Pierce County, Nebraska

Pierce County
County
Pierce County courthouse in Pierce
Pierce County courthouse in Pierce
Map of Nebraska highlighting Pierce County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Map of the United States highlighting Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°16′N 97°37′W / 42.27°N 97.61°W / 42.27; -97.61
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1859
Named forFranklin Pierce
SeatPierce
Largest cityPierce
Area
 • Total575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land573 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Water1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,317
 • Density13/sq mi (4.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.pierce.ne.us

Pierce County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,317.[1] Its county seat is Pierce.[2] The county was formed in 1859, and was named for US President Franklin Pierce.[3][4]

Pierce County is part of the Norfolk, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Pierce County is represented by the prefix 40 (it had the 40th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Some of Pierce County's earliest settlers were German Lutheran colonists who had traveled from Ixonia, Wisconsin, and had founded the nearby town of Norfolk.[5]

Geography

The Pierce County terrain consists of low rolling hills, sloping to the east and southeast.[6] The north fork of the Elkhorn River flows southeastward through the central part of the county, while Dry Fork drains the lower western part, then discharges into the north fork of the Elkhorn. Most of the county's area is devoted to agriculture, often under central pivot irrigation.[7]

The county has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 573 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[8]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

  • Willow Creek Recreation Area[9]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870152—
18801,202690.8%
18904,864304.7%
19008,44573.6%
191010,12219.9%
192010,6815.5%
193011,0803.7%
194010,211−7.8%
19509,405−7.9%
19608,722−7.3%
19708,493−2.6%
19808,481−0.1%
19907,827−7.7%
20007,8570.4%
20107,266−7.5%
20207,3170.7%
2022 (est.)7,3320.2%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[15] 2022[16]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[17] there were 7,857 people, 2,979 households, and 2,141 families in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 3,247 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.65% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,979 households, out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.40% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 29.00% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,239, and the median income for a family was $40,500. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $20,237 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,980. About 8.80% of families and 11.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Pierce County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Pierce County, Nebraska[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,462 86.29% 480 11.96% 70 1.74%
2016 3,052 84.08% 382 10.52% 196 5.40%
2012 2,707 78.90% 637 18.57% 87 2.54%
2008 2,385 73.93% 783 24.27% 58 1.80%
2004 2,824 83.11% 546 16.07% 28 0.82%
2000 2,534 78.99% 570 17.77% 104 3.24%
1996 1,923 62.39% 697 22.62% 462 14.99%
1992 1,853 52.02% 611 17.15% 1,098 30.83%
1988 2,474 72.79% 914 26.89% 11 0.32%
1984 3,017 84.06% 545 15.19% 27 0.75%
1980 2,938 80.74% 517 14.21% 184 5.06%
1976 2,172 66.95% 1,004 30.95% 68 2.10%
1972 2,451 78.96% 653 21.04% 0 0.00%
1968 2,408 73.44% 674 20.56% 197 6.01%
1964 1,965 54.64% 1,631 45.36% 0 0.00%
1960 2,963 72.80% 1,107 27.20% 0 0.00%
1956 2,800 70.85% 1,152 29.15% 0 0.00%
1952 3,234 78.06% 909 21.94% 0 0.00%
1948 1,866 57.43% 1,383 42.57% 0 0.00%
1944 2,956 71.06% 1,204 28.94% 0 0.00%
1940 3,271 69.30% 1,449 30.70% 0 0.00%
1936 2,016 44.85% 2,357 52.44% 122 2.71%
1932 1,128 27.23% 2,980 71.93% 35 0.84%
1928 2,542 61.45% 1,586 38.34% 9 0.22%
1924 1,570 42.36% 760 20.51% 1,376 37.13%
1920 2,478 75.11% 743 22.52% 78 2.36%
1916 1,228 53.60% 1,030 44.96% 33 1.44%
1912 694 32.52% 948 44.42% 492 23.06%
1908 1,067 48.54% 1,095 49.82% 36 1.64%
1904 1,122 58.65% 616 32.20% 175 9.15%
1900 919 49.54% 913 49.22% 23 1.24%

See also

References

  1. ^ "Pierce County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 114. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  4. ^ "Pierce County". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  5. ^ 1803-- Pioneer history of the Braasch family-- 1956 / compiled by Mrs. Herman Wagner. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. [S.l. : s.n.], 1956. 1956.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  7. ^ Pierce County NE Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  9. ^ Willow Creek Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 26 January 2019)
  10. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  14. ^ "QuickFacts".
  15. ^ "Pierce County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  16. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  18. ^ Election Results

42°16′N 97°37′W / 42.27°N 97.61°W / 42.27; -97.61

Pierce County map in Nebraska