Hamilton County, Nebraska | |
|---|---|
 Hamilton County Courthouse in Aurora | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNebraska | |
| Coordinates:40°53′N98°01′W / 40.88°N 98.02°W /40.88; -98.02 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nebraska |
| Founded | 1867 (created) 1870 (organized) |
| Named after | Alexander Hamilton |
| Seat | Aurora |
| Largest city | Aurora |
| Area | |
• Total | 547 sq mi (1,420 km2) |
| • Land | 544 sq mi (1,410 km2) |
| • Water | 4.1 sq mi (11 km2) 0.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 9,429 |
| • Density | 17.3/sq mi (6.69/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | hamiltoncountyne |
Hamilton County is acounty in theU.S. stateNebraska. As of the2020 United States Census, the population was 9,429.[1] Itscounty seat isAurora.[2] The county was named forAlexander Hamilton, the firstSecretary of the Treasury in the new United States government.
Hamilton County is included in theGrand Island metropolitan area.
In theNebraska license plate system, Hamilton County is represented by the prefix 28 (it had the 28th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
The first permanent settlers arrived in Hamilton County in 1866.[3] Hamilton County was created in 1867,[4] and was organized in 1870.[5][6] It was named forAlexander Hamilton.[7]
ThePlatte River flows northeastward along the northwest side of Hamilton County, forming the northwestern boundary line with Merrick County.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 547 square miles (1,420 km2), of which 543 square miles (1,410 km2) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km2) (0.8%) is water.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 130 | — | |
| 1880 | 8,267 | 6,259.2% | |
| 1890 | 14,096 | 70.5% | |
| 1900 | 13,330 | −5.4% | |
| 1910 | 13,459 | 1.0% | |
| 1920 | 13,237 | −1.6% | |
| 1930 | 12,159 | −8.1% | |
| 1940 | 9,982 | −17.9% | |
| 1950 | 8,778 | −12.1% | |
| 1960 | 8,714 | −0.7% | |
| 1970 | 8,867 | 1.8% | |
| 1980 | 9,301 | 4.9% | |
| 1990 | 8,862 | −4.7% | |
| 2000 | 9,403 | 6.1% | |
| 2010 | 9,124 | −3.0% | |
| 2020 | 9,429 | 3.3% | |
| US Decennial Census[16] 1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18] 1990-2000[19] 2010[20] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 9,429. The median age was 41.4 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.1 males age 18 and over.[21][22]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.3% White, 0.3%Black or African American, 0.4%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 3.6% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.4% of the population.[22]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[23]
There were 3,715 households in the county, of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[21]
There were 4,088 housing units, of which 9.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.4% were owner-occupied and 21.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%.[21]
As of the2000 United States census,[24] there were 9,403 people, 3,503 households, and 2,676 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). There were 3,850 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km2).
The racial makeup of the county was 98.43%White, 0.18%Black orAfrican American, 0.12%Native American, 0.22%Asian, 0.49% fromother races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 3,503 households, out of which 37.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.40% weremarried couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.60% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07.
The county population contained 29.10% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,277, and the median income for a family was $45,659. Males had a median income of $29,238 versus $20,308 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,590. About 5.90% of families and 7.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.
Hamilton County voters have long been reliably 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 | 1,524 | 47.85% | 1,571 | 49.32% | 90 | 2.83% |
| 1904 | 1,845 | 61.38% | 551 | 18.33% | 610 | 20.29% |
| 1908 | 1,633 | 47.36% | 1,664 | 48.26% | 151 | 4.38% |
| 1912 | 450 | 14.57% | 1,433 | 46.41% | 1,205 | 39.02% |
| 1916 | 1,444 | 43.16% | 1,816 | 54.27% | 86 | 2.57% |
| 1920 | 2,950 | 66.89% | 1,356 | 30.75% | 104 | 2.36% |
| 1924 | 2,935 | 56.12% | 1,545 | 29.54% | 750 | 14.34% |
| 1928 | 3,634 | 68.77% | 1,606 | 30.39% | 44 | 0.83% |
| 1932 | 2,003 | 39.66% | 2,969 | 58.78% | 79 | 1.56% |
| 1936 | 2,748 | 50.43% | 2,653 | 48.69% | 48 | 0.88% |
| 1940 | 3,286 | 66.36% | 1,666 | 33.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 3,057 | 69.68% | 1,330 | 30.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 2,406 | 61.46% | 1,509 | 38.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 3,579 | 76.00% | 1,130 | 24.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 3,217 | 74.95% | 1,075 | 25.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,249 | 72.65% | 1,223 | 27.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,105 | 52.74% | 1,886 | 47.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,592 | 70.94% | 918 | 25.12% | 144 | 3.94% |
| 1972 | 2,960 | 76.55% | 907 | 23.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 2,737 | 65.46% | 1,337 | 31.98% | 107 | 2.56% |
| 1980 | 3,200 | 74.92% | 778 | 18.22% | 293 | 6.86% |
| 1984 | 3,418 | 79.77% | 842 | 19.65% | 25 | 0.58% |
| 1988 | 3,022 | 69.73% | 1,289 | 29.74% | 23 | 0.53% |
| 1992 | 2,388 | 51.72% | 994 | 21.53% | 1,235 | 26.75% |
| 1996 | 2,623 | 61.37% | 1,172 | 27.42% | 479 | 11.21% |
| 2000 | 3,251 | 72.39% | 1,066 | 23.74% | 174 | 3.87% |
| 2004 | 3,785 | 77.78% | 1,012 | 20.80% | 69 | 1.42% |
| 2008 | 3,389 | 70.62% | 1,332 | 27.76% | 78 | 1.63% |
| 2012 | 3,600 | 73.91% | 1,146 | 23.53% | 125 | 2.57% |
| 2016 | 3,783 | 75.60% | 878 | 17.55% | 343 | 6.85% |
| 2020 | 4,309 | 77.42% | 1,118 | 20.09% | 139 | 2.50% |
| 2024 | 4,416 | 79.24% | 1,067 | 19.15% | 90 | 1.61% |
Places adjacent to Hamilton County, Nebraska | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofHamilton County, Nebraska,United States | ||
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