Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska

Scotts Bluff County is a county on the western border of the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 36,970.[1] Its county seat is Gering,[2] and its largest city is Scottsbluff.

Scotts Bluff County
U.S. county
Scotts Bluff County Courthouse in Gering
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°51′N 103°43′W
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1888
Named forScotts Bluff
SeatGering
Largest cityScottsbluff
Area
 • Total745 sq mi (1,930 km2)
 • Land739 sq mi (1,910 km2)
 • Water6.0 sq mi (16 km2)  0.8%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
35,989
 • Density49.2/sq mi (19.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.scottsbluffcounty.org

Scotts Bluff County is included in the Scottsbluff, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Scotts Bluff County is represented by the prefix 21, since the county had the twenty-first-largest number of registered vehicles registered when the state's license-plate system was established in 1922.

History

The county is named for a prominent bluff that served as a landmark for 19th-century pioneers traveling along the Oregon Trail. Scotts Bluff was named for Hiram Scott, a Rocky Mountain Fur Company trapper who died nearby around 1828.[3] Washington Irving claimed that, after being injured and abandoned, Scott had crawled sixty miles only to perish near the bluff that now bears his name.[4] The bluff is now managed by the National Park Service as Scotts Bluff National Monument.

The town of Gering was founded at the base of the bluff in 1887, and the city of Scottsbluff was founded across the North Platte River in 1900. Joined by the river, the former transportation highway, the two cities now form Nebraska's 7th-largest urban area.

Transportation

Scotts Bluff County Airport (BFF) is Nebraska's third-busiest airport in terms of passenger boardings.

Geography

Scotts Bluff County is on the west side of Nebraska. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of Wyoming. The North Platte River flows east-southeastward through the upper central part of the county. The county's terrain consists of arid rolling hills, about half of which is dedicated to agriculture. The county's lands slope to the east-southeast.[5][6]

The county has an area of 745 square miles (1,930 km2), of which 739 square miles (1,910 km2) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km2) (0.8%) is water.[7]

Road map of Scotts Bluff County

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18901,888—
19002,55235.2%
19108,355227.4%
192020,710147.9%
193028,64438.3%
194033,91718.4%
195033,9390.1%
196033,809−0.4%
197036,4327.8%
198038,3445.2%
199036,025−6.0%
200036,9512.6%
201036,9700.1%
2018 (est.)35,989[11]−2.7%
US Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[16] there were 36,951 people, 14,887 households, and 10,167 families in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19/km2). There were 16,119 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.58% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 1.88% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 8.02% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. 17.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.5% were of German, 8.6% English and 6.8% Irish ancestry.

There were 14,887 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

The county population contained 25.90% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,016, and the median income for a family was $38,932. Males had a median income of $30,317 versus $20,717 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,355. About 11.00% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.00% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The economy of Scotts Bluff County is based on agriculture, with the primary crops being sugar beets, corn, and beans.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Scotts Bluff 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).

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 70.6% 10,952 27.0% 4,196 2.4% 376
2016 70.4% 10,076 22.4% 3,207 7.2% 1,034
2012 67.5% 9,648 30.3% 4,327 2.2% 312
2008 65.9% 9,708 32.2% 4,745 1.9% 277
2004 72.1% 10,378 26.7% 3,843 1.2% 169
2000 67.9% 9,397 28.5% 3,937 3.7% 505
1996 56.4% 7,641 33.6% 4,547 10.0% 1,353
1992 48.2% 7,213 27.9% 4,175 23.8% 3,563
1988 65.4% 8,613 33.9% 4,464 0.7% 94
1984 77.2% 10,711 22.2% 3,074 0.7% 93
1980 71.7% 9,504 21.5% 2,854 6.7% 891
1976 60.1% 6,887 37.5% 4,298 2.5% 283
1972 75.8% 8,649 24.2% 2,764
1968 67.2% 7,356 24.2% 2,649 8.6% 946
1964 52.2% 6,965 47.8% 6,368
1960 60.7% 8,728 39.3% 5,646
1956 63.1% 8,027 36.9% 4,690
1952 72.9% 9,674 27.1% 3,589
1948 55.2% 5,409 44.8% 4,386
1944 65.1% 6,947 35.0% 3,733
1940 64.2% 7,989 35.8% 4,455
1936 40.5% 4,051 57.7% 5,768 1.8% 177
1932 45.6% 4,108 53.2% 4,792 1.2% 111
1928 81.8% 6,677 17.2% 1,403 1.1% 87
1924 62.3% 3,410 20.7% 1,132 17.0% 932
1920 71.5% 3,189 21.7% 969 6.8% 301
1916 39.0% 1,144 54.1% 1,587 7.0% 204
1912 18.2% 314 28.7% 495 53.2% 918
1908 54.8% 789 38.1% 549 7.2% 103
1904 67.9% 530 13.2% 103 19.0% 148
1900 56.7% 400 39.1% 276 4.3% 30

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  3. "The Life and Legend of Hiram Scott". National Park Service. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  4. Washington, Irving (1837). The Adventures of Captain Bonneville. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  5. Scotts Bluff County NE Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
  6. "Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  8. Kiowa State Wildlife Management Area, Morrill NE Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
  9. Lake Minatare State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
  10. Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
  11. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 26, 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. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  16. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  17. Election Results

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.