Washington County, Nebraska

Washington County
County
Washington County Courthouse in Blair
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°32′N96°13′W / 41.53°N 96.22°W / 41.53; -96.22
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1854 (created) 1855 (reorganized)
Named for	George Washington [1]
Seat	Blair
Largest city	Blair
Area
• Total	393 sq mi (1,020 km2)
• Land	390 sq mi (1,000 km2)
• Water	3.2 sq mi (8 km2)  0.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,865
• Estimate  (2023)	21,152
• Density	53/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.co.washington.ne.us

Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 20,865. ^[2] Its county seat is Blair. ^[3] Washington County is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metropolitan Statistical Area. ^[4] In the Nebraska license plate system, Washington County is represented by the prefix 29 (it had the 29th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Washington County is in eastern Nebraska on the Missouri River. It was explored by Europeans as early as 1739 by Pierre Antoine and Paul Mallet, ^[5] who were on a trapping expedition to Canada. In 1804, Lewis and Clark reported the establishment of the new United States government to a council of Indian chiefs near the present site of Fort Calhoun. As a result of this council, Fort Atkinson was established in 1819 and served as a key midwestern outpost until 1827.

The first permanent settlement in Washington County was in 1854. In that same year, the county was organized as one of the eight original counties proclaimed by acting Governor Thomas B. Cuming; ^[6] it was reorganized in 1855. ^{[7] [8] [9]} The county seat has been in three different towns: Fort Calhoun, DeSoto, and Blair, its present site since 1869. ^[10]

The Fort Calhoun Nuclear Generating Station south of Blair, which was North America's smallest commercial nuclear reactor by rated capacity, was closed in October 2016 to begin decommissioning. ^[11] An associated system of warning sirens was located in the southeastern part of the county for emergency notification in the event of a problem at the station. ^[12]

An Atlas missile launch site (Site B), formerly associated with Offutt Air Force Base and deactivated in the 1960s, lies east of Arlington. ^{[13] [14]}

Geography

Washington County lies on the east side of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Iowa, across the Missouri River. The Elkhorn River flows southeastward along the county's southwest border, and a smaller drainage, the Little Papillon River, flows southward through the center part of the county, discharging into Glenn Cunningham Reservoir south of the county. The county's terrain consists of low rolling hills sloping to the east, with several drainage channels eroded into its eastern portion sloping down to the river. The county's planar areas are largely devoted to agriculture. ^[15] The county has an area of 393 square miles (1,020 km²), of which 390 square miles (1,000 km²) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) (0.8%) is water. ^[16] It is Nebraska's fifth-smallest county by area.

Adjacent counties

• Burt County - north
• Harrison County, Iowa - northeast
• Pottawattamie County, Iowa - southeast
• Douglas County - south
• Dodge County - west

Protected areas

• Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge
• DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Fort Atkinson State Historical Park
• Neale Woods Nature Center (partial) ^[17]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	1,249		—
1870	4,452		256.4%
1880	8,631		93.9%
1890	11,869		37.5%
1900	13,086		10.3%
1910	12,738		−2.7%
1920	12,180		−4.4%
1930	12,095		−0.7%
1940	11,578		−4.3%
1950	11,511		−0.6%
1960	12,103		5.1%
1970	13,310		10.0%
1980	15,508		16.5%
1990	16,607		7.1%
2000	18,780		13.1%
2010	20,234		7.7%
2020	20,865		3.1%
2023 (est.)	21,152		1.4%
US Decennial Census [18] 1790-1960 [19] 1900-1990 [20] 1990-2000 [21] 2010 [22]

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 20,865 people and 8,234 households in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 96.3% White, 1% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.6% from two or more races. 3.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 93.6% of the county was Non-Hispanic White.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,234 people and 8,022 households in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 97.1% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from two or more races. 3.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 94.4% of the county was Non-Hispanic White.

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[23] there were 18,780 people, 6,940 households, and 5,149 families in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile (19 people/km²). There were 7,408 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.12% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.1% were of German, 11.9% Danish, 9.0% Irish, 7.8% American and 7.0% English ancestry.

There were 6,940 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.00% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.09.

The county population contained 27.10% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,500, and the median income for a family was $56,429. Males had a median income of $36,901 versus $25,893 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,055. About 4.10% of families and 6.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.00% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 30
• U.S. Highway 75
• Nebraska Highway 31
• Nebraska Highway 91
• Nebraska Highway 133

Airports

Washington County contains Blair Municipal Airport, and several small privately owned grass airstrips, such as the Orum Aerodrome. There is also a helipad at the Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

Communities

Washington County

Cities

• Blair (county seat)
• Fort Calhoun

Villages

• Arlington
• Herman
• Kennard
• Washington

Census-designated place

• Fontanelle

Unincorporated communities

• De Soto
• Nashville
• Orum
• Spiker
• Telbasta

Precincts

• Fort Calhoun
• Richland
• Herman
• Township 6
• Arlington

Politics

Between 1900 and 1936, Washington County was a bellwether county, voting for the winner of the nationwide presidential election until Wendell Willkie won it despite losing nationwide. However, as is the case in most rural counties throughout Nebraska and the rest of America, the county's voters have since become reliably Republican from 1940 onward. As of 2020, in only one presidential election since 1936, that being Lyndon Johnon's narrow victory in 1964, has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate, and even he was only able to win it by a single point. President Donald Trump received 70% of the county's vote in the most recent presidential race, in 2024.

United States presidential election results for Washington County, Nebraska ^[24]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	8,855	70.24%	3,538	28.06%	214	1.70%
2020	8,583	68.85%	3,554	28.51%	330	2.65%
2016	7,424	68.54%	2,623	24.22%	785	7.25%
2012	6,899	67.33%	3,132	30.57%	215	2.10%
2008	6,425	62.26%	3,711	35.96%	184	1.78%
2004	7,083	71.19%	2,754	27.68%	113	1.14%
2000	5,758	66.75%	2,550	29.56%	318	3.69%
1996	4,391	57.03%	2,248	29.19%	1,061	13.78%
1992	4,042	48.47%	2,116	25.37%	2,182	26.16%
1988	4,587	63.80%	2,567	35.70%	36	0.50%
1984	5,191	76.44%	1,565	23.05%	35	0.52%
1980	4,570	70.71%	1,454	22.50%	439	6.79%
1976	3,799	62.17%	2,233	36.54%	79	1.29%
1972	4,290	75.38%	1,401	24.62%	0	0.00%
1968	3,063	63.36%	1,279	26.46%	492	10.18%
1964	2,638	49.41%	2,701	50.59%	0	0.00%
1960	3,772	69.01%	1,694	30.99%	0	0.00%
1956	3,531	67.10%	1,731	32.90%	0	0.00%
1952	3,770	69.11%	1,685	30.89%	0	0.00%
1948	2,400	55.74%	1,906	44.26%	0	0.00%
1944	2,844	55.57%	2,274	44.43%	0	0.00%
1940	2,922	52.57%	2,636	47.43%	0	0.00%
1936	2,263	39.47%	3,426	59.75%	45	0.78%
1932	1,382	26.80%	3,709	71.92%	66	1.28%
1928	2,750	58.71%	1,912	40.82%	22	0.47%
1924	1,876	45.16%	1,231	29.63%	1,047	25.20%
1920	2,409	63.60%	1,295	34.19%	84	2.22%
1916	1,297	43.97%	1,555	52.71%	98	3.32%
1912	599	21.44%	1,180	42.23%	1,015	36.33%
1908	1,592	50.85%	1,460	46.63%	79	2.52%
1904	1,868	64.39%	795	27.40%	238	8.20%
1900	1,741	54.39%	1,412	44.11%	48	1.50%

See also

• Washington County Historical Association
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Nebraska

References

1. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 136.
2. "Washington County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 24, 2023.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. United States Office of Management and Budget. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
5. The Nebraska Blue Book and Historical Register. Legislative Reference Bureau. 1920. p. 13.
6. Johnson, Harrison (1880). Johnson's History of Nebraska. H. Gibson. p.  42.
7. Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 142. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
8. Andreas, A. T. (1882). "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska". The Kansas Collection. Archived from the original on May 7, 2003. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
9. "Washington County". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
10. Buss, William Henry; Osterman, Thomas T. (1921). History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and Their People. American Historical Society. p.  323.
11. Fort Calhoun decommissioning is underway
12. Region 5/6 Newsletter
13. "[CPEO-MEF] FUDS: Atlas missile site, Arlington, NE". www.cpeo.org.
14. "Atlas Missile Site B".
15. "Washington County · Nebraska". Washington County · Nebraska.
16. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
17. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
18. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
19. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
20. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
21. "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.
22. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
23. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
24. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

41°32′N96°13′W / 41.53°N 96.22°W / 41.53; -96.22