Valley County, Nebraska | |
|---|---|
 Valley County Courthouse in Ord | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNebraska | |
| Coordinates:41°34′N98°59′W / 41.57°N 98.98°W /41.57; -98.98 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nebraska |
| Founded | 1871 (formed) 1873 (organized) |
| Seat | Ord |
| Largest city | Ord |
| Area | |
• Total | 570 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| • Land | 568 sq mi (1,470 km2) |
| • Water | 2.4 sq mi (6.2 km2) 0.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,059 |
| • Density | 7.15/sq mi (2.76/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Valley County is acounty in theU.S. state ofNebraska. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 4,059.[1] Itscounty seat isOrd.[2]
In theNebraska license plate system, Valley County is represented by the prefix 47 (it had the 47th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
Valley County was formed in 1871 and organized in 1873.[3][4] Its name derives from the local terrain: much of the county consists of valley land lying between theNorth and Middle Loup Rivers.[5]
On June 12, 2010, the privately owned Bredthauer Dam broke due to heavy rain, flooding rural Valley County and the village ofNorth Loup.[6][7] Major flooding occurred in the village, with water "eight inches deep and running down Main Street."[8] North Loup was evacuated for the flood's duration.[9]
TheNorth Loup River flows southeastward through the upper portion of the county, while the Middle Loup River runs southeastward through the lower portion. The terrain consists of rolling hills. The flat river valleys are largely dedicated to agriculture, with somecenter pivot irrigation employed.[10] The county has an area of 570 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 568 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) (0.4%) is water.[11]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 2,324 | — | |
| 1890 | 7,092 | 205.2% | |
| 1900 | 7,339 | 3.5% | |
| 1910 | 9,480 | 29.2% | |
| 1920 | 9,823 | 3.6% | |
| 1930 | 9,533 | −3.0% | |
| 1940 | 8,163 | −14.4% | |
| 1950 | 7,252 | −11.2% | |
| 1960 | 6,590 | −9.1% | |
| 1970 | 5,783 | −12.2% | |
| 1980 | 5,633 | −2.6% | |
| 1990 | 5,169 | −8.2% | |
| 2000 | 4,647 | −10.1% | |
| 2010 | 4,260 | −8.3% | |
| 2020 | 4,059 | −4.7% | |
| US Decennial Census[14] 1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16] 1990-2000[17] 2010[18] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 4,059. The median age was 44.9 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.1 males age 18 and over.[19][20]
The racial makeup of the county was 95.2% White, 0.4%Black or African American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Asian, 0.2%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 2.6% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.9% of the population.[20]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[21]
There were 1,806 households in the county, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[19]
There were 2,104 housing units, of which 14.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.5% were owner-occupied and 27.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.4%.[19]
As of the2000 United States census,[22] there were 4,647 people, 1,965 households, and 1,298 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km2). There were 2,273 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5/km2).
The racial makeup of the county was 98.15%White, 0.15%Black orAfrican American, 0.32%Native American, 0.11%Asian, 0.06%Pacific Islander, 0.80% fromother races, and 0.41% from two or more races. 1.61% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 1,965 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% weremarried couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 31.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.
The county population contained 24.70% under the age of 18, 4.80% from 18 to 24, 22.60% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,926, and the median income for a family was $35,571. Males had a median income of $25,224 versus $17,217 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,996. About 10.10% of families and 12.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.
Valley County voters are strongly Republican. In only one national election since 1916 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1900 | 810 | 47.40% | 864 | 50.56% | 35 | 2.05% |
| 1904 | 1,133 | 63.94% | 219 | 12.36% | 420 | 23.70% |
| 1908 | 1,040 | 48.46% | 1,045 | 48.70% | 61 | 2.84% |
| 1912 | 552 | 26.73% | 788 | 38.16% | 725 | 35.11% |
| 1916 | 840 | 36.44% | 1,388 | 60.22% | 77 | 3.34% |
| 1920 | 1,935 | 64.80% | 912 | 30.54% | 139 | 4.66% |
| 1924 | 2,014 | 55.04% | 802 | 21.92% | 843 | 23.04% |
| 1928 | 2,768 | 69.27% | 1,205 | 30.16% | 23 | 0.58% |
| 1932 | 1,584 | 39.04% | 2,400 | 59.16% | 73 | 1.80% |
| 1936 | 2,033 | 49.65% | 1,960 | 47.86% | 102 | 2.49% |
| 1940 | 2,449 | 60.63% | 1,590 | 39.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 2,096 | 58.70% | 1,475 | 41.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,670 | 54.66% | 1,385 | 45.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 2,630 | 71.92% | 1,027 | 28.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,189 | 66.78% | 1,089 | 33.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,045 | 62.10% | 1,248 | 37.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,657 | 51.75% | 1,545 | 48.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,759 | 64.41% | 793 | 29.04% | 179 | 6.55% |
| 1972 | 2,011 | 72.29% | 771 | 27.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,587 | 57.31% | 1,042 | 37.63% | 140 | 5.06% |
| 1980 | 2,101 | 71.73% | 655 | 22.36% | 173 | 5.91% |
| 1984 | 2,055 | 73.21% | 739 | 26.33% | 13 | 0.46% |
| 1988 | 1,604 | 64.08% | 873 | 34.88% | 26 | 1.04% |
| 1992 | 1,173 | 45.29% | 716 | 27.64% | 701 | 27.07% |
| 1996 | 1,346 | 56.27% | 758 | 31.69% | 288 | 12.04% |
| 2000 | 1,610 | 71.14% | 583 | 25.76% | 70 | 3.09% |
| 2004 | 1,801 | 75.32% | 564 | 23.59% | 26 | 1.09% |
| 2008 | 1,657 | 68.39% | 706 | 29.14% | 60 | 2.48% |
| 2012 | 1,657 | 75.49% | 498 | 22.69% | 40 | 1.82% |
| 2016 | 1,780 | 80.73% | 339 | 15.37% | 86 | 3.90% |
| 2020 | 1,901 | 81.10% | 412 | 17.58% | 31 | 1.32% |
| 2024 | 1,872 | 81.36% | 403 | 17.51% | 26 | 1.13% |
Places adjacent to Valley County, Nebraska | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofValley County, Nebraska,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
41°34′N98°59′W / 41.57°N 98.98°W /41.57; -98.98
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| National | |
| Other | |
