Douglas County, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 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 1,401 people per square mile (541/km²). There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 per square mile (225/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.96% 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...
, 11.50% 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...
, 0.61% 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...
, 1.71% 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...
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
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...
, 3.40% 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 1.76% from two or more races. 6.67% 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. 26.3% were of German, 11.5% 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 6.2% 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...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 182,194 households out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% 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, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,209, and the median income for a family was $54,651. Males had a median income of $36,577 versus $27,265 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 $22,879. About 6.70% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Douglas County is governed by a board of seven county commissioners, elected to four year terms. County courthouse positions are also elected on a partisanPolitical Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
basis. Most of the county's offices are located at the Douglas County Courthouse
Douglas County Courthouse (Omaha)
The present Douglas County Courthouse is located at 1701 Farnam Street in Omaha, Nebraska. Built in 1912, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Notable events at the courthouse include two lynchings and the city's first Civil Rights Era sit-in protest...
.
| District | Commissioner |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Boyle Mike Boyle Mike Boyle is a former mayor of Omaha, Nebraska and is a current member of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners... |
| 2 | Pam Tusa |
| 3 | Chris Rodgers (Chair) |
| 4 | Kyle Hutchings |
| 5 | Marc Kraft |
| 6 | Mary Ann Borgeson |
| 7 | Clare Duda |
| Office | Officeholder |
|---|---|
| County Assessor Assessor (property) An assessor is a specialist who calculates the value of property. The value calculated by the assessor is then used as the basis for determining the amounts to be paid or assessed for tax or insurance purposes.... |
Roger Morrissey |
| County Attorney County attorney A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position... |
Donald Kleine |
| County Clerk | Tom Cavanaugh |
| Clerk of the District Court Court clerk A court clerk is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to administer oaths to witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors... |
John Friend |
| County Engineer | Tom Doyle |
| Register of Deeds | Diane Battiato |
| County Sheriff | Tim Dunning |
| County Treasurer Treasurer A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:... |
John W. Ewing |
| Public Defender Public defender The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way... |
Tom Riley |
Cities
- BenningtonBennington, NebraskaBennington is a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 937 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bennington is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
- OmahaOmaha, NebraskaOmaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
- RalstonRalston, NebraskaRalston is a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 6,314 at the 2000 census. Ralston is geographically surrounded by Omaha, Nebraska but is a separate city. Since Ralston's population is below 10,000, state law technically allows for Omaha to forcibly annex Ralston...
- ValleyValley, NebraskaValley is a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,788 at the 2000 census.Valley is the hometown of Gail Rock, who used it as the basis for the small town Clear Rock in her Addie Mills books, of which "The House Without a Christmas Tree" is best known.The Town of...
Precincts
Douglas County is divided into the following divisions, which, except for the City of Omaha, are called precincts.- Benson
- Chicago
- Douglas
- Elkhorn
- Florence
- Jefferson
- McArdle
- Millard
- City of OmahaOmaha, NebraskaOmaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
- Platte Valley
- Union
- Waterloo
See also
- Ackerhurst Dairy BarnAckerhurst Dairy BarnThe Ackerhurst-Eipperhurst Dairy Barn is located at 15220 Military Road near Bennington, Nebraska. Built in 1935 by Adolf Otte in the Gambrel also known as Dutch Gambrel style, the Barn was designated a "Landmark" by the City of Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission on March 5, 2002, and...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas County, Nebraska