Editing Kearney County, Nebraska

{{Short description|County in Nebraska, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Kearney, Nebraska}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county             = Kearney County
| state              = Nebraska
| founded            = 1860
| seat wl            = Minden
| largest city       = Minden
| area_total_sq_mi   = 516
| area_land_sq_mi    = 516
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.1
| area percentage    = 0.02%
| census yr          = 2020
| pop                = 6688
| density_sq_mi      = auto
| web                = www.kearneycounty.ne.gov/
| ex image           = Kearney County, Nebraska courthouse from E 1.JPG
| ex image cap       = Kearney County Courthouse in Minden
| district           = 3rd
| time zone          = Central
| named for          = [[Fort Kearny]]
}}

'''Kearney County''' is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Nebraska]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 6,688.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kearney County, Nebraska |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Kearney_County,_Nebraska?g=050XX00US31099 |access-date=June 19, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Minden, Nebraska|Minden]].<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 1860. It was named for [[Fort Kearny]], which in turn was named for Brigade General [[Stephen W. Kearny]].

Kearney County is part of the [[Kearney Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

In the [[Vehicle registration plates of Nebraska|Nebraska license plate system]], Kearney County is represented by the prefix 52 (it had the 52nd-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

==Geography==
The terrain of Kearney County consists of gently rolling low hills, mostly devoted to agriculture. The [[Platte River]] flows eastward along the north county boundary. The county has a total area of {{convert|516|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|516|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi}} (0.2%) 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 8, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[File:US 6.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 6 in Nebraska|U.S. Highway 6]]
* [[File:US 34.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 34 in Nebraska|U.S. Highway 34]]
* [[File:N-10.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 10]]
* [[File:N-44.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 44]]
* [[File:N-74.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 74]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Buffalo County, Nebraska|Buffalo County]] - north
* [[Adams County, Nebraska|Adams County]] - east
* [[Webster County, Nebraska|Webster County]] - southeast
* [[Franklin County, Nebraska|Franklin County]] - south
* [[Harlan County, Nebraska|Harlan County]] - southwest
* [[Phelps County, Nebraska|Phelps County]] - west
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* Clark Federal Waterfowl Production Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clark+Federal+Waterfowl+Production+Area,+Axtell,+NE+68924/@40.3774393,-99.0622767,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x87992505069f2115:0xe80bfc54d7a7dfba!2sKearney+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.5328331!4d-98.9245343!3m4!1s0x87992f213d727253:0xd104bff5da0db1ac!8m2!3d40.3773311!4d-99.0557268 ''Clark Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Axtell NE''  Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)]</ref>
* Fort Kearny State Historical Park<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fort+Kearny+State+Historical+Park/@40.6545465,-99.00528,15z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x87992505069f2115:0xe80bfc54d7a7dfba!2sKearney+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.5328331!4d-98.9245343!3m4!1s0x879947d3dd9fa945:0x3e8209885a1b6254!8m2!3d40.6436708!4d-99.0050688 ''Fort Kearny State Historical Park''  Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)]</ref>
* Fort Kearny State Recreation Area (partial)<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fort+Kearny+State+Recreation+Area,+Gibbon,+NE+68840/@40.6545465,-99.00528,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x87992505069f2115:0xe80bfc54d7a7dfba!2sKearney+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.5328331!4d-98.9245343!3m4!1s0x879946313330b419:0x88250bba358407ff!8m2!3d40.654625!4d-98.9949368 ''Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, Gibbon NE''  Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)]</ref>
* Jensen Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jensen+Lagoon+National+Wildlife+Mgt+Area,+Minden,+NE+68959/@40.399659,-98.7475756,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x87992505069f2115:0xe80bfc54d7a7dfba!2sKearney+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.5328331!4d-98.9245343!3m4!1s0x87991be3fa94ef03:0x4ecedfe8b7dd89a7!8m2!3d40.397525!4d-98.7453634 ''Jensen Lagoon National Wildlife Mgt Area, Minden NE''  Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)]</ref>
* Prairie Dog Federal Waterfowl Production Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Prairie+Dog+Federal+Waterfowl+Production+Area,+Axtell,+NE+68924/@40.4465656,-99.0794859,12z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x87992505069f2115:0xe80bfc54d7a7dfba!2sKearney+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.5328331!4d-98.9245343!3m4!1s0x87992db699dd9d45:0xbb76100efb5a7c0!8m2!3d40.4006208!4d-99.1290379 ''Prairie Dog Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Axtell NE''  Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)]</ref>
* Youngson Lagoon Natural Wildlife Production Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Youngson+Lagoon+Nat+Wildlife+Mgt+Area,+Minden,+NE+68959/@40.3975676,-98.7915884,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x87992505069f2115:0xe80bfc54d7a7dfba!2sKearney+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.5328331!4d-98.9245343!3m4!1s0x879919215a8b896d:0xe1754bc7d6366671!8m2!3d40.3980703!4d-98.7880512 ''Youngson Lagoon Nat Wildlife Mgt Area, Minden NE''  Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)]</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 474
|1870= 58
|1880= 4072
|1890= 9061
|1900= 9866
|1910= 9106
|1920= 8583
|1930= 8094
|1940= 6854
|1950= 6409
|1960= 6580
|1970= 6707
|1980= 7053
|1990= 6629
|2000= 6882
|2010= 6489
|2020= 6688
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|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 8, 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 8, 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 8, 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 8, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31099.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607150705/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31099.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=September 21, 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=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> there were 6,882 people, 2,643 households, and 1,902 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|13|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 2,846 housing units at an average density of {{convert|6|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.82% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.16% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.23% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.99% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.58% from two or more races. 2.34% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 2,643 households, out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.

The county population contained 80% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,247, and the median income for a family was $44,877. Males had a median income of $29,987 versus $20,081 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,118. About 5.50% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===City===
* [[Minden, Nebraska|Minden]] (county seat)

===Villages===
{{div col}}
* [[Axtell, Nebraska|Axtell]]
* [[Heartwell, Nebraska|Heartwell]]
* [[Norman, Nebraska|Norman]]
* [[Wilcox, Nebraska|Wilcox]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Keene, Nebraska|Keene]]
* [[Lowell, Nebraska|Lowell]]
* [[Newark, Nebraska|Newark]]

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

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Blaine Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Blaine]]
* [[Cosmo Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Cosmo]]
* [[Eaton Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Eaton]]
* [[Grant Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Grant]]
* [[Hayes Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Hayes]]
* [[Liberty Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Liberty]]
* [[Lincoln Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Lincoln]]
* [[Logan Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Logan]]
* [[Lowell Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Lowell]]
* [[May Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|May]]
* [[Mirage Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Mirage]]
* [[Newark Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Newark]]
* [[Oneida Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Oneida]]
* [[Sherman Township, Kearney County, Nebraska|Sherman]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
* [[Carl Curtis]], [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] and [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=CURTIS, Carl Thomas, (1905 - 2000) |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=c001006 |access-date=October 6, 2012 |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}}</ref>

==Politics==
Kearney County voters are strongly Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
{{PresHead|place=Kearney 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|2,828|736|51|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,822|701|94|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,531|550|215|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,349|773|58|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,224|876|50|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,621|707|51|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,333|680|109|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,953|782|313|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,756|645|868|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,121|1,056|37|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,508|726|28|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,512|726|292|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,830|1,219|75|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,203|759|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,806|825|191|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,352|1,767|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,065|1,263|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,158|1,172|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,422|930|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,440|1,400|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,782|1,267|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,792|1,561|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,214|2,445|52|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,129|2,367|73|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,426|1,093|34|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,453|1,243|530|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,683|1,273|87|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|760|1,396|66|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|336|1,012|732|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|993|1,174|149|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,235|396|499|Nebraska}}
{{PresFoot|1900|Democratic|1,055|1,109|71|Nebraska}}

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Kearney |short=x}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Kearney County, Nebraska
|North     = [[Buffalo County, Nebraska|Buffalo County]]
|East      = [[Adams County, Nebraska|Adams County]]
|Southeast = [[Webster County, Nebraska|Webster County]]
|South     = [[Franklin County, Nebraska|Franklin County]]
|Southwest = [[Harlan County, Nebraska|Harlan County]]
|West      = [[Phelps County, Nebraska|Phelps County]]
}}

{{Kearney County, Nebraska}}
{{Nebraska}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|40.51|-98.95|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NE_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Kearney County, Nebraska| ]]
[[Category:Kearney Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
[[Category:1860 establishments in Nebraska Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1860]]