Thurston County, Nebraska

History

Varying cultures of indigenous peoples lived along the rivers for hundreds of years before European encounter. The Omaha occupied this territory and much of Nebraska and western Iowa before the Europeans arrived. They had migrated west from the Ohio Valley under pressure from the Iroquois Confederacy in the early 17th century.

Thurston County was organized by European Americans in 1889 from land that had been divided between Dakota and Burt counties since the dissolution of Blackbird County in 1879. It was named for US Senator John M. Thurston.

Geography

Thurston County lies on the east side of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Iowa, across the Missouri River. The west portion of the county is drained by the Logan Creek Drainage, which flows south-southeast. Thurston County has a total area of 396 sqmi, of which 394 sqmi is land and 2.5 sqmi (0.6%) is water. The land area of the county is completely comprised from the Omaha and Winnebago Indian reservations.

Major highways

• [[File:US 75.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 75
• [[File:US 77.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 77
• [[File:N-9.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 9
• [[File:N-16.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 16
• [[File:N-94.svg|20px]] Nebraska Highway 94

Adjacent counties

• Dakota County - north
• Woodbury County, Iowa - northeast
• Monona County, Iowa - east
• Burt County - southeast
• Cuming County - southwest
• Wayne County - west
• Dixon County - northwest

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 2020 2022

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 6,773. The median age was 29.7 years. 33.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 36.5% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.8% of the population.

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

There were 2,068 households in the county, of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 30.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,283 housing units, of which 9.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.8% were owner-occupied and 37.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 7,171 people, 2,255 households, and 1,725 families in the county. The population density was 18 /mi2. There were 2,467 housing units at an average density of 6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 45.77% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 52.03% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.77% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.43% of the population. 25.9% were of German ancestry. The villages of Emerson, Rosalie, Pender, and Thurston are predominantly white, while the villages of Macy, Walthill, and Winnebago are predominantly Native American.

There were 2,255 households, out of which 40.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 19.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.50% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.64.

The county population contained 36.80% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 17.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,170, and the median income for a family was $30,893. Males had a median income of $24,792 versus $20,481 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,951. About 19.30% of families and 25.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.60% of those under age 18 and 14.70% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In recent decades, Native Americans in the United States have become more active politically, voting in increasing numbers in local, state, and national elections. In 2004, Thurston, a majority-Native American county, was the only one in Nebraska with a majority voting for the Democratic Party presidential candidate, John Kerry.

Voter interest was high, and the 2008 presidential election was preceded by a major voter registration drive. The majority of voters in Thurston County voted for Democratic candidate Barack Obama, making the county one of four such in the state. In the 2012 presidential election, Thurston was the only Nebraska county that voted for Obama in his successful re-election bid. In 2016, the county flipped, voting for Republican Donald Trump. In the 2024 presidential election, Trump expanded on his previous performances, carrying it by about 7%.

The predominantly Native American communities in the east of the county (Winnebago, Walthill and Macy) lean Democratic, but despite them having more population altogether than the Republican predominantly white communities in the west of the county, they have lower voter turnouts.

Communities

Villages

• Emerson (partial)
• Pender (county seat)
• Rosalie
• Thurston
• Walthill
• Winnebago

Census-designated place

• Macy

Townships

• Anderson
• Blackbird
• Bryan
• Dawes
• Flournoy
• Merry
• Omaha
• Pender
• Perry
• Thayer
• Winnebago

Education

School districts include:

• Bancroft-Rosalie Community Schools
• Emerson-Hubbard Public Schools
• Homer Community Schools
• Lyons-Decatur Northeast Schools
• Pender Public Schools
• Umoⁿhoⁿ Nation Public Schools
• Wakefield Public Schools
• Walthill Public Schools
• Winnebago Public Schools

References

References

1. "Thurston County, Nebraska". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Chicago and North Western Railway Company. (1908). "A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways".
4. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
5. "US Decennial Census". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau.
8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau.
9. (July 1, 2022). "QuickFacts". [[United States Census Bureau]].
10. "Thurston County, Nebraska". [[United States Census Bureau]].
11. "State & County QuickFacts". 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. [http://electionresults.sos.ne.gov/resultsCTY.aspx?type=SW&rid=650&osn=101&map=CTY "Unofficial Results: General Election - November 6, 2012".] [http://www.sos.ne.gov/dyindex.html Nebraska Secretary of State.] Retrieved December 4, 2012.
18. (July 25, 2018). "An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2016 Presidential Election". The New York Times.
19. (February 2, 2021). "An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2020 Election". The New York Times.
20. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Thurston County, NE". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].