Howard County, Nebraska

Coordinates: 41°13′N 98°31′W / 41.22°N 98.52°W / 41.22; -98.52
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Howard County
County
Howard County Courthouse in St. Paul
Howard County Courthouse in St. Paul
Map of Nebraska highlighting Howard County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Map of the United States highlighting Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°13′N 98°31′W / 41.22°N 98.52°W / 41.22; -98.52
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1871
Named forOliver O. Howard
SeatSt. Paul
Largest citySt. Paul
Area
 • Total576 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land569 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Water6.3 sq mi (16 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total6,475
 • Density11/sq mi (4.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.howardcounty.ne.gov

Howard County is a county in the state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 6,475.[1] Its county seat is St. Paul.[2] The county was formed in 1871 and named after Civil War General Oliver Otis Howard.[3]

Howard County is part of the Grand Island, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Howard County is represented by the prefix 49 (it had the 49th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography[edit]

The terrain of Howard consists of low rolling hills. The leveled hilltops are mostly used for agriculture. The Upper Loup River flows southeastward into the county near its NW corner, turning eastward to flow toward its junction with Middle Loup River. The Middle Loup River flows northeastward into the county near its SW corner, turning north to join with the Upper Loup River near the county midpoint to form the Loup River, flowing eastward into Merrick County. The county has a total area of 576 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 569 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km2) (1.1%) is water.[4]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Protected areas[edit]

  • Loup Junction State Wildlife Management Area[5]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18804,391—
18909,430114.8%
190010,3439.7%
191010,7834.3%
192010,739−0.4%
193010,020−6.7%
19408,422−15.9%
19507,226−14.2%
19606,541−9.5%
19706,8074.1%
19806,773−0.5%
19906,057−10.6%
20006,5678.4%
20106,274−4.5%
20206,4753.2%
US Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010[10]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[11] there were 6,567 people, 2,546 households, and 1,797 families in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km2). There were 2,782 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.69% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,546 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.09.

The county population contained 28.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,305, and the median income for a family was $40,259. Males had a median income of $27,270 versus $19,587 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,535. About 8.50% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.30% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[edit]

City[edit]

Villages[edit]

Census-designated place[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Politics[edit]

Howard County voters have usually voted Republican for several decades. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Howard County, Nebraska[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,786 79.35% 648 18.46% 77 2.19%
2016 2,284 76.29% 544 18.17% 166 5.54%
2012 1,890 65.85% 914 31.85% 66 2.30%
2008 1,847 61.65% 1,083 36.15% 66 2.20%
2004 2,020 67.81% 900 30.21% 59 1.98%
2000 1,760 62.26% 955 33.78% 112 3.96%
1996 1,294 50.10% 853 33.02% 436 16.88%
1992 1,138 39.65% 778 27.11% 954 33.24%
1988 1,526 55.63% 1,186 43.24% 31 1.13%
1984 1,899 67.68% 887 31.61% 20 0.71%
1980 1,971 66.36% 789 26.57% 210 7.07%
1976 1,362 49.78% 1,316 48.10% 58 2.12%
1972 1,691 64.15% 945 35.85% 0 0.00%
1968 1,256 51.37% 1,003 41.02% 186 7.61%
1964 1,019 33.48% 2,025 66.52% 0 0.00%
1960 1,676 52.47% 1,518 47.53% 0 0.00%
1956 1,701 54.00% 1,449 46.00% 0 0.00%
1952 2,115 59.23% 1,456 40.77% 0 0.00%
1948 1,133 37.44% 1,893 62.56% 0 0.00%
1944 1,556 43.25% 2,042 56.75% 0 0.00%
1940 1,696 43.11% 2,238 56.89% 0 0.00%
1936 1,223 27.21% 3,148 70.05% 123 2.74%
1932 734 17.05% 3,409 79.17% 163 3.79%
1928 1,937 46.60% 2,197 52.85% 23 0.55%
1924 1,091 31.58% 1,434 41.51% 930 26.92%
1920 1,508 50.76% 1,311 44.13% 152 5.12%
1916 698 28.08% 1,695 68.18% 93 3.74%
1912 431 19.57% 1,118 50.77% 653 29.65%
1908 977 39.35% 1,435 57.79% 71 2.86%
1904 1,259 56.97% 476 21.54% 475 21.49%
1900 908 40.48% 1,283 57.20% 52 2.32%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Howard County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Howard County". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  5. ^ Loup Junction State Wildlife Management Area, St Paul NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
  6. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  9. ^ "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 8, 2014.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ Election Results

41°13′N 98°31′W / 41.22°N 98.52°W / 41.22; -98.52

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