Banner County, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Banner County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Nebraska
. The population was 690 at the 2010 census. Its county seat
is Harrisburg
.
Banner County is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Banner County is represented by the prefix 85 (it had the eighty-fifth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
. In 1870, the southern half of the Panhandle was organized as Cheyenne County. The arrival of increasing numbers of settlers led to the partitioning of the county in 1888: the eastern third became Deuel County
; the middle third became present-day Cheyenne County
; and the western third became Kimball
, Scotts Bluff
, and Banner Counties.
The last of these was named by citizens who declared that it would become the "banner county" of the state, and "the brightest star in the constellation of Nebraska counties".
The initial settlement of the area was by cattle ranchers, drawn by good pastures in the Pumpkin Creek valley.
In the late 1880s, these open-range ranchers were displaced by an influx of settlers; by 1890, almost every quarter-section (160 acres, or 65 ha) was claimed by homesteaders
.
However, the good moisture years that had attracted these settlers were succeeded by a severe drought in 1893 and 1894, which drove many of the new settlers away again; the number of farms in the county declined by more than half, from 565 in 1890 to 226 in 1900.
The land thus vacated was again used by ranchers, who raised both crops and cattle. The 1904 passage of the Kinkaid Act
, which allowed homesteaders to claim 640 acres (259 ha) brought a new wave of settlers; however, even these larger tracts were often insufficient to support a family, and many of the Kinkaid claims were eventually sold to established cattle ranchers.
The county's growth was hindered by the absence of railroads: the nearest lines ran through Kimball
, 11 miles (17.7 km) to the south, and Gering
, 8 miles (12.9 km) to the north. Roads were also slow to develop in the county: in 1923, only dirt roads existed. The difficulty of reaching markets tended to discourage commercial crop farming in the county.
Farmers responded by resorting to irrigation. The first irrigation well was drilled by the late 1920s, and others quickly followed. By the late 20th century, center-pivot irrigation
systems were in use through much of the county.
By 2000, there were approximately 500 registered irrigation wells in the Pumpkin Creek basin.
Groundwater pumping combined with drought conditions ended surface flow in Pumpkin Creek by 1993, and significantly reduced groundwater levels in the valley. In 2001, the North Platte Natural Resources District, which regulates water use in the watershed, declared a moratorium on the drilling of new wells, and limited existing operations to 14 inches (35.6 cm) of irrigation water per year. Complicating matters, lawsuits have been filed contending that water use in the Pumpkin Creek valley depletes flows into Lake McConaughy
and interferes with the prior water rights of downstream irrigators.
(ICBMs), based at Warren Air Force Base
near Cheyenne, Wyoming
, were installed in a region of western Nebraska, Wyoming
, and Colorado
. From 1960 to 1963, 90 Atlas
sites were constructed in Nebraska. Construction of the launch sites, and upgrading of the roads leading to them, led to an economic boom in western Nebraska. Beginning in 1963, the Atlas series was replaced by Minuteman
missiles, which used solid instead of liquid fuel, and which were launched from underground silos. In the 1970s, there were 82 Minuteman III sites in the Panhandle, of which 20 were located in Banner County.
, the county has a total area of 746 square miles (1,932.1 km²), 0.02% of which is water.
Banner County lies on what was once a tableland sloping away from the Rocky Mountains
. Over geologic history, it was eroded by Pumpkin Creek and other watercourses, and much of the county now lies below the original High Plains level. The county can be divided into four major geographic divisions: the low-lying and relatively flat valley of Pumpkin Creek, which occupies about 40% of the county's area; a tableland, in places smooth and in others deeply dissected, occupying the southern one-third of the county; the Wildcat Hills
, a highly dissected escarpment
that crosses the northwestern portion of the county; and a small portion of the North Platte River
valley in the northeastern corner of the county.
Two state highways cross Banner County. Nebraska Highway 88
runs generally east-west, from Bridgeport, Nebraska
to La Grange, Wyoming
, passing north of Harrisburg. Nebraska Highway 71
runs north-south, from Kimball
to Gering
, passing east of Harrisburg.
and rangeland,
but also corn
, beans, sugar beet
s, potato
es, sunflower
s, rapeseed, and millet
.
In response to groundwater depletion and drought, the Natural Resources Conservation Service
has developed a system of cash incentives for farmers in the Pumpkin Creek watershed who convert irrigated cropland to dryland farming
.
Oil was discovered in Banner County in 1919; but the deposits were too deep to be commercially viable. Production of oil in the county began in 1951, and peaked in 1960, when 7000000 barrels (1,112,911,065 l) was produced from 397 wells.
By 2009, the number of wells had fallen to about 200; but new discoveries in Weld County, Colorado
have prompted interest in exploring the Niobrara shale, which lies beneath western Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, and southeastern Wyoming. A 2010 sale of oil leases yielded record prices in Banner and Kimball counties.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 819 people, 311 households, and 237 families residing in the county. The population density
was 1 people per square mile (0.42/km²). There were 375 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.85% White
, 0.12% Black
or African American
, 0.24% Native American
, 0.12% Asian
, 3.05% from other races
, and 0.61% from two or more races. 5.62% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 31.2% were of German
, 14.4% English
, 14.1% American
, 8.0% Swedish, 6.8% Irish
and 5.0% Norwegian
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 311 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.10% were married couples
living together, 4.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.50% were non-families. 19.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.80% under the age of 18, 3.70% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 27.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 108.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,339, and the median income for a family was $41,538. Males had a median income of $25,250 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $17,149. About 12.30% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.00% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. The population was 690 at the 2010 census. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Nebraska
Harrisburg is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Banner County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Banner County is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 15,039 at the 2010 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the 13th largest city in Nebraska....
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Banner County is represented by the prefix 85 (it had the eighty-fifth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
History
When Nebraska became a state in 1867, a single county encompassed the entire PanhandleNebraska Panhandle
The Nebraska Panhandle is an area in the west of the state of Nebraska. A panhandle is an area extending from the rest of a political unit; the Nebraska panhandle is two-thirds as broad as the rest of the state. It is approximately 100 miles east to west and 125 miles north to south...
. In 1870, the southern half of the Panhandle was organized as Cheyenne County. The arrival of increasing numbers of settlers led to the partitioning of the county in 1888: the eastern third became Deuel County
Deuel County, Nebraska
-History:Deuel County was formed in 1889. It was named after Harry Porter Deuel, an early pioneer in this area.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,098 people, 908 households, and 601 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were...
; the middle third became present-day Cheyenne County
Cheyenne County, Nebraska
-History:Cheyenne County was formed in 1871. It was named after the Cheyenne Native American tribe.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, of 2000, there were 9,830 people, 4,071 households, and 2,686 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile . There...
; and the western third became Kimball
Kimball County, Nebraska
-History:Kimball County was formed in 1888. It was named after railroad pioneer Thomas L. Kimball.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,089 people, 1,727 households, and 1,136 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 1,972...
, Scotts Bluff
Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska
-National protected area:* North Platte National Wildlife Refuge* Scotts Bluff National Monument-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36,951 people, 14,887 households, and 10,167 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 16,119...
, and Banner Counties.
The last of these was named by citizens who declared that it would become the "banner county" of the state, and "the brightest star in the constellation of Nebraska counties".
The initial settlement of the area was by cattle ranchers, drawn by good pastures in the Pumpkin Creek valley.
In the late 1880s, these open-range ranchers were displaced by an influx of settlers; by 1890, almost every quarter-section (160 acres, or 65 ha) was claimed by homesteaders
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
.
However, the good moisture years that had attracted these settlers were succeeded by a severe drought in 1893 and 1894, which drove many of the new settlers away again; the number of farms in the county declined by more than half, from 565 in 1890 to 226 in 1900.
The land thus vacated was again used by ranchers, who raised both crops and cattle. The 1904 passage of the Kinkaid Act
Kinkaid Act
The Kinkaid Act of 1904 is a U.S. statute that amended the 1862 Homestead Act so that one section of a township of undeveloped land could be claimed in 37 northern and western Nebraska counties...
, which allowed homesteaders to claim 640 acres (259 ha) brought a new wave of settlers; however, even these larger tracts were often insufficient to support a family, and many of the Kinkaid claims were eventually sold to established cattle ranchers.
The county's growth was hindered by the absence of railroads: the nearest lines ran through Kimball
Kimball, Nebraska
Kimball is a city in Kimball County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,559 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kimball County.-Geography:Kimball is located at , in the southwestern Panhandle....
, 11 miles (17.7 km) to the south, and Gering
Gering, Nebraska
Gering is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,751 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Scotts Bluff County....
, 8 miles (12.9 km) to the north. Roads were also slow to develop in the county: in 1923, only dirt roads existed. The difficulty of reaching markets tended to discourage commercial crop farming in the county.
Water
Rainfall in Banner County is light and variable; the average yearly precipitation at the Harrisburg weather station is 14.3 inches (36.3 cm).Farmers responded by resorting to irrigation. The first irrigation well was drilled by the late 1920s, and others quickly followed. By the late 20th century, center-pivot irrigation
Center pivot irrigation
Center-pivot irrigation , also called circle irrigation, is a method of crop irrigation in which equipment rotates around a pivot...
systems were in use through much of the county.
By 2000, there were approximately 500 registered irrigation wells in the Pumpkin Creek basin.
Groundwater pumping combined with drought conditions ended surface flow in Pumpkin Creek by 1993, and significantly reduced groundwater levels in the valley. In 2001, the North Platte Natural Resources District, which regulates water use in the watershed, declared a moratorium on the drilling of new wells, and limited existing operations to 14 inches (35.6 cm) of irrigation water per year. Complicating matters, lawsuits have been filed contending that water use in the Pumpkin Creek valley depletes flows into Lake McConaughy
Lake McConaughy
Lake McConaughy is a reservoir on the North Platte River. It is located north of Ogallala, Nebraska, United States, near U.S. Highway 26 and Nebraska Highway 61. The reservoir was named for Charles W. McConaughy, a grain merchant and mayor of Holdrege, Nebraska, one of the leading promoters of...
and interferes with the prior water rights of downstream irrigators.
ICBMs
Beginning in the early 1960s, intercontinental ballistic missilesIntercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
(ICBMs), based at Warren Air Force Base
Francis E. Warren Air Force Base
Francis E. Warren Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately west of Cheyenne, Wyoming. It is one of three strategic missile bases in the United States. It is named in honor of Francis E. Warren....
near Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
, were installed in a region of western Nebraska, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, and Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. From 1960 to 1963, 90 Atlas
Atlas (rocket family)
Atlas is a family of U.S. space launch vehicles. The original Atlas missile was designed in the late 1950s and produced by the Convair Division of General Dynamics, to be used as an intercontinental ballistic missile...
sites were constructed in Nebraska. Construction of the launch sites, and upgrading of the roads leading to them, led to an economic boom in western Nebraska. Beginning in 1963, the Atlas series was replaced by Minuteman
LGM-30 Minuteman
The LGM-30 Minuteman is a U.S. nuclear missile, a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile . As of 2010, the version LGM-30G Minuteman-III is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States...
missiles, which used solid instead of liquid fuel, and which were launched from underground silos. In the 1970s, there were 82 Minuteman III sites in the Panhandle, of which 20 were located in Banner County.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 746 square miles (1,932.1 km²), 0.02% of which is water.
Banner County lies on what was once a tableland sloping away from the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. Over geologic history, it was eroded by Pumpkin Creek and other watercourses, and much of the county now lies below the original High Plains level. The county can be divided into four major geographic divisions: the low-lying and relatively flat valley of Pumpkin Creek, which occupies about 40% of the county's area; a tableland, in places smooth and in others deeply dissected, occupying the southern one-third of the county; the Wildcat Hills
Wildcat Hills
The Wildcat Hills are an escarpment between the North Platte River and Pumpkin Creek in the western Nebraska Panhandle. Located in Banner, Morrill, and Scotts Bluff counties, the high tableland between the streams has been eroded by wind and water into a region of forested buttes, ridges and...
, a highly dissected escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
that crosses the northwestern portion of the county; and a small portion of the North Platte River
North Platte River
The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long counting its many curves, It travels about distance. Its course lies in the U.S...
valley in the northeastern corner of the county.
Two state highways cross Banner County. Nebraska Highway 88
Nebraska Highway 88
Nebraska Highway 88 is a highway in northwestern Nebraska. It has a western terminus at the Wyoming border to the northwest of Harrisburg. Its eastern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Highway 385 and Nebraska Highway 92 in Bridgeport....
runs generally east-west, from Bridgeport, Nebraska
Bridgeport, Nebraska
Bridgeport is a city in Morrill County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,594 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morrill County.-Geography:Bridgeport is located at ....
to La Grange, Wyoming
La Grange, Wyoming
La Grange is a town in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 332 at the 2000 census.-Geography:La Grange is located at ....
, passing north of Harrisburg. Nebraska Highway 71
Nebraska Highway 71
Nebraska Highway 71 is a highway in western Nebraska. Its southern terminus is at the Colorado border south of Kimball, as a continuation of Colorado State Highway 71...
runs north-south, from Kimball
Kimball, Nebraska
Kimball is a city in Kimball County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,559 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kimball County.-Geography:Kimball is located at , in the southwestern Panhandle....
to Gering
Gering, Nebraska
Gering is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,751 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Scotts Bluff County....
, passing east of Harrisburg.
Major highways
-
Nebraska Highway 71Nebraska Highway 71Nebraska Highway 71 is a highway in western Nebraska. Its southern terminus is at the Colorado border south of Kimball, as a continuation of Colorado State Highway 71... -
Nebraska Highway 88Nebraska Highway 88Nebraska Highway 88 is a highway in northwestern Nebraska. It has a western terminus at the Wyoming border to the northwest of Harrisburg. Its eastern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Highway 385 and Nebraska Highway 92 in Bridgeport....
Adjacent counties
- Scotts Bluff County, NebraskaScotts Bluff County, Nebraska-National protected area:* North Platte National Wildlife Refuge* Scotts Bluff National Monument-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36,951 people, 14,887 households, and 10,167 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 16,119...
- north - Morrill County, NebraskaMorrill County, Nebraska-History:Morrill County was formed in 1908 "carved out of Cheyenne County". It was named after Charles Henry Morrill, a president of the Lincoln Land Company.-Demographics:...
- east - Cheyenne County, NebraskaCheyenne County, Nebraska-History:Cheyenne County was formed in 1871. It was named after the Cheyenne Native American tribe.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, of 2000, there were 9,830 people, 4,071 households, and 2,686 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile . There...
- southeast - Kimball County, NebraskaKimball County, Nebraska-History:Kimball County was formed in 1888. It was named after railroad pioneer Thomas L. Kimball.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,089 people, 1,727 households, and 1,136 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 1,972...
- south - Laramie County, WyomingLaramie County, WyomingLaramie County is the most populous of the 23 counties of the U.S. state of Wyoming. The county is located in the southeastern corner of the state. The county's population was 91,738 at the 2010 census. The county seat is Cheyenne, the state capital...
- west - Goshen County, Wyoming - northwest
Economy
About 60% of Banner County is given over to farming: chiefly winter wheatWinter wheat
Winter wheat is a type of wheat that is planted from September to December in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter wheat sprouts before freezing occurs, then becomes dormant until the soil warms in the spring. Winter wheat needs a few weeks of cold before being able to flower, however persistent snow...
and rangeland,
but also corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, beans, sugar beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
s, potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es, sunflower
Sunflower
Sunflower is an annual plant native to the Americas. It possesses a large inflorescence . The sunflower got its name from its huge, fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used to depict the sun. The sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads...
s, rapeseed, and millet
Millet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
.
In response to groundwater depletion and drought, the Natural Resources Conservation Service
Natural Resources Conservation Service
The Natural Resources Conservation Service , formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service , is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that provides technical assistance to farmers and other private landowners and managers.Its name was changed in 1994 during the Presidency of...
has developed a system of cash incentives for farmers in the Pumpkin Creek watershed who convert irrigated cropland to dryland farming
Dryland farming
Dryland farming is an agricultural technique for non-irrigated cultivation of drylands.-Locations:Dryland farming is used in the Great Plains, the Palouse plateau of Eastern Washington, and other arid regions of North America, the Middle East and in other grain growing regions such as the steppes...
.
Oil was discovered in Banner County in 1919; but the deposits were too deep to be commercially viable. Production of oil in the county began in 1951, and peaked in 1960, when 7000000 barrels (1,112,911,065 l) was produced from 397 wells.
By 2009, the number of wells had fallen to about 200; but new discoveries in Weld County, Colorado
Weld County, Colorado
As of the census of 2000, there were 180,936 people, 63,247 households, and 45,221 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 66,194 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
have prompted interest in exploring the Niobrara shale, which lies beneath western Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, and southeastern Wyoming. A 2010 sale of oil leases yielded record prices in Banner and Kimball counties.
Education
Banner County is covered by a single school district, with a K–12 school located in Harrisburg. The school's enrollment is about 175.Demographics
Banner County's population peaked at 2,435 in 1890 and has steadily declined. It is one of the least populated counties of NebraskaAs of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 819 people, 311 households, and 237 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1 people per square mile (0.42/km²). There were 375 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.85% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.12% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.24% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.12% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.05% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.61% from two or more races. 5.62% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 31.2% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 14.4% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 14.1% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 8.0% Swedish, 6.8% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 5.0% Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 311 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.10% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.50% were non-families. 19.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.80% under the age of 18, 3.70% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 27.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 108.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,339, and the median income for a family was $41,538. Males had a median income of $25,250 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $17,149. About 12.30% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.00% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.
See also
- Big Horn MountainBig Horn MountainBighorn Mountain, or He Sha, is the third-highest peak in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in Banner County, about east of the county seat of Harisburg, in the Pine Ridge escarpment....
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Banner County, Nebraska