Fort Towson

Phelps County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 8,968.[1] Its county seat is Holdrege.[2] The county was formed in 1873, and was named for William Phelps (1808–1889), a steamboat captain and early settler.[3][4][5][6]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Phelps County is represented by the prefix 37 (it had the 37th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

It is considered part of the Kearney μSA's development and expansion plans.

Geography

Phelps County terrain consists of low rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture, sloping to the east, and dropping off toward the river basin along its northern boundary line. The Platte River flows eastward along the north line.[7][8]

The county has a total area of 540 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 540 square miles (1,400 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.1%) is water.[9]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

  • Atlanta Marsh National Wildlife Management Area[10]
  • Cottonwood Federal Waterfowl Production Area[11]
  • Johnson Federal Waterfowl Production Area[12]
  • Jones Federal Waterfowl Production Area[13]
  • Lake Seldom Wildlife Refuge[14]
  • Lynder Federal Waterfowl Production Area[15]
  • Richardson Lagoon State Wildlife Management Area[16]
  • Sacramento-Wilcox State Wildlife Management Area[17]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18802,447
18909,869303.3%
190010,7729.1%
191010,451−3.0%
19209,900−5.3%
19309,261−6.5%
19408,452−8.7%
19509,0487.1%
19609,8008.3%
19709,553−2.5%
19809,7692.3%
19909,715−0.6%
20009,7470.3%
20109,188−5.7%
20208,968−2.4%
US Decennial Census[18]
1790-1960[19] 1900-1990[20]
1990-2000[21] 2010[22]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[23] there were 9,747 people, 3,844 households, and 2,683 families in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km2). There were 4,191 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.79% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 2.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,844 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 26.50% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,319, and the median income for a family was $44,943. Males had a median income of $28,962 versus $21,741 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,044. About 6.20% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.10% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Politics

Phelps County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Phelps County, Nebraska[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,157 82.79% 752 14.98% 112 2.23%
2016 3,849 81.98% 572 12.18% 274 5.84%
2012 3,400 77.63% 880 20.09% 100 2.28%
2008 3,360 75.12% 1,050 23.47% 63 1.41%
2004 3,872 81.64% 830 17.50% 41 0.86%
2000 3,575 77.26% 934 20.19% 118 2.55%
1996 3,015 65.86% 1,071 23.39% 492 10.75%
1992 2,752 56.13% 830 16.93% 1,321 26.94%
1988 3,316 75.59% 1,047 23.87% 24 0.55%
1984 3,741 83.11% 740 16.44% 20 0.44%
1980 3,465 77.95% 734 16.51% 246 5.53%
1976 3,210 71.19% 1,168 25.90% 131 2.91%
1972 3,356 82.03% 735 17.97% 0 0.00%
1968 2,976 73.39% 825 20.35% 254 6.26%
1964 2,440 53.12% 2,153 46.88% 0 0.00%
1960 3,795 75.19% 1,252 24.81% 0 0.00%
1956 3,502 72.73% 1,313 27.27% 0 0.00%
1952 3,822 77.98% 1,079 22.02% 0 0.00%
1948 2,489 57.83% 1,815 42.17% 0 0.00%
1944 2,460 62.90% 1,451 37.10% 0 0.00%
1940 2,512 57.63% 1,847 42.37% 0 0.00%
1936 1,884 41.96% 2,587 57.62% 19 0.42%
1932 1,709 39.09% 2,589 59.22% 74 1.69%
1928 3,297 77.56% 927 21.81% 27 0.64%
1924 1,928 48.88% 993 25.18% 1,023 25.94%
1920 2,324 61.91% 1,169 31.14% 261 6.95%
1916 971 38.61% 1,425 56.66% 119 4.73%
1912 254 10.56% 972 40.42% 1,179 49.02%
1908 1,445 51.10% 1,238 43.78% 145 5.13%
1904 1,567 67.86% 219 9.48% 523 22.65%
1900 1,202 53.26% 979 43.38% 76 3.37%

See also

References

  1. ^ "Phelps county, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder A. M. "Nebraska Place-Names". University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. 6: 113. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  4. ^ "Bulletin". U.S. Government Printing Office. May 1, 1905 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Phelps County History". phelpsgov.org.
  6. ^ Beatty, Michael A. (May 1, 2001). "County Name Origins of the United States". McFarland – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Google Maps Find Altitude". www.daftlogic.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  8. ^ "Phelps County". Phelps County.
  9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  10. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  11. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  12. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  13. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  14. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  15. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  16. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  17. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  18. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  19. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  20. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  21. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  22. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 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.

40°31′N 99°25′W / 40.51°N 99.41°W / 40.51; -99.41