Douglas County, Nebraska | |
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.jpg) Douglas County Courthouse in Omaha | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNebraska | |
| Coordinates:41°17′43″N96°09′16″W / 41.29535°N 96.15448°W /41.29535; -96.15448 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nebraska |
| Founded | November 23, 1854 |
| Named after | Stephen A. Douglas |
| Seat | Omaha |
| Largest city | Omaha |
| Area | |
• Total | 339 sq mi (880 km2) |
| • Land | 328 sq mi (850 km2) |
| • Water | 11 sq mi (28 km2) 3.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 584,526 |
• Estimate (2023) | 589,540 |
| • Density | 1,780/sq mi (688/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Douglas County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofNebraska. As of the2020 United States census, the population is 584,526. It is the state'smost populous county, home to just under 30% of Nebraska's residents. Itscounty seat isOmaha,[1] the state'smost populous city. The county was established in 1854 and named afterStephen A. Douglas (1813–1861), who was then serving as aU.S. senator from Illinois.[2][3]
Douglas County is part of theOmaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.[4]
In theNebraska license plate system, Douglas County was represented by theprefix "1" (as it had the largest number of vehicles registered in the state 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, andSarpy counties.[5]
Douglas County is on the eastern border of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state ofIowa, across the Missouri River. TheElkhorn 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 theU.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.[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 4,328 | — | |
| 1870 | 19,982 | 361.7% | |
| 1880 | 37,645 | 88.4% | |
| 1890 | 158,008 | 319.7% | |
| 1900 | 140,590 | −11.0% | |
| 1910 | 168,546 | 19.9% | |
| 1920 | 204,524 | 21.3% | |
| 1930 | 232,982 | 13.9% | |
| 1940 | 247,562 | 6.3% | |
| 1950 | 281,020 | 13.5% | |
| 1960 | 343,490 | 22.2% | |
| 1970 | 389,455 | 13.4% | |
| 1980 | 397,038 | 1.9% | |
| 1990 | 416,444 | 4.9% | |
| 2000 | 463,585 | 11.3% | |
| 2010 | 517,110 | 11.5% | |
| 2020 | 584,526 | 13.0% | |
| US Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 584,526. Thepopulation density was 1,724 people per square mile (666 people/km2). The median age was 34.9 years. 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.7 males age 18 and over.[13][14]
The racial makeup of the county was 68.2% White, 11.1%Black or African American, 1.0%American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.8%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 6.3% from some other race, and 8.6% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 13.8% of the population.[14]
97.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.4% lived in rural areas.[15]
There were 229,416 households in the county, of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]
There were 245,050 housing units, of which 6.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 59.8% were owner-occupied and 40.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%.[13]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 517,110 people and 206,522 households in the county. Thepopulation density was 1,574 people per square mile (608 people/km2). There were 219,580 housing units at an average density of 669 units per square mile (258/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.4%White, 11.6%Black orAfrican American, 0.7%Native American, 2.7%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 5.7% fromsome other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. 11.2% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 30% were ofGerman, 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. Theper capita income for the county was $28,092. About 9.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
As of the2000 United States census, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 1,401 people per square mile (541 people/km2). There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 units per square mile (225/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.96%White, 11.50%Black orAfrican American, 0.61%Native American, 1.71%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 3.40% fromother races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 6.67% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 26.3% were ofGerman, 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $22,879. About 6.70% of families and 9.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.
Douglas County is governed by a board of seven county commissioners, elected to staggered[16] four–year terms. County courthouse positions are also elected on apartisan basis. Most of the county's offices are located at theDouglas County Courthouse.
| Office | Officeholder |
|---|---|
| Assessor/Register of Deeds | Walt Peffer[18] |
| County Attorney | Donald Kleine[19] |
| County Clerk/Comptroller | Dan Esch[20] |
| Clerk of the District Court | Crystal Rhoades |
| County Engineer | Todd Pfitzer[21] |
| County Sheriff | Aaron Hanson |
| County Treasurer | Tim Cavanaugh[22] |
| Public Defender | Tom 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 withMitt Romney winning the county by an even closer majority. The county swung back to Democratic hands in 2016 withHillary 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 January 2025, Douglas County is one of the only two counties in Nebraska (alongsideThurston) to have a plurality of registered Democrats.[23]
| Political Party | Number of registered voters (September 1, 2025)[24] | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 132,750 | 36.18 | |
| Republican | 130,507 | 35.57 | |
| Independent | 94,034 | 25.63 | |
| Libertarian | 5,536 | 1.51 | |
| Legal Marijuana Now | 4,101 | 1.12 | |
| Total | 366,928 | 100.00 | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 3,290 | 55.87% | 2,407 | 40.87% | 192 | 3.26% |
| 1884 | 4,894 | 51.61% | 4,516 | 47.62% | 73 | 0.77% |
| 1888 | 10,237 | 47.53% | 10,810 | 50.19% | 493 | 2.29% |
| 1892 | 10,702 | 48.27% | 2,904 | 13.10% | 8,566 | 38.63% |
| 1896 | 12,326 | 49.95% | 11,755 | 47.64% | 596 | 2.42% |
| 1900 | 14,266 | 50.88% | 13,241 | 47.23% | 530 | 1.89% |
| 1904 | 15,248 | 57.87% | 6,831 | 25.93% | 4,270 | 16.21% |
| 1908 | 14,066 | 45.80% | 15,583 | 50.74% | 1,064 | 3.46% |
| 1912 | 6,185 | 21.12% | 12,908 | 44.08% | 10,189 | 34.80% |
| 1916 | 14,557 | 35.13% | 24,796 | 59.84% | 2,084 | 5.03% |
| 1920 | 28,543 | 57.81% | 18,439 | 37.34% | 2,393 | 4.85% |
| 1924 | 29,390 | 44.98% | 18,672 | 28.58% | 17,278 | 26.44% |
| 1928 | 47,551 | 52.60% | 42,267 | 46.75% | 587 | 0.65% |
| 1932 | 33,938 | 35.81% | 59,347 | 62.62% | 1,483 | 1.56% |
| 1936 | 35,349 | 33.01% | 70,245 | 65.60% | 1,482 | 1.38% |
| 1940 | 53,325 | 44.38% | 66,840 | 55.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 53,443 | 45.60% | 63,762 | 54.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 47,175 | 48.92% | 49,258 | 51.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 71,457 | 56.24% | 55,591 | 43.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 73,270 | 59.39% | 50,110 | 40.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 72,005 | 52.92% | 64,060 | 47.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 61,613 | 44.30% | 77,480 | 55.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 69,808 | 50.89% | 51,617 | 37.63% | 15,739 | 11.47% |
| 1972 | 101,579 | 67.82% | 48,201 | 32.18% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 93,204 | 58.73% | 61,877 | 38.99% | 3,626 | 2.28% |
| 1980 | 96,908 | 59.12% | 51,668 | 31.52% | 15,354 | 9.37% |
| 1984 | 112,676 | 65.26% | 58,979 | 34.16% | 1,003 | 0.58% |
| 1988 | 99,916 | 56.27% | 76,541 | 43.11% | 1,108 | 0.62% |
| 1992 | 93,512 | 46.73% | 67,097 | 33.53% | 39,512 | 19.74% |
| 1996 | 92,334 | 51.38% | 70,708 | 39.34% | 16,679 | 9.28% |
| 2000 | 101,025 | 55.16% | 73,347 | 40.05% | 8,784 | 4.80% |
| 2004 | 120,813 | 58.34% | 83,330 | 40.24% | 2,928 | 1.41% |
| 2008 | 106,291 | 46.89% | 116,810 | 51.53% | 3,600 | 1.59% |
| 2012 | 113,220 | 50.56% | 106,456 | 47.54% | 4,251 | 1.90% |
| 2016 | 108,077 | 44.95% | 113,798 | 47.33% | 18,558 | 7.72% |
| 2020 | 119,159 | 43.09% | 150,350 | 54.37% | 7,031 | 2.54% |
| 2024 | 120,919 | 43.95% | 148,733 | 54.06% | 5,493 | 2.00% |
School districts include:[26]
A state-operated school,Nebraska School for the Deaf, was formerly in the county.
Places adjacent to Douglas County, Nebraska | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofDouglas County, Nebraska,United States | ||
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| See also | ||
Metropolitan area ofOmaha–Council Bluffs | ||||||
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41°17′43″N96°09′16″W / 41.29535°N 96.15448°W /41.29535; -96.15448
