Red Willow County, Nebraska

History

Red Willow County was formed in 1873. It was named for the Red Willow Creek. The name is reported to be a mistranslation of the Dakota Indian name Chanshasha Wakpala, which literally means Red Dogwood Creek. The Dakota referred to the creek thus due to red dogwood shrubs that grew along the creek banks. Its stem and branches are deep red in color, and it is favored in basket making.

Geography

Red Willow County lies on the south line of Nebraska. The south boundary line of Red Willow County abuts the north boundary line of the state of Kansas. The Republican River runs easterly through the north-central part of the county. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, sloping to the east. The portions of the terrain in the drainage basins are used for agriculture. The county has a total area of 718 sqmi, of which 717 sqmi is land and 1.0 sqmi (0.1%) is water.

Major highways

• [[File:US 6.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 6
• [[File:US 34.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 34
• [[File:US 83.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 83
• [[File:N-89.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 89

Transit

• Amtrak California Zephyr (McCook station)

Adjacent counties

• Furnas County – east
• Decatur County, Kansas – south
• Rawlins County, Kansas – southwest
• Hitchcock County – west
• Frontier County – north

Protected areas

• Red Willow Reservoir State Wildlife Management Area (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,702. The median age was 41.2 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.9 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 91.0% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.0% from some other race, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.4% of the population.

69.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 30.9% lived in rural areas.

There were 4,532 households in the county, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 5,157 housing units, of which 12.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.8% were owner-occupied and 28.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.3%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 11,448 people, 4,710 households, and 3,188 families in the county. The population density was 16 /mi2. There were 5,278 housing units at an average density of 7 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.55% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 2.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,710 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.90% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,293, and the median income for a family was $40,279. Males had a median income of $27,768 versus $18,768 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,303. About 7.60% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Indianola
• McCook (county seat)

Villages

• Bartley
• Danbury
• Lebanon

Unincorporated communities

• Marion
• Perry
• Shippee

Politics

Red Willow County voters have been reliably Republican for several decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024), and only five total from 1900 to the present.

References

References

1. "US Census Bureau". US Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. [http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/red_willow.htm "History"] {{webarchive. link. (July 4, 2008, Nebraska Association of County Officials, Retrieved on March 14, 2008.)
4. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Red+Willow+County,+NE/@40.1756731,-100.6094237,43365m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x879e2eeeb03d82cf:0x86fcf9b3b8ca2303!8m2!3d40.2353963!4d-100.5296115 ''Red Willow County NE'' Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)]
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
6. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Red+Willow+Reservoir+State+Wildlife+Management+Area,+McCook,+NE+69001/@40.3400667,-100.6827303,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x879e2eeeb03d82cf:0x86fcf9b3b8ca2303!2sRed+Willow+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.2353963!4d-100.5296115!3m4!1s0x877588ff5c612335:0x9b9b535726192171!8m2!3d40.3385792!4d-100.6703435 ''Red Willow Reservoir State Wildlife Management Area, McCook NE'' Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)]
7. "County Population Totals: 2020-2021". US Census Bureau.
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. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
15. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau.
16. [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS Election Results]
17. The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912). Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 782 votes, while Socialist candidate [[Eugene V. Debs. Eugene Debs]] received 190 votes and [[Prohibition Party. Prohibition]] [[Eugene W. Chafin. Eugene Chafin]] received 26 votes.