Editing Thomas County, Nebraska

{{Short description|County in Nebraska, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county             = Thomas County
| state              = Nebraska
| founded            = 1887
| seat wl            = Thedford
| largest city       = Thedford
| city type          = village
| area_total_sq_mi   = 714
| area_land_sq_mi    = 713
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.8
| area percentage    = 0.1%
| census yr          = 2020
| pop                = 669
| density_sq_mi      = auto
| web                = 
| ex image           = Thomas County, Nebraska courthouse from SE.JPG
| ex image cap       = Thomas County courthouse in Thedford
| district           = 3rd
| time zone          = Central
| named for          = [[George Henry Thomas]]
}}

'''Thomas County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Nebraska]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 669.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thomas County, Nebraska|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Thomas_County,_Nebraska?g=050XX00US31171|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 24, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Thedford, Nebraska|Thedford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was formed in 1887, and was named for General [[George H. Thomas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/thomas.htm|title=Thomas County|access-date=March 19, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716102609/http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/thomas.htm|archive-date=July 16, 2011}} Retrieved on March 15, 2008.</ref>

In the [[Vehicle registration plates of Nebraska|Nebraska license plate system]], Thomas County is represented by the prefix 89 (it had the eighty-ninth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

==Geography==
[[File:Nebraska Sandhills.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A view of the [[Dismal River]], [[Sandhills (Nebraska)|Sandhills]], and [[U.S. Route 83]] in Thomas County]]
The terrain of Thomas County consists of rolling hills, sloping to the east. The Middle Loup River flows east-southeastward through the middle of the county, and the [[Dismal River]] flows in the same direction through the lower part of the county. The two streams converge east of Thomas County. The county has an area of {{convert|714|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|713|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.8|sqmi}} (0.1%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_31.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 12, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|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}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[File:US 83.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 83 in Nebraska|U.S. Highway 83]]
* [[File:N-2.svg|20px]] [[Nebraska Highway 2]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Cherry County, Nebraska|Cherry County]] - north
* [[Blaine County, Nebraska|Blaine County]] - east
* [[Logan County, Nebraska|Logan County]] - south
* [[McPherson County, Nebraska|McPherson County]] - southwest
* [[Hooker County, Nebraska|Hooker County]] - west
{{div col end}}

===National protected area===
* [[Nebraska National Forest]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 517
| 1900 = 628
| 1910 = 1191
| 1920 = 1773
| 1930 = 1510
| 1940 = 1553
| 1950 = 1206
| 1960 = 1078
| 1970 = 954
| 1980 = 973
| 1990 = 851
| 2000 = 729
| 2010 = 647
| 2020 = 669
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 671
| align-fn = center
| footnote = US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 12, 2014}}</ref><br>1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=December 12, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ne190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 12, 2014}}</ref><br>1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |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 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 12, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref>{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Thomas County, Nebraska |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/thomascountynebraska/PST045222 |website=www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=June 4, 2023 |language=en |date=July 1, 2022 }}</ref> 2020<ref>{{cite web|title=Thomas County, Nebraska|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Thomas_County,_Nebraska?g=050XX00US31171|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 24, 2023}}</ref> 2022<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31171.html|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 22, 2013}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2000 United States Census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 729 people, 325 households, and 216 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|person&nbsp;|person|}}. There were 446 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0.6|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 99.45% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.27% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], and 0.27% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 325 households, out of which 26.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.84.

The county population contained 23.60% under the age of 18, 4.40% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 27.80% from 45 to 64, and 20.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,292, and the median income for a family was $36,618. Males had a median income of $25,662 versus $20,577 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,335. About 13.60% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Villages===
* [[Halsey, Nebraska|Halsey]] (partial)
* [[Thedford, Nebraska|Thedford]] (county seat)

=== Census-designated place ===

* [[Seneca, Nebraska|Seneca]]

===Unincorporated places===
* [[Natick, Nebraska|Natick]]
* [[Norway, Nebraska|Norway]]

==Politics==
Thomas County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

Thomas county is the only county outside of the confederacy and border south to vote for both Democrat [[John W. Davis|John Davis]] is in his landslide loss as well as Republican [[Barry Goldwater]] in his, 40 years later.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Political Graveyard: Thomas County, Neb.|url=https://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/NE/TO-votes.html|access-date=August 21, 2021|website=politicalgraveyard.com}}</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Thomas 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|348|44|1|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|377|45|5|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|344|30|19|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|360|42|6|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|331|51|8|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|378|60|6|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|329|55|11|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|303|64|62|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|283|70|116|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|383|81|2|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|298|73|3|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|306|65|31|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|343|103|22|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|397|73|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|354|76|31|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|319|212|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|420|141|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|422|121|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|490|120|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|312|238|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|338|214|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|486|277|0|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|366|374|13|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|262|437|22|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|406|152|4|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|206|216|159|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|305|207|34|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|244|261|28|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|86|172|128|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|95|130|9|Nebraska}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|86|40|16|Nebraska}}
{{PresFoot|1900|Democratic|65|80|4|Nebraska}}

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

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Thomas County, Nebraska
|North     = [[Cherry County, Nebraska|Cherry County]]
|East      = [[Blaine County, Nebraska|Blaine County]]
|South     = [[Logan County, Nebraska|Logan County]]
|Southwest = [[McPherson County, Nebraska|McPherson County]]
|West      = [[Hooker County, Nebraska|Hooker County]]
}}

{{Thomas County, Nebraska}}
{{Nebraska}}

{{coord|41.92|-100.58|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NE_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Thomas County, Nebraska| ]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1887]]