Dawes County, Nebraska | |
|---|---|
 Dawes County Courthouse in Chadron | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNebraska | |
| Coordinates:42°43′N103°08′W / 42.71°N 103.14°W /42.71; -103.14 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nebraska |
| Founded | February 19, 1885 |
| Named after | James W. Dawes |
| Seat | Chadron |
| Largest city | Chadron |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,401 sq mi (3,630 km2) |
| • Land | 1,396 sq mi (3,620 km2) |
| • Water | 4.6 sq mi (12 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,199 |
• Estimate (2022) | 8,241 |
| • Density | 5.873/sq mi (2.268/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
Dawes County is acounty in theU.S. state ofNebraska. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 8,199.[1] Itscounty seat isChadron.[2] The county was formed in 1885; it was named forJames W. Dawes, the Nebraska Governor at the time.[3] In theNebraska license-plate system, Dawes County is represented by the prefix 69 (it had the 69th-largest number of vehicles registered when the license-plate system was established in 1922).
Dawes County was a part of the unorganized area of northwestern Nebraska until February 19, 1877, when it became a part of Sioux County from which it was separated February 19, 1885, and was given its present name.[4]
Dawes County lies on the north border of Nebraska. Its north boundary line abuts the south boundary line of the state ofSouth Dakota. According to theUS Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,401 square miles (3,630 km2), of which 1,396 square miles (3,620 km2) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km2) (0.3%) is water.[5]
Since it lies in the western part of Nebraska, Dawes County residents observeMountain Time. The eastern two-thirds of the state observesCentral Time.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 9,722 | — | |
| 1900 | 6,215 | −36.1% | |
| 1910 | 8,254 | 32.8% | |
| 1920 | 10,160 | 23.1% | |
| 1930 | 11,493 | 13.1% | |
| 1940 | 10,128 | −11.9% | |
| 1950 | 9,708 | −4.1% | |
| 1960 | 9,536 | −1.8% | |
| 1970 | 9,761 | 2.4% | |
| 1980 | 9,609 | −1.6% | |
| 1990 | 9,021 | −6.1% | |
| 2000 | 9,060 | 0.4% | |
| 2010 | 9,182 | 1.3% | |
| 2020 | 8,199 | −10.7% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 8,241 | [6] | 0.5% |
| US Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010[11] 2020 | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 8,199. The median age was 36.7 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.9 males age 18 and over.[12][13]
The racial makeup of the county was 86.2% White, 2.0%Black or African American, 4.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 5.4% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.0% of the population.[13]
60.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 39.9% lived in rural areas.[14]
There were 3,325 households in the county, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 4,002 housing units, of which 16.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.2% were owner-occupied and 36.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%.[12]
As of the2000 United States census,[15] there were 9,060 people, 3,512 households, and 2,086 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km2). There were 4,004 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.34%White, 0.81%Black orAfrican American, 2.88%Native American, 0.31%Asian, 0.06%Pacific Islander, 1.03% fromother races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 2.43% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 38.0% were ofGerman, 9.9%English, 9.2%Irish and 7.4%American ancestry.
There were 3,512 households, out of which 26.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.50% weremarried couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.60% were non-families. 31.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.87.
The county population contained 21.20% under the age of 18, 23.40% from 18 to 24, 20.40% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,476, and the median income for a family was $41,092. Males had a median income of $29,162 versus $17,404 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,353. About 9.80% of families and 18.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.
Dawes County voters have been reliably Republican for decades; in no national election since1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1900 | 613 | 49.32% | 587 | 47.22% | 43 | 3.46% |
| 1904 | 818 | 66.45% | 247 | 20.06% | 166 | 13.48% |
| 1908 | 836 | 51.99% | 727 | 45.21% | 45 | 2.80% |
| 1912 | 298 | 18.97% | 583 | 37.11% | 690 | 43.92% |
| 1916 | 751 | 39.42% | 1,088 | 57.11% | 66 | 3.46% |
| 1920 | 1,801 | 64.60% | 900 | 32.28% | 87 | 3.12% |
| 1924 | 1,575 | 41.25% | 595 | 15.58% | 1,648 | 43.16% |
| 1928 | 3,276 | 73.32% | 1,173 | 26.25% | 19 | 0.43% |
| 1932 | 2,095 | 44.84% | 2,457 | 52.59% | 120 | 2.57% |
| 1936 | 2,083 | 40.67% | 2,784 | 54.35% | 255 | 4.98% |
| 1940 | 3,184 | 64.26% | 1,771 | 35.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 2,747 | 65.50% | 1,447 | 34.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 2,399 | 61.54% | 1,499 | 38.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 3,583 | 75.59% | 1,157 | 24.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,523 | 73.86% | 893 | 26.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,106 | 70.83% | 1,279 | 29.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,518 | 61.61% | 1,569 | 38.39% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,600 | 71.94% | 741 | 20.50% | 273 | 7.55% |
| 1972 | 2,987 | 80.77% | 711 | 19.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 2,446 | 62.56% | 1,286 | 32.89% | 178 | 4.55% |
| 1980 | 3,283 | 76.24% | 705 | 16.37% | 318 | 7.39% |
| 1984 | 3,326 | 78.59% | 865 | 20.44% | 41 | 0.97% |
| 1988 | 2,621 | 69.50% | 1,123 | 29.78% | 27 | 0.72% |
| 1992 | 1,961 | 48.21% | 987 | 24.26% | 1,120 | 27.53% |
| 1996 | 1,991 | 55.69% | 1,108 | 30.99% | 476 | 13.31% |
| 2000 | 2,549 | 70.39% | 823 | 22.73% | 249 | 6.88% |
| 2004 | 2,809 | 70.33% | 1,119 | 28.02% | 66 | 1.65% |
| 2008 | 2,376 | 62.94% | 1,285 | 34.04% | 114 | 3.02% |
| 2012 | 2,478 | 66.47% | 1,132 | 30.36% | 118 | 3.17% |
| 2016 | 2,632 | 71.60% | 801 | 21.79% | 243 | 6.61% |
| 2020 | 2,931 | 70.61% | 1,082 | 26.07% | 138 | 3.32% |
| 2024 | 2,812 | 72.31% | 992 | 25.51% | 85 | 2.19% |
Places adjacent to Dawes County, Nebraska | |
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Municipalities and communities ofDawes County, Nebraska,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Village | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
42°43′N103°08′W / 42.71°N 103.14°W /42.71; -103.14
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