133	63.94%	219	12.36%	420	23.70%
1900	810	47.40%	864	50.56%	35	2.05%

See also

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

References

1. "Valley County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 24, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 141. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
4. Andreas, A. T. (1882). "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska". The Kansas Collection. Archived from the original on July 29, 2003. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
5. "Valley County". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
6. "Floodwaters overwhelm whole counties", Kearney Hub . June 14, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
7. Pore, R. "Heavy rains cause Ericson Dam to fail", Grand Island Independent . June 14, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
8. Geake, S. "North Loup Fights Flooding" Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , 1011Now.com. June 14, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
9. Schweitzer, Amy. "North Loup flooded, evacuated". Grand Island Independent. June 12, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
10. Valley County NE Google Maps (accessed 24 January 2019)
11. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
12. Fort Hartstuff State Historical Park Google Maps (accessed 24 January 2019)
13. Scotia Canal State Wildlife Management Area, North Loup NE Google Maps (accessed 24 January 2019)
14. "US Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 12, 2014.
15. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
16. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 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 12, 2014.
18. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
19. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
20. Election Results

41°34′N98°59′W / 41.57°N 98.98°W / 41.57; -98.98