Lancaster County, Nebraska

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 846 sqmi, of which 838 sqmi is land and 8.8 sqmi (1.0%) is water.

Major highways

• [[File:I-80.svg|20px]] Interstate 80
• [[File:I-180.svg|25px]] Interstate 180
• [[File:US 6.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 6
• [[File:US 34.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 34
• [[File:US 77.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 77
• [[File:N-2.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 2
• [[File:N-33.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 33
• [[File:N-43.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 43
• [[File:N-79.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 79

Transit

• Amtrak California Zephyr (Lincoln station)
• Burlington Trailways
• Express Arrow
• StarTran

Climate

In 2004, Lancaster County was named a StormReady county by the National Weather Service.

Adjacent counties

• Saunders County – north
• Cass County – northeast
• Otoe County – southeast
• Johnson County – southeast
• Gage County – south
• Saline County – southwest
• Seward County – northwest
• Butler County – northwest

Protected areas

• Bluestem Lake State Recreation Area
• Branched Oak State Recreation Area
• Conestoga Lake State Recreation Area
• Frank Shoemaker Marsh (part of Lincoln Parks & Recreation System)
• Holmes Lake Recreation Area
• Olive Creek Lake State Recreation Area
• Pawnee State Recreation Area
• Pioneers Park Nature Center
• Stagecoach Lake State Recreation Area
• Wagon Train Lake State Recreation Area
• Wildwood Lake State Wildlife Management Area
• Yankee Hill State Wildlife Management Area

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 322,608. The median age was 34.7 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.3 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 80.1% White, 4.3% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.2% from some other race, and 7.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.0% of the population.

90.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 9.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 127,884 households in the county, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 135,484 housing units, of which 5.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 59.2% were owner-occupied and 40.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 250,291 people, 99,187 households, and 60,702 families in the county. The population density was 298 /mi2. There were 104,217 housing units at an average density of 124 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 90.07% White, 2.82% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 2.86% Asian American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. 3.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.1% were of German, 7.9% English and 7.8% Irish ancestry.

There were 99,187 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 23.50% under the age of 18, 15.40% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,850, and the median income for a family was $53,676. Males had a median income of $34,720 versus $25,614 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,265. About 5.50% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Bennet
• Hickman
• Lincoln (county seat)
• Waverly

Villages

• Davey
• Denton
• Firth
• Hallam
• Malcolm
• Panama
• Raymond
• Roca
• Sprague

Census-designated places

• Agnew
• Cheney
• Emerald
• Kramer
• Martell
• Prairie Home
• Princeton
• Walton
• Yankee Hill

Other unincorporated communities

• Arbor
• Berks
• Holland
• Rokeby
• Saltillo

Census divisions

Lancaster County is divided into the following census divisions called precincts, defined by the boundaries of the original townships, except for the City of Lincoln.

• Buda
• Centerville
• Denton
• Elk
• Grant
• Highland
• Lancaster
• City of Lincoln
• Lincoln
• Little Salt
• Middle Creek
• Mill
• Nemaha
• North Bluff
• Oak
• Olive Branch
• Panama
• Rock Creek
• Saltillo
• South Pass
• Stevens Creek
• Stockton
• Waverly
• West Oak
• Yankee Hill

Politics

Lancaster County has historically been somewhat conservative for an urban county. In the last 30 national elections, Lancaster County selected the Republican Party candidate 78% of the time. However, it has become more competitive in recent years, largely due to the influence of Lincoln and the University of Nebraska. Since 1988, the margin in the county has been 10 points or less all but once. In 2008, Barack Obama won a narrow majority in Lancaster County, becoming the first Democrat to carry the county since 1964, and only the second since 1936. Republican Donald Trump never won the county in all three of his runs.

As of January 2025, Republicans maintain a relative advantage in party registration in the county.

Representatives

• Roma Amundson, District 4 Commissioner, retired U.S. Brigadier General

Education

School districts include:

• Crete Public Schools
• Freeman Public Schools
• Lincoln Public Schools
• Malcolm Public Schools
• Milford Public Schools
• Norris School District 160
• Palmyra District OR-1
• Raymond Central Public Schools
• Waverly School District 145
• Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools

Notable native

• Leon Riley (1906–1970), American minor league baseball player/manager (born in Princeton, Nebraska).

References

References

1. "Lancaster County, Nebraska". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
4. "cpsws2004photos5". High Plains Regional Climate Center.
5. "Nebraska StormReady Communities". National Weather Service.
6. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bluestem+Lake+State+Recreation+Area,+Martell,+NE+68404/@40.6391513,-96.8195527,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8796ec5291dc3ce3:0x768da6d6449b57ae!8m2!3d40.6351733!4d-96.7949137 ''Bluestem Lake State Recreation Area'' Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]
7. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Conestoga+Lake+State+Recreation+Area,+Denton,+NE+68339/@40.7644455,-96.8695788,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8796c2720df2fa51:0xc116aedcbf6c9b00!8m2!3d40.7626188!4d-96.8592236 ''Conestoga Lake State Recreation Area, Denton NE'' Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]
8. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Frank+Shoemaker+Marsh/@40.9125247,-96.6887237,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8796b9e97da7efa1:0x74d16c04b308ebb2!8m2!3d40.9125247!4d-96.686535 ''Frank Shoemaker Marsh'' Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]
9. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Holmes+Lake+Recreation+Area/@40.7761005,-96.6355982,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8796bd902d3aafe7:0x8584042dfeb6cf72!8m2!3d40.7761005!4d-96.6334095 ''Holmes Lake Recreation Area'' Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]
10. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Olive+Creek+Lake+State+Recreation+Area,+Hallam,+NE+68368/@40.5766463,-96.8536629,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8796f1f2626d05e5:0x4f445eef266ba7cb!8m2!3d40.5767044!4d-96.8431402 ''Olive Creek Lake State Recreation Area, Hallam NE'' Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]
11. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Stagecoach+Lake+State+Recreation+Area/@40.5986993,-96.6419498,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87968e22a53043a5:0x94c08a559ad60827!8m2!3d40.5986993!4d-96.6397611 ''Stagecoach Lake State Recreation Area'' Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]
12. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wagon+Train+Lake+State+Recreation+Area/@40.6267317,-96.5819692,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x879690713e7e8641:0x3bb6de46011e0ff!8m2!3d40.6267317!4d-96.5797805 ''Wagon Train Lake State Recreation Area'' Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]
13. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wildwood+Lake+State+Wildlife+Management+Area,+Valparaiso,+NE+68065/@40.9920632,-96.9530322,12.5z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x879694898d2cdb05:0xdd3baa12d17695d5!2sLancaster+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.8471492!4d-96.663812!3m4!1s0x8796cc87a0c3821f:0x7cc3ff84052970ed!8m2!3d41.0402612!4d-96.8431091 ''Wildwood Lake State Management Area, Valparaiso NE'' Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]
14. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Yankee+Hill+State+Wildlife+Management+Area/@40.726388,-96.7917461,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8796eafb9aa7bc57:0x4303a54090af9c79!8m2!3d40.726388!4d-96.7895574 ''Yankee Hill State Wildlife Management Area'' Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]
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19. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau.
20. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
21. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
22. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
23. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau.
24. [https://llcgs.info/cpage.php?pt=52 History of Lancaster Co and Townships]. Lincoln-Lancaster Genealogical Society. Accessed 3 August 2024.
25. (December 1, 2020). "2020 Eligible Voter Statistics".
26. (January 2, 2025). "Voter Registration Statistics".
27. [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS Election Results]
28. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lancaster County, NE". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].