Editing Gage County, Nebraska

{{Short description|County in Nebraska, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county             = Gage County
| state              = Nebraska
| founded            = 1855 (authorized)<br>1857 (organized)
| seat wl            = Beatrice
| largest city       = Beatrice
| area_total_sq_mi   = 860
| area_land_sq_mi    = 852
| area_water_sq_mi   = 8.5
| area percentage    = 1.0%
| census estimate yr = 2021
| pop                = 21616
| density_sq_mi      = 25.4
| web                = http://www.gagecountynebraska.us/
| ex image           = Gage County Courthouse.jpg
| ex image cap       = [[Gage County Courthouse]] in [[Beatrice, Nebraska|Beatrice]], 1976
| district           = 3rd
| time zone          = Central
}}
'''Gage County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Nebraska]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 21,704.<ref name="CountyPop2020-2021">{{Cite web |title=County Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=October 21, 2022 |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Beatrice, Nebraska|Beatrice]].<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 created in 1855 and organized in 1857.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Lilian Linder |url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=englishunsllc |title=Nebraska Place-Names |date=1925 |publisher=University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism |location=Lincoln |page=63 |access-date=December 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreas |first=A. T. |date=1882 |title=Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska |url=http://www.kancoll.org/books/andreas_ne/gage/gage-p2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030105212324/http://www.kancoll.org/books/andreas_ne/gage/gage-p2.html |archive-date=January 5, 2003 |access-date=December 18, 2014 |website=The Kansas Collection}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gage County |url=http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/gage.html |access-date=December 18, 2014 |publisher=Nebraska Association of County Officials}}</ref> It was formed from land taken from the [[Otoe]] in an 1854 treaty. The county was named for [[First Nebraska Territorial Legislature#Issues|William D. Gage]], a Methodist minister who served as the first chaplain of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120213164654/http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/gage.htm Gage County History (archived)]</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gannett, Henry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA133 |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=Govt. Print. Off. |year=1905 |page=133}}</ref>

Gage County comprises the Beatrice, NE [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also in the [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]]-Beatrice, NE [[Lincoln, Nebraska metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].

In the [[Vehicle registration plates of Nebraska|Nebraska license plate system]], Gage County is represented by the prefix 3 (it was the county with the third-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

==Geography==
Gage County lies on the southern border of Nebraska, with its southern boundary line abutting the northern border of the state of [[Kansas]]. The [[Big Blue River (Kansas)|Big Blue River]] runs south-southeast through the central part of the county.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|860|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|851|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|8.5|sqmi}} (1.0%) 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 7, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[File:US 77.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 77 in Nebraska|U.S. Highway 77]]
* [[File:US 136.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 136 in Nebraska|U.S. Highway 136]]
* [[File:N-4.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 4]]
* [[File:N-8.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 8]]
* [[File:N-41.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 41]]
* [[File:N-43.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 43]]
* [[File:N-103.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 103]]
* [[File:N-112.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 112]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Lancaster County, Nebraska|Lancaster County]] - north
* [[Otoe County, Nebraska|Otoe County]] - northeast
* [[Johnson County, Nebraska|Johnson County]] - northeast
* [[Pawnee County, Nebraska|Pawnee County]] - east
* [[Marshall County, Kansas]] - southeast
* [[Washington County, Kansas]] - southwest
* [[Jefferson County, Nebraska|Jefferson County]] - west
* [[Saline County, Nebraska|Saline County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
* [[Homestead National Monument]]
* Rockford Lake State Recreation Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rockford+Lake+State+Recreation+Area,+Beatrice,+NE+68310/@40.2201239,-96.5920638,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87966e1ec9f23bb9:0x22f94490ffdbced9!8m2!3d40.2265557!4d-96.581008 ''Rockford Lake State Recreation Area, Beatrice NE''  Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 421
|1870= 3359
|1880= 13164
|1890= 36344
|1900= 30051
|1910= 30325
|1920= 29721
|1930= 30242
|1940= 29588
|1950= 28052
|1960= 26818
|1970= 25731
|1980= 24456
|1990= 22794
|2000= 22993
|2010= 22311
|2020= 21704
|estyear=2021
|estimate=21616
|estref=<ref name="CountyPop2020-2021" />
|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 7, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref><br>1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=December 7, 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 7, 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 7, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2013<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31067.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607145951/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31067.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=September 20, 2013 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>
}}

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 22,993 people, 9,316 households, and 6,204 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|27|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 10,030 housing units at an average density of {{convert|12|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.69% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.32% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.58% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.28% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.26% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.84% from two or more races. 0.85% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 56.6% were of [[Germans|German]], 6.9% [[Irish people|Irish]], 6.3% [[English people|English]] and 6.3% [[United States|American]] ancestry.

There were 9,316 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.

The county population contained 24.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,908, and the median income for a family was $43,072. Males had a median income of $29,680 versus $21,305 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,190. About 6.60% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Beatrice, Nebraska|Beatrice]] (county seat)
* [[Blue Springs, Nebraska|Blue Springs]]
* [[Wymore, Nebraska|Wymore]]

===Villages===
{{div col}}
* [[Adams, Nebraska|Adams]]
* [[Barneston, Nebraska|Barneston]]
* [[Clatonia, Nebraska|Clatonia]]
* [[Cortland, Nebraska|Cortland]]
* [[Filley, Nebraska|Filley]]
* [[Liberty, Nebraska|Liberty]]
* [[Odell, Nebraska|Odell]]
* [[Pickrell, Nebraska|Pickrell]]
* [[Virginia, Nebraska|Virginia]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Holmesville, Nebraska|Holmesville]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Ellis, Nebraska|Ellis]]
* [[Hoag, Nebraska|Hoag]]
* [[Krider, Nebraska|Krider]]
* [[Lanham, Kansas and Nebraska|Lanham]]
* [[Rockford, Nebraska|Rockford]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Adams Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Adams]]
* [[Barneston Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Barneston]]
* [[Blakely Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Blakely]]
* [[Blue Springs-Wymore Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Blue Springs-Wymore]]
* [[Clatonia Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Clatonia]]
* [[Elm Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Elm]]
* [[Filley Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Filley]]
* [[Glenwood Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Glenwood]]
* [[Grant Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Grant]]
* [[Hanover Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Hanover]]
* [[Highland Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Highland]]
* [[Holt Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Holt]]
* [[Hooker Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Hooker]]
* [[Island Grove Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Island Grove]]
* [[Liberty Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Liberty]]
* [[Lincoln Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Lincoln]]
* [[Logan Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Logan]]
* [[Midland Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Midland]]
* [[Nemaha Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Nemaha]]
* [[Paddock Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Paddock]]
* [[Riverside Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Riverside]]
* [[Rockford Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Rockford]]
* [[Sherman Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Sherman]]
* [[Sicily Township, Gage County, Nebraska|Sicily]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Prior to 1940, Gage County was a swing county, backing the national winner in every presidential election from 1900 to 1936. Since then, it has become a Republican stronghold, aside from the 1964 election in which Democrat [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] won the county in the midst of his national landslide victory.
{{PresHead|place=Gage 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|7,523|3,242|200|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,445|3,385|289|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,380|2,935|733|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,513|3,903|245|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,435|4,473|252|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|6,575|3,655|154|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|5,538|3,516|452|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,413|4,008|1,422|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|4,006|3,315|2,783|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,115|4,008|63|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,116|2,709|67|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|6,089|2,259|853|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|5,199|4,506|190|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|6,298|3,588|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,465|3,704|637|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,035|6,411|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|7,754|3,861|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|7,514|3,595|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|8,917|3,154|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|5,311|4,124|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|7,352|4,238|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|8,156|5,096|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|5,291|7,227|227|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,315|7,036|234|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|8,378|3,526|94|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|5,331|3,330|1,853|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|6,059|2,477|250|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|3,383|3,385|177|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,336|2,593|2,419|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|3,721|3,129|200|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|4,304|1,330|526|Nebraska}}
{{PresFoot|1900|Republican|4,141|2,701|219|Nebraska}}

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Gage County, Nebraska}}
* {{Official website|http://www.gagecountynebraska.us/}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Gage County, Nebraska
|North     = [[Lancaster County, Nebraska|Lancaster County]]
|Northeast = [[Otoe County, Nebraska|Otoe County]]
|East      = [[Johnson County, Nebraska|Johnson County]]
|Southeast = [[Pawnee County, Nebraska|Pawnee County]]
|South     = [[Marshall County, Kansas]]
|Southwest = [[Washington County, Kansas]]
|West      = [[Jefferson County, Nebraska|Jefferson County]]
|Northwest = [[Saline County, Nebraska|Saline County]]
}}

{{Gage County, Nebraska}}
{{Nebraska}}

{{coord|40.27|-96.69|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NE_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Gage County, Nebraska| ]]
[[Category:1857 establishments in Nebraska Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1857]]