Editing Gosper County, Nebraska

{{Short description|County in Nebraska, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county             = Gosper County
| state              = Nebraska
| founded            = 1873 (authorized)<br/>1881 (organized)
| seat wl            = Elwood
| largest city       = Elwood
| city type          = village
| area_total_sq_mi   = 462.73
| area_land_sq_mi    = 458.16
| area_water_sq_mi   = 4.57
| pop                = 1893
| census yr          = 2020
| density_sq_mi      = 4.13
| web                 = www.co.gosper.ne.us
| ex image            = Gosper County courthouse from W.JPG
| ex image cap        = [[Gosper County Courthouse]] in Elwood
| district            = 3rd
| time zone           = Central
| named for           = [[John J. Gosper]]
}}

'''Gosper County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Nebraska]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 1,893.<ref name="QuickFacts">{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts: Gosper County, Nebraska |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/gospercountynebraska/POP010220 |access-date=September 12, 2021 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Elwood, Nebraska|Elwood]].<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 1873, and was organized in 1881.<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=67 |access-date=December 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 1991 |title=Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Gosper County, Nebraska |url=http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/reports/gosper_county.pdf |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116013859/http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/reports/gosper_county.pdf |archive-date=November 16, 2006 |access-date=December 14, 2014 |publisher=Nebraska State Historical Society}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gosper County |url=http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/gosper.html |access-date=December 14, 2014 |publisher=Nebraska Association of County Officials |archive-date=November 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122173135/http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/gosper.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was named for [[John J. Gosper]], a [[Secretary of State of Nebraska|Nebraska Secretary of State]].<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/n139 140]}}</ref>

Gosper County is part of the [[Lexington, Nebraska|Lexington]], NE [[Lexington micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

In the [[Vehicle registration plates of Nebraska|Nebraska license plate system]], Gosper County is represented by the prefix 73 (it had the seventy-third-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

==Geography==
The [[Platte River]] flows easterly through the top part of Gosper County.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|463|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|458|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.6|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===
* [[File:US 283.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 283 in Nebraska|U.S. Highway 283]]
* [[File:N-18.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 18]]
* [[File:N-23.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 23]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Phelps County, Nebraska|Phelps County]] (east)
* [[Furnas County, Nebraska|Furnas County]] (south)
* [[Frontier County, Nebraska|Frontier County]] (west)
* [[Dawson County, Nebraska|Dawson County]] (north)
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
* Gosper National Wildlife Management Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gosper+National+Wildlife+Management+Area,+Bertrand,+NE+68927/@40.4847147,-99.667085,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x879e8ac4b42a800d:0x9ae6a856398fba17!2sGosper+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.4604851!4d-99.8124935!3m4!1s0x879eec3d3cf8c93f:0x26b438a7a5a372f7!8m2!3d40.4810385!4d-99.6591939 ''Gosper National Wildlife Management Area, Bertrand NE''  Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]</ref>
* Johnson Lake State Recreation Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Johnson+Lake+State+Recreation+Area/@40.6774653,-99.8574573,15z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x879e8ac4b42a800d:0x9ae6a856398fba17!2sGosper+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.4604851!4d-99.8124935!3m4!1s0x879e888f67fba701:0x71de4d74fc82a7b9!8m2!3d40.6835385!4d-99.8303068 ''Johnson Lake State Recreation Area''  Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]</ref>
* Phillips Lake State Recreation Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Phillips+Lake+State+Recreation+Area,+Smithfield,+NE+68976/@40.6816979,-99.7877869,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x879e8f139ed0e50d:0xd2cf795b6ca46892!8m2!3d40.6807415!4d-99.7832058 ''Phillips Lake State Recreation Area, Smithfield NE''  Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 1673
|1890= 4816
|1900= 5301
|1910= 4933
|1920= 4669
|1930= 4287
|1940= 3687
|1950= 2734
|1960= 2489
|1970= 2178
|1980= 2140
|1990= 1928
|2000= 2143
|2010= 2044
|2020= 1893
|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> 2010–2020<ref name="QuickFacts" />
}}

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 2,143 people, 863 households, and 655 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,281 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.14% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.23% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.42% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.42% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 863 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.10% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 3.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.10% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.83.

The county population contained 23.80% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 20.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,827, and the median income for a family was $42,702. Males had a median income of $28,836 versus $21,204 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,957. About 4.80% of families and 7.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.10% of those under age 18 and 5.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
[[File:Gosper County.png|thumb|Gosper County, NE]]

=== Villages ===
* [[Elwood, Nebraska|Elwood]] (county seat)
* [[Smithfield, Nebraska|Smithfield]]

=== Unincorporated community ===

* Johnson Lake<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Johnson+Lake,+NE+68937/@40.6774653,-99.8574573,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x879e8ac4b42a800d:0x9ae6a856398fba17!2sGosper+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.4604851!4d-99.8124935!3m4!1s0x879e88f2e1c92a97:0x95652ca0fea99c54!8m2!3d40.6774485!4d-99.8487282 ''Johnson Lake, Gosper County NE''  Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)]</ref>

==Politics==
Gosper County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
{{PresHead|place=Gosper County, Nebraska|source=<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|907|203|13|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|893|215|13|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|794|166|50|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|734|230|14|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|776|260|12|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|890|222|7|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|757|228|29|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|609|275|152|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|492|254|302|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|694|331|9|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|802|201|8|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|783|181|65|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|654|332|23|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|829|242|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|701|229|57|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|547|512|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|854|339|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|814|325|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,017|293|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|621|572|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|935|484|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,001|628|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|647|1,118|18|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|477|1,263|18|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|975|480|10|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|540|394|553|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|794|486|88|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|434|617|34|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|129|524|307|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|499|634|35|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|548|154|245|Nebraska}}
{{PresFoot|1900|Democratic|494|570|28|Nebraska}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Gosper County, Nebraska
|North     = [[Dawson County, Nebraska|Dawson County]]
|East      = [[Phelps County, Nebraska|Phelps County]]
|South     = [[Furnas County, Nebraska|Furnas County]]
|West      = [[Frontier County, Nebraska|Frontier County]]
}}

{{Gosper County, Nebraska}}
{{Nebraska}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|40.50|-99.82|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NE_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Gosper County, Nebraska| ]]
[[Category:Nebraska counties]]
[[Category:Lexington Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
[[Category:1881 establishments in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1881]]