Madison County, Nebraska

Geography

The terrain in Madison County consists of gently rolling terrain, sloped to the east-southeast, largely devoted to agriculture. The Elkhorn River runs eastward across the upper central portion of the county. The county has a total area of 575 sqmi, of which 573 sqmi is land and 2.7 sqmi (0.5%) is water.

Major highways

• [[File:US 81.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 81
• [[File:US 275.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 275
• [[File:N-24.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 24
• [[File:N-32.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 32
• [[File:N-35.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 35
• [[File:N-45.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 45
• [[File:N-121.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 121

Transit

• Express Arrow

Adjacent counties

• Wayne County – northeast
• Stanton County – east
• Platte County – south
• Boone County – southwest
• Antelope County – northwest
• Pierce County – north

Protected areas

• Oak Valley State Wildlife Management Area
• Yellowbanks 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 35,585. The median age was 37.4 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 81.2% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 1.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.2% from some other race, and 7.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 15.5% of the population.

72.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 27.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 14,024 households in the county, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 15,094 housing units, of which 7.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.0% were owner-occupied and 34.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.9%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 35,226 people, 13,436 households, and 8,894 families in the county. The population density was 62 PD/sqmi. There were 14,432 housing units at an average density of 25 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 91.35% White, 0.94% Black or African American, 1.19% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.06% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 8.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,436 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.12.

The county population contained 26.80% under the age of 18, 11.60% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,807, and the median income for a family was $45,073. Males had a median income of $30,631 versus $21,343 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,804. About 7.50% of families and 11.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Battle Creek
• Madison (county seat)
• Newman Grove (partial)
• Norfolk
• Tilden (partial)

Village

• Meadow Grove

Unincorporated communities

• Emerick
• Enola
• Kalamazoo
• Warnerville

Politics

Madison County voters have been strongly Republican for many decades, voting for the Republican candidate in every presidential election except for three from 1880 onward. In addition, no Democratic presidential candidate has won the county since 1936.

In popular culture

The 2013 film Nebraska is set mostly in Madison County, in the fictional town of Hawthorne. Some of the filming was done in Madison and Norfolk.

References

References

1. "Madison County, Nebraska". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Chicago and North Western Railway Co.. (1908). "A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways".
4. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Madison+County,+NE/@41.9164963,-97.7413672,50224m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87906dc1058a548f:0x8080222b1eb3dcc7!8m2!3d41.9108264!4d-97.5247243 ''Madison County NE'' Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)]
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
6. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oak+Valley+State+Wildlife+Management+Area,+Battle+Creek,+NE+68715/@41.9486882,-97.6222229,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x87906dc1058a548f:0x8080222b1eb3dcc7!2sMadison+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d41.9108264!4d-97.5247243!3m4!1s0x8790728679af11a1:0x42d6eb59140aff5e!8m2!3d41.9476336!4d-97.6209108 ''Oak Valley State Wildlife Management Area'' Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)]
7. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Yellowbanks+State+Wildlife+Management+Area,+Meadow+Grove,+NE+68752/@42.0464136,-97.6679025,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x87906dc1058a548f:0x8080222b1eb3dcc7!2sMadison+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d41.9108264!4d-97.5247243!3m4!1s0x87900c33c6b70dff:0xc6f549664cf80516!8m2!3d42.0474129!4d-97.6575237 ''Yellowbanks State Wildlife Management Area, Meadow Grove NE'' Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)]
8. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau.
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau.
17. [https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS Election Results]