Douglas County, Nebraska

Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 517,110.[1] It is the state's most populous county, home to over one-fourth of Nebraska's residents. Its county seat is Omaha,[2] the state's largest city. The county was established in 1854 and named after Stephen A. Douglas (1813–1861), Senator from Illinois.[3][4]

Not to be confused with Douglas, Nebraska.
Douglas County
U.S. county
Douglas County Courthouse in Omaha
Seal
Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°18′N 96°09′W
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded23 November 1854
Named forStephen A. Douglas
SeatOmaha
Largest cityOmaha
Area
 • Total339 sq mi (880 km2)
 • Land328 sq mi (850 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  3.2%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
571,327
 • Density1,728/sq mi (667/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.douglascounty-ne.gov

Douglas County is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.[5]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Douglas County was represented by the prefix "1" (as it had the largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922). In 2002, the state discontinued the 1922 system in the three most populous counties: Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy counties.[6]

Geography

Douglas County is 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 runs southward through the west-central part of Douglas County, and it is bordered on east (Missouri River) and west (Platte River) by rivers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 339 square miles (880 km2), of which 328 square miles (850 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (3.2%) is water.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas
  • Bluestem Prairie Preserve[8]
  • Two Rivers State Recreation Area[9]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18604,328—
187019,982361.7%
188037,64588.4%
1890158,008319.7%
1900140,590−11.0%
1910168,54619.9%
1920204,52421.3%
1930232,98213.9%
1940247,5626.3%
1950281,02013.5%
1960343,49022.2%
1970389,45513.4%
1980397,0381.9%
1990416,4444.9%
2000463,58511.3%
2010517,11011.5%
2019 (est.)571,327[10]10.5%
US Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2019[1]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 517,110 people and 206,522 households in the county. The population density was 1,574 people per square mile (978/km2). There were 219,580 housing units at an average density of 669 per square mile (415/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.4% White, 11.6% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.7% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. 11.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30% were of German, 15% Irish, 8.0% English, and 4.9% Italian ancestry.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,878, and the median income for a family was $67,666. Males had a median income of $44,542 versus $35,801 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,092. About 9.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile (541/km2). There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 per square mile (225/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.96% White, 11.50% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.71% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.40% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 6.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.3% were of German, 11.5% Irish and 6.2% English ancestry.

There were 182,194 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.12.

The county population contained 26.60% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,209, and the median income for a family was $54,651. Males had a median income of $36,577 versus $27,265 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,879. About 6.70% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Douglas County is governed by a board of seven county commissioners, elected to staggered[15] four–year terms. County courthouse positions are also elected on a partisan basis. Most of the county's offices are located at the Douglas County Courthouse.

Douglas County Commission
DistrictCommissioner
1Mike Boyle
2James Cavanaugh
3Chris Rodgers (Vice-chair)[16]
4P.J. Morgan
5Marc Kraft
6Mary Ann Borgeson (Chair)[16]
7Clare Duda
Douglas County Officeholders
OfficeOfficeholder
Assessor/Register of DeedsDiane Battiato[17]
County AttorneyDonald Kleine[18]
County Clerk/ComptrollerDan Esch[19]
Clerk of the District CourtJohn Friend
County EngineerTom Doyle
County SheriffTim Dunning
County TreasurerJohn W. Ewing
Public DefenderTom Riley

For much of the time after World War II, Douglas County was one of the more conservative urban counties in the United States. It supported the Republican candidate for president in all but one election from 1952 to 2004. However, it has become a far more competitive county in national elections compared to the rest of the state in the last ten years. Barack Obama won a majority of the county's votes in 2008, becoming the first Democrat to do so since 1964. He also narrowly carried the 2nd congressional district as well, garnering him one electoral vote statewide. It swung back to the Republican column in 2012 with Mitt Romney winning the county by an even closer majority. The county swung back to Democratic hands in 2016 with Hillary Clinton winning a plurality of its votes, but unlike Obama eight years prior she failed to carry the 2nd congressional district. In 2020, Joe Biden won the county by 11 points, a 56-year high for Democrats, and flipped the 2nd district back into the Democratic column.

As of December 2020, Douglas County is one of three counties is Nebraska alongside Thurston and Dakota to have a plurality of registered Democrats.[20]

Registered voters by party in Douglas County on December 1, 2020
Democratic Republican Libertarian Non-Partisan Total
144,119 (38.57%) 132,461 (35.45%) 5,897 (1.58%) 91,203 (24.41%) 373,680 (100%)
Presidential election results
Presidential election results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 43.0% 119,159 54.3% 150,350 2.5% 7,031
2016 45.0% 108,077 47.3% 113,798 7.7% 18,558
2012 50.6% 113,220 47.5% 106,456 1.9% 4,251
2008 46.9% 106,291 51.5% 116,810 1.6% 3,600
2004 58.3% 120,813 40.2% 83,330 1.4% 2,928
2000 55.2% 101,025 40.1% 73,347 4.8% 8,784
1996 51.4% 92,334 39.3% 70,708 9.3% 16,679
1992 46.7% 93,512 33.5% 67,097 19.8% 39,512
1988 56.3% 99,916 43.1% 76,541 0.6% 1,108
1984 65.3% 112,676 34.2% 58,979 0.6% 1,003
1980 59.1% 96,908 31.5% 51,668 9.4% 15,354
1976 58.7% 93,204 39.0% 61,877 2.3% 3,626
1972 67.8% 101,579 32.2% 48,201
1968 50.9% 69,808 37.6% 51,617 11.5% 15,739
1964 44.3% 61,613 55.7% 77,480
1960 52.9% 72,005 47.1% 64,060
1956 59.4% 73,270 40.6% 50,110
1952 56.2% 71,457 43.8% 55,591
1948 48.9% 47,175 51.1% 49,258
1944 45.6% 53,443 54.4% 63,762
1940 44.4% 53,325 55.6% 66,840
1936 33.0% 35,349 65.6% 70,245 1.4% 1,482
1932 35.8% 33,938 62.6% 59,347 1.6% 1,483
1928 52.6% 47,551 46.8% 42,267 0.7% 587
1924 45.0% 29,390 28.6% 18,672 26.4% 17,278
1920 57.8% 28,543 37.3% 18,439 4.9% 2,393
1916 35.1% 14,557 59.8% 24,796 5.0% 2,084
1912 21.1% 6,185 44.1% 12,908 34.8% 10,189
1908 45.8% 14,066 50.7% 15,583 3.5% 1,064
1904 57.9% 15,248 25.9% 6,831 16.2% 4,270
1900 50.9% 14,266 47.2% 13,241 1.9% 530
1896 49.9% 12,326 47.6% 11,755 2.4% 596
1892 48.2% 10,702 13.1% 2,904 38.6% 8,566
1888 47.5% 10,237 50.1% 10,810 2.2% 493
1884 51.6% 4,894 47.6% 4,516 0.7% 73
1880 55.8% 3,290 40.8% 2,407 3.2% 192

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 31 May 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  3. About Douglas County: History. DC website.
  4. Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 55. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  5. US OMB. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
  6. "History Of Nebraska Passenger Vehicle License Plates". Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  8. Bluestem Prairie Preserve, Omaha NE Google Maps (accessed 20 January 2019)
  9. Two Rivers State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 20 January 2019)
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  11. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  15. "Board members are elected to four-year terms, staggered, with three or four members elected every two years."
  16. Douglas County Commissioners. (10 January 2017). Board of County Commissioners. Retrieved from
  17. "Kelly: Diane Battiato was made to measure for county post". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  18. "Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine switches to GOP after Democrats' critical resolution". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  19. "Home - Douglas County Clerk/Comptroller". Douglas County. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  20. "2020 Eligible Voter Statistics" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. December 1, 2020.
  21. Election Results
  22. Green Meadows NE Google Maps (accessed 20 January 2019)

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