Fort Towson

Platte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 34,296.[1] Its county seat is Columbus.[2] The county was created in 1855.[3][4]

Platte County comprises the Columbus, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Platte County is represented by the prefix 10 (it had the 10th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Platte County was officially established in 1856 and the board of commissioners had its first meeting the following year.[5]

Platte County had its first presumptive case of COVID-19 in late March 2020.[6] As of Oct. 3, 2021, one in seven residents of the county have tested positive for COVID-19[7] and 40% of all residents are vaccinated.[8]

Geography

The Platte River flows eastward along the south line of Platte County. The Loup River also flows eastward and east-southeastward through the lower section of the county, discharging into the Platte River near Columbus. The Platte County terrain consists of low rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture, sloping to the east-southeast.[9]

The county has an area of 685 square miles (1,770 km2), of which 674 square miles (1,750 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.5%) is water.[10]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

  • George Syas State Wildlife Management Area[11]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860782
18701,899142.8%
18809,511400.8%
189015,43762.3%
190017,74715.0%
191019,0067.1%
192019,4642.4%
193021,1818.8%
194020,191−4.7%
195019,910−1.4%
196023,99220.5%
197026,50810.5%
198028,8528.8%
199029,8203.4%
200031,6626.2%
201032,2361.8%
202034,2966.4%
US Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010[16]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[17] there were 31,662 people, 12,076 households, and 8,465 families in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile (18 people/km2). There were 12,916 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.29% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.49% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 6.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,076 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 29.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,359, and the median income for a family was $47,776. Males had a median income of $30,672 versus $21,842 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,064. About 5.40% of families and 7.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Townships

Notable people

Politics

Platte County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only one election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Platte County, Nebraska[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 12,186 77.51% 3,260 20.74% 275 1.75%
2016 10,965 75.97% 2,646 18.33% 822 5.70%
2012 10,061 74.68% 3,148 23.37% 264 1.96%
2008 9,373 69.84% 3,796 28.29% 251 1.87%
2004 11,130 79.57% 2,657 19.00% 200 1.43%
2000 9,861 76.69% 2,612 20.31% 386 3.00%
1996 7,948 64.11% 3,010 24.28% 1,440 11.61%
1992 7,736 55.75% 2,424 17.47% 3,717 26.79%
1988 9,040 72.93% 3,285 26.50% 71 0.57%
1984 10,069 82.38% 2,061 16.86% 92 0.75%
1980 8,803 73.51% 2,389 19.95% 783 6.54%
1976 7,217 64.56% 3,693 33.04% 269 2.41%
1972 7,871 73.38% 2,855 26.62% 0 0.00%
1968 5,817 60.69% 2,999 31.29% 768 8.01%
1964 4,705 47.69% 5,160 52.31% 0 0.00%
1960 6,129 58.28% 4,387 41.72% 0 0.00%
1956 6,574 69.23% 2,922 30.77% 0 0.00%
1952 6,695 71.68% 2,645 28.32% 0 0.00%
1948 3,812 53.47% 3,317 46.53% 0 0.00%
1944 4,509 56.67% 3,448 43.33% 0 0.00%
1940 4,929 56.07% 3,862 43.93% 0 0.00%
1936 2,850 29.96% 6,249 65.70% 413 4.34%
1932 1,864 21.61% 6,691 77.56% 72 0.83%
1928 3,435 41.84% 4,748 57.83% 27 0.33%
1924 2,108 30.70% 2,173 31.64% 2,586 37.66%
1920 4,058 73.88% 1,367 24.89% 68 1.24%
1916 1,918 43.54% 2,412 54.76% 75 1.70%
1912 589 15.18% 2,015 51.93% 1,276 32.89%
1908 1,584 38.21% 2,487 59.99% 75 1.81%
1904 1,947 52.64% 1,511 40.85% 241 6.52%
1900 1,608 42.56% 2,117 56.03% 53 1.40%

See also

References

  1. ^ "Platte County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Platte County, Nebraska" (PDF). Nebraska State Historical Society. July 1996. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska". The Kansas Collection. Archived from the original on May 10, 2003. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  5. ^ "Nebraska State Genealogical Society - Platte County". nsgs.org. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  6. ^ STAFF, TELEGRAM. "Platte County has its first presumptive case of COVID-19". Columbus Telegram. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "Platte County, Nebraska Covid Case and Risk Tracker". The New York Times. January 27, 2021. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "See How Vaccinations Are Going in Your County and State". The New York Times. December 17, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  9. ^ Platte County NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  11. ^ George Syas State Wildlife Management Area, Columbus NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)
  12. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  15. ^ "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 11, 2014.
  16. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  18. ^ "James Keogh; Time Editor, Nixon Staffer". The Washington Post. May 15, 2006. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  19. ^ Election Results

41°34′N 97°32′W / 41.57°N 97.53°W / 41.57; -97.53