Editing Dawes County, Nebraska

{{Short description|County in Nebraska, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county         = Dawes County
 | state              = Nebraska
 | seal               =
 | founded   = February 19, 1885
 | seat wl            = Chadron
 | largest city       = Chadron
 | area_total_sq_mi   = 1401
 | area_land_sq_mi    = 1396
 | area_water_sq_mi   = 4.6
 | area percentage    = 0.3%
 | census yr          = 2020
 | pop                = 8199
 | pop_est_as_of      = 2022
 | population_est     = 8241 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi      = auto
 | web    = www.dawes-county.com
 | ex image           = Dawes County, Nebraska courthouse from E.JPG
 | ex image cap       = [[Dawes County Courthouse]] in Chadron
| district            = 3rd
| time zone           = Mountain
| named for           = [[James W. Dawes]] }}
'''Dawes County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Nebraska]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 8,199.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dawes County, Nebraska |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Dawes_County,_Nebraska?g=050XX00US31045 |access-date=June 17, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Chadron, Nebraska|Chadron]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was formed in 1885; it was named for [[James W. Dawes]], the Nebraska Governor at the time.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gannett, Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=Govt. Print. Off. |year=1905 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n100 101]}}</ref> In the [[Vehicle registration plates of Nebraska|Nebraska license-plate system]], Dawes County is represented by the prefix 69 (it had the 69th-largest number of vehicles registered when the license-plate system was established in 1922).

==History==
Dawes County was a part of the unorganized area of northwestern Nebraska until February 19, 1877, when it became a part of Sioux County from which it was separated February 19, 1885, and was given its present name.<ref>[http://dawes-county.com/ About Dawes County]</ref>

==Geography==
Dawes County lies on the north border of Nebraska. Its north boundary line abuts the south boundary line of the state of [[South Dakota]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|1401|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1396|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.6|sqmi}} (0.3%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_31.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024152/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_31.txt |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |access-date=December 6, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

Since it lies in the western part of Nebraska, Dawes County residents observe [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain Time]]. The eastern two-thirds of the state observes [[Central Time Zone|Central Time]].

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
*{{Jct|state=NE|US|20}}
*{{Jct|state=NE|US|385}}
*{{Jct|state=NE|US|20}}
* [[File:N-2.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 2]]
* [[File:N-71.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 71]]
{{div col end}}

===Transit===
*[[Chadron City Transit]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota]] - northeast
* [[Sheridan County, Nebraska|Sheridan County]] - east
* [[Box Butte County, Nebraska|Box Butte County]] - south
* [[Sioux County, Nebraska|Sioux County]] - west
* [[Fall River County, South Dakota]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
* [[Nebraska National Forest]] (part)
* [[Pine Ridge National Recreation Area]]
* [[Oglala National Grassland]] (part)

===State protected areas===
* [[Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area]]
* [[Chadron State Park]]
* [[Fort Robinson State Park]] (part)
* Chadron Creek Ranch State Wildlife Management Area
* Bordeaux State Wildlife Management Area
* Bighorn State Wildlife Management Area
* Ponderosa State Wildlife Management Area

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 9722
| 1900 = 6215
| 1910 = 8254
| 1920 = 10160
| 1930 = 11493
| 1940 = 10128
| 1950 = 9708
| 1960 = 9536
| 1970 = 9761
| 1980 = 9609
| 1990 = 9021
| 2000 = 9060
| 2010 = 9182
| 2020 = 8199
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 8241
| estref = <ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31045.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607145716/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31045.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=September 19, 2013 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = US Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=December 6, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref><br>1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817222036/https://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=August 17, 2018 |access-date=December 6, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ne190090.txt |access-date=December 6, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref><br>1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=December 6, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/dawescountynebraska/PST045222}}</ref> 2020
}}

As of the [[2000 United States Census]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> there were 9,060 people, 3,512 households, and 2,086 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 4,004 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 93.34% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.81% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 2.88% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.31% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.03% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.58% from two or more races. 2.43% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 38.0% were of [[Germans|German]], 9.9% [[English people|English]], 9.2% [[Irish people|Irish]] and 7.4% [[United States|American]] ancestry.

There were 3,512 households, out of which 26.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.60% were non-families. 31.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.87.

The county population contained 21.20% under the age of 18, 23.40% from 18 to 24, 20.40% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,476, and the median income for a family was $41,092. Males had a median income of $29,162 versus $17,404 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,353. About 9.80% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
*[[Chadron, Nebraska|Chadron]] (county seat)
*[[Crawford, Nebraska|Crawford]]

===Village===
*[[Whitney, Nebraska|Whitney]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Bordeaux, Nebraska|Bordeaux]]
* [[Horn, Nebraska|Horn]]
* [[Marsland, Nebraska|Marsland]]
* [[Pine Ridge, Dawes County, Nebraska|Pine Ridge]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost town===
* [[Belmont, Nebraska|Belmont]]

==Politics==
Dawes County voters have been reliably Republican for decades; in no national election since [[1936 United States presidential election in Nebraska|1936]] has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
{{PresHead|place=Dawes County, Nebraska|whig=no|source1=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS Election Results]</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,812|992|85|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,931|1,082|138|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,632|801|243|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,478|1,132|118|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,376|1,285|114|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,809|1,119|66|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,549|823|249|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,991|1,108|476|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,961|987|1,120|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,621|1,123|27|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,326|865|41|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,283|705|318|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,446|1,286|178|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,987|711|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,600|741|273|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,518|1,569|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,106|1,279|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,523|893|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,583|1,157|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,399|1,499|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,747|1,447|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,184|1,771|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,083|2,784|255|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,095|2,457|120|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,276|1,173|19|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|1,575|595|1,648|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,801|900|87|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|751|1,088|66|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|298|583|690|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|836|727|45|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|818|247|166|Nebraska}}
{{PresFoot|1900|Republican|613|587|43|Nebraska}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Dawes County, Nebraska]]

==Further reading==

* Brown, Franz Karl. "The farmers of Dawes County, Nebraska" (MS thesis. California State University, Northridge, 1987) [https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/44558j166 online].
* {{Cite book |last=Pinney |first=Patricia M. |title=Dawes County Nebraska: The First 100 Years |publisher=Curtis Media Corp. |year=1985 |isbn=978-1-881070-35-1 |location=Dallas TX}}
* Sandstrom, Michael. "Travails Of The 'Magic City' The Great Depression In Dawes County." ''Nebraska History'' Fall2021, Vol. 102 Issue 3, pp 132–151.
* {{Cite book |last=The Louis Berger Group, Inc. |url=http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/reports/DawesCounty.pdf |title=Dawes County Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey |publisher=Nebraska State Historical Society |year=2005 |location=Lincoln NE |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116014638/http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/reports/DawesCounty.pdf |archive-date=November 16, 2006 |url-status=usurped}}

==References==
{{commons category|Dawes County, Nebraska}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Dawes County, Nebraska
|Northeast = [[Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota]]
|East      = [[Sheridan County, Nebraska|Sheridan County]]
|South     = [[Box Butte County, Nebraska|Box Butte County]]
|West      = [[Sioux County, Nebraska|Sioux County]]
|Northwest = [[Fall River County, South Dakota]]
}}

{{Dawes County, Nebraska}}
{{Nebraska}}

{{coord|42.71|-103.14|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NE_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Dawes County, Nebraska| ]]
[[Category:Nebraska counties]]
[[Category:1885 establishments in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1885]]