Greeley County, Nebraska

History

Greeley County was created in 1871 and organized in 1872. It was named after Horace Greeley, a newspaper editor and politician of the mid-19th century. Greeley encouraged western settlement with the motto "Go West, young man."

Geography

The Cedar River flows southeastward through the NE corner of Greeley County, and the North Loup River flows SSE through the SW corner of the county.

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 571 sqmi, of which 570 sqmi is land and 0.8 sqmi (0.1%) is water.

Major highways

• [[File:US 281.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 281
• [[File:N-11.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 11
• [[File:N-22.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 22
• [[File:N-56.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 56
• [[File:N-91.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 91

Adjacent counties

• Wheeler County (north)
• Boone County (northeast)
• Nance County (southeast)
• Howard County (south)
• Sherman County (southwest)
• Valley County (west)

Demographics

|align-fn=center

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 2,188. The median age was 46.3 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 96.1% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.4% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 948 households in the county, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,189 housing units, of which 20.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.1% were owner-occupied and 17.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.4%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 2,714 people, 1,077 households, and 734 families in the county. The population density was 5 /mi2. There were 1,199 housing units at an average density of 2 /mi2.

The racial makeup of the county was 97.94% White, 0.66% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.77% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,077 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 30.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.08.

The county population contained 26.90% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 23.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,375, and the median income for a family was $34,159. Males had a median income of $22,036 versus $17,056 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,731. About 11.90% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.10% of those under age 18 and 20.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Villages

• Greeley Center
• Scotia
• Spalding
• Wolbach (part)

Unincorporated communities

• Belfast
• Brayton
• Horace
• O'Connor
• Scotia Junction

Politics

Greeley County residents vote powerfully Republican. In no national election since 1976 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

References

References

1. "Greeley County, Nebraska". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Burr, George L.. (1921). "History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Vol. 1". S.J. Clarke Pub. Co..
4. Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder. (1925). "Nebraska Place-Names". University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism.
5. (August 1, 1992). "Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Greeley County, Nebraska". Nebraska State Historical Society.
6. Josiah Busnell Grinnell. (1891). "Men and Events of Forty Years". [[Daniel Lothrop.
7. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
8. [http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/greeley.htm Greeley County.] {{webarchive. link. (July 20, 2008 [http://www.nacone.org/Default.aspx Nebraska Association of County Officials.] {{webarchive). link. (June 5, 2010 Retrieved March 14, 2008.)
9. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
10. "US Decennial Census". Census.gov.
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
13. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
14. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau.
15. [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS Election Results]