Boone County | |
|---|---|
 Boone County Courthouse in Albion | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNebraska | |
 Nebraska's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:41°42′N98°04′W / 41.7°N 98.06°W /41.7; -98.06 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nebraska |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Named after | Daniel Boone |
| Seat | Albion |
| Largest city | Albion |
| Area | |
• Total | 687 sq mi (1,780 km2) |
| • Land | 687 sq mi (1,780 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (2 km2) 0.1% |
| Population | |
• Estimate (2021) | 5,386 |
| • Density | 7.8/sq mi (3.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
Boone County is acounty in theU.S. state ofNebraska. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 5,386.[1] Itscounty seat isAlbion.[2] The county was organized in 1871[3] and named afterDaniel Boone.[4]
In theNebraska license plate system, Boone County is represented by the prefix 23 (it had the 23rd-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
According to theUS Census Bureau, the county has an area of 687 square miles (1,780 km2), of which 687 square miles (1,780 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.1%) is water.[5]
Boone County, Nebraska, was created on March 1, 1871, and named in honor of frontiersman Daniel Boone. The settlement of Boone County began with the arrival of explorers and settlers in the late 1860s. One of the first white settlers was S.D. Avery, who in 1871 established a claim near what would become the town of Albion. The initial settlement was encouraged by the expansion of railroads and the availability of land under the Homestead Act of 1862.[6]
The community of Albion was platted in 1872 and became the county seat after a contest with the town of Boone. This rivalry for the county seat was common in many frontier counties, reflecting the ambition and growth aspirations of the nascent communities. Agriculture quickly became the backbone of the local economy, with wheat, corn, and later oats being predominant.[6]
The development of Boone County was relatively rapid thanks to its fertile soil and the dedication of its settlers. The railroad, reaching Albion in the early 1880s, played a crucial role in the county's growth, providing access to markets for agricultural products and bringing in more settlers. The county's population and infrastructure expanded, with schools, churches, and businesses being established to support the burgeoning agricultural community.[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 4,170 | — | |
| 1890 | 8,683 | 108.2% | |
| 1900 | 11,689 | 34.6% | |
| 1910 | 13,145 | 12.5% | |
| 1920 | 14,146 | 7.6% | |
| 1930 | 14,738 | 4.2% | |
| 1940 | 12,127 | −17.7% | |
| 1950 | 10,721 | −11.6% | |
| 1960 | 9,134 | −14.8% | |
| 1970 | 8,190 | −10.3% | |
| 1980 | 7,391 | −9.8% | |
| 1990 | 6,667 | −9.8% | |
| 2000 | 6,259 | −6.1% | |
| 2010 | 5,505 | −12.0% | |
| 2020 | 5,379 | −2.3% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 5,386 | [1] | 0.1% |
| US Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1] | |||
As of the2000 United States Census,[11] there were 6,259 people, 2,454 households, and 1,700 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 9 people per square mile (3.5 people/km2). There were 2,733 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.25%White, 0.05%Black orAfrican American, 0.05%Native American, 0.03%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.30% fromother races, and 0.29% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 54.6% were ofGerman, 8.2%Irish, 5.9%Polish, 5.3%Norwegian and 5.1%Swedish ancestry according toCensus 2000.
There were 2,454 households, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% weremarried couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.11.
29.10% of the population is under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,444, and the median income for a family was $38,226. Males had a median income of $26,779 versus $18,438 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,831. About 8.30% of families and 10.40% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.70% of those under age 18 and 11.60% of those age 65 or over.
Boone County voters have been strongly Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 2,499 | 82.20% | 496 | 16.32% | 45 | 1.48% |
| 2020 | 2,653 | 82.24% | 499 | 15.47% | 74 | 2.29% |
| 2016 | 2,299 | 79.14% | 414 | 14.25% | 192 | 6.61% |
| 2012 | 2,138 | 76.19% | 615 | 21.92% | 53 | 1.89% |
| 2008 | 2,042 | 72.00% | 742 | 26.16% | 52 | 1.83% |
| 2004 | 2,309 | 79.76% | 546 | 18.86% | 40 | 1.38% |
| 2000 | 2,196 | 76.73% | 575 | 20.09% | 91 | 3.18% |
| 1996 | 1,695 | 57.63% | 806 | 27.41% | 440 | 14.96% |
| 1992 | 1,589 | 50.21% | 604 | 19.08% | 972 | 30.71% |
| 1988 | 2,160 | 68.57% | 976 | 30.98% | 14 | 0.44% |
| 1984 | 2,508 | 78.01% | 690 | 21.46% | 17 | 0.53% |
| 1980 | 2,598 | 72.11% | 769 | 21.34% | 236 | 6.55% |
| 1976 | 2,035 | 59.21% | 1,329 | 38.67% | 73 | 2.12% |
| 1972 | 2,406 | 73.15% | 883 | 26.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,179 | 64.01% | 934 | 27.44% | 291 | 8.55% |
| 1964 | 1,893 | 49.84% | 1,905 | 50.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,809 | 64.49% | 1,547 | 35.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 3,021 | 70.29% | 1,277 | 29.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 3,453 | 72.91% | 1,283 | 27.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 2,235 | 55.69% | 1,778 | 44.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 2,865 | 63.25% | 1,665 | 36.75% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 3,334 | 62.34% | 2,014 | 37.66% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 2,728 | 45.28% | 3,095 | 51.37% | 202 | 3.35% |
| 1932 | 1,862 | 29.60% | 4,360 | 69.31% | 69 | 1.10% |
| 1928 | 3,816 | 62.57% | 2,260 | 37.06% | 23 | 0.38% |
| 1924 | 2,013 | 36.36% | 1,782 | 32.18% | 1,742 | 31.46% |
| 1920 | 3,108 | 65.97% | 1,461 | 31.01% | 142 | 3.01% |
| 1916 | 1,225 | 37.03% | 2,005 | 60.61% | 78 | 2.36% |
| 1912 | 570 | 19.30% | 1,360 | 46.05% | 1,023 | 34.64% |
| 1908 | 1,580 | 49.14% | 1,583 | 49.24% | 52 | 1.62% |
| 1904 | 1,823 | 63.72% | 471 | 16.46% | 567 | 19.82% |
| 1900 | 1,524 | 52.28% | 1,336 | 45.83% | 55 | 1.89% |
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
Places adjacent to Boone County, Nebraska | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Municipalities and communities ofBoone County, Nebraska,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
