York County, Nebraska

York County
County
County of York
York County Courthouse in York
Interactive map of York County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Established	March 16, 1855
Organized	April 26, 1870
County seat	York
Largest city	York
Area
• Total	576 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Land	573 sq mi (1,480 km2)
• Water	3.3 sq mi (9 km2)  0.6%
Highest elevation	1,598 ft (487 m)
Lowest elevation	1,066 ft (325 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,125
• Density	25/sq mi (9.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	402/531
FIPS code	31185
GNIS feature ID	835914
Website	www.yorkcounty.ne.gov

York County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 14,125. ^[1] Its county seat is York. ^[2]

In the Nebraska license plate system, York County is represented by the prefix 17 (it had the seventeenth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

York County was organized in 1870. Sources differ on the origin of the county's name: some state it was named after York in England, while others maintain it was named by early settlers from York County, Pennsylvania. ^[3]

Geography

The terrain of York County consists of rolling prairie, mostly devoted to agriculture. The ground slopes toward the Platte River, to the northwest. The county has a total area of 576 square miles (1,490 km²), of which 573 square miles (1,480 km²) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) (0.6%) is water. ^[4]

Major highways

• Interstate 80
• U.S. Highway 34
• U.S. Highway 81
• Nebraska Highway 69

Adjacent counties

• Butler County – northeast
• Seward County – east
• Saline County – southeast
• Fillmore County – south
• Clay County - southwest
• Hamilton County – west
• Polk County – north

Protected areas

• Kirkpatrick Basin North State Wildlife Area ^[5]
• Kirkpatrick Basin South State Wildlife Area ^[6]
• Renquist Basin State Wildlife Management Area ^[7]
• Waco Waterfowl Production Area ^[8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	604		—
1880	11,170		1,749.3%
1890	17,279		54.7%
1900	18,205		5.4%
1910	18,721		2.8%
1920	17,146		−8.4%
1930	17,239		0.5%
1940	14,874		−13.7%
1950	14,346		−3.5%
1960	13,724		−4.3%
1970	13,685		−0.3%
1980	14,798		8.1%
1990	14,428		−2.5%
2000	14,598		1.2%
2010	13,665		−6.4%
2020	14,125		3.4%
US Decennial Census [9] 1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11] 1990-2000 [12] 2010 [13]

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[14] there were 14,598 people, 5,722 households, and 3,931 families in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (9.7 people/km²). There were 6,172 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.78% White, 0.96% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.0% were of German, 8.2% Irish, 7.2% English and 5.1% Swedish ancestry.

There were 5,722 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.

The county population contained 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,093, and the median income for a family was $44,741. Males had a median income of $30,658 versus $19,874 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,670. About 6.00% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Henderson
• York (county seat)

Villages

• Benedict
• Bradshaw
• Gresham
• Lushton
• McCool Junction
• Thayer
• Waco

Former Communities

• Charlestown
• Houston

Government

The County Board of Commissioners is the executive and legislative authority of the county. ^[15]

Politics

York County voters have traditionally been strong Republicans. In only one national election since 1916 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

United States presidential election results for York County, Nebraska ^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,234	74.56%	1,648	23.48%	138	1.97%
2020	5,337	74.53%	1,630	22.76%	194	2.71%
2016	4,700	73.66%	1,186	18.59%	495	7.76%
2012	4,874	76.70%	1,373	21.61%	108	1.70%
2008	4,848	73.81%	1,607	24.47%	113	1.72%
2004	5,393	79.34%	1,304	19.18%	100	1.47%
2000	4,816	74.55%	1,407	21.78%	237	3.67%
1996	4,266	65.56%	1,653	25.40%	588	9.04%
1992	3,783	53.94%	1,385	19.75%	1,845	26.31%
1988	4,765	72.78%	1,751	26.75%	31	0.47%
1984	5,147	82.08%	1,124	17.92%	0	0.00%
1980	5,089	76.71%	1,131	17.05%	414	6.24%
1976	4,223	69.62%	1,665	27.45%	178	2.93%
1972	4,651	77.92%	1,318	22.08%	0	0.00%
1968	3,923	72.39%	1,237	22.83%	259	4.78%
1964	3,410	54.63%	2,832	45.37%	0	0.00%
1960	5,205	74.69%	1,764	25.31%	0	0.00%
1956	5,065	76.35%	1,569	23.65%	0	0.00%
1952	5,742	79.64%	1,468	20.36%	0	0.00%
1948	3,960	65.44%	2,091	34.56%	0	0.00%
1944	4,885	72.99%	1,808	27.01%	0	0.00%
1940	5,322	70.75%	2,200	29.25%	0	0.00%
1936	4,554	54.12%	3,741	44.46%	120	1.43%
1932	3,573	47.14%	3,920	51.72%	86	1.13%
1928	5,769	74.16%	1,979	25.44%	31	0.40%
1924	4,110	58.66%	1,778	25.37%	1,119	15.97%
1920	4,265	66.87%	1,857	29.12%	256	4.01%
1916	2,011	46.22%	2,206	50.70%	134	3.08%
1912	962	23.40%	1,886	45.88%	1,263	30.72%
1908	2,209	50.39%	2,042	46.58%	133	3.03%
1904	2,529	64.16%	754	19.13%	659	16.72%
1900	2,207	53.05%	1,871	44.98%	82	1.97%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in York County, Nebraska
• York News-Times

References

1. "York County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 24, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Perkey, Elton A. Perkey's Nebraska Place Names. Revised edition, 2003. Nebraska State Historical Society. p. 191.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
5. Kirkpatrick Basin North State Wildlife Management Area, York NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
6. Kirkpatrick Basin South State Wildlife Management Area, Henderson NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
7. Renquist Basin State Wildlife Management Area, Bradshaw NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
8. Waco Waterfowl Production Area, Waco NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
12. "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.
13. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
14. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
15. "Board of Commissioners". Archived October 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine York County, Nebraska. Archived June 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
16. Election Results

40°52′N97°36′W / 40.87°N 97.60°W / 40.87; -97.60