Gordon, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Gordon is a city in Sheridan County
, Nebraska
, United States
. The population was 1,612 at the 2010 census
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,756 people, 733 households, and 467 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,881.0 people per square mile (729.0/km²). There were 825 housing units at an average density of 883.7 per square mile (342.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.35% White, 15.43% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races
, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.
There were 733 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples
living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,896, and the median income for a family was $35,139. Males had a median income of $27,656 versus $16,927 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,105. About 13.4% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
. He is notable as a public figure because of his murder in Gordon by much younger European-American men, known to be local thugs. In February 1972, Yellow Thunder was brought into the American Legion bar by Melvin and Leslie Hare and two other men. They humiliated him by taking his pants off, then took him outside and beat him to death, leaving him in an abandoned car. Initially authorities made no charges in the case. The AIM (American Indian Movement) protested Yellow Thunder's death and demanded action be taken against the perpetrators. At first the police charged the Hares and the others with assault and battery, but increased the charge to manslaughter in May 1972. The Hare brothers were convicted and served one year each in prison.
Sheridan County, Nebraska
-History:Sheridan County was formed in 1885. It was named after General Philip H. Sheridan.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,198 people, 2,549 households, and 1,728 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 3,013 housing...
, 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....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,612 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
.
Geography
Gordon is located at 42°48′25"N 102°12′14"W (42.806956, -102.203812).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
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 1,756 people, 733 households, and 467 families residing in the city. 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 1,881.0 people per square mile (729.0/km²). There were 825 housing units at an average density of 883.7 per square mile (342.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.35% White, 15.43% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.28% 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 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.
There were 733 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% 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, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,896, and the median income for a family was $35,139. Males had a median income of $27,656 versus $16,927 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 city was $14,105. About 13.4% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Val Fitch, 1980 winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics.
- Dwight GriswoldDwight GriswoldDwight Palmer Griswold was an American politician who served as the 25th Governor of Nebraska from 1940 to 1946 and U.S. Senator from 1952 to 1954. He was a Republican.-Biography:...
, governor of Nebraska from 1940 to 1946 and editor and publisher of the Gordon Journal from 1922 to 1940. - Trevor JohnsonTrevor JohnsonTrevor Johnson is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.Johnson has also played for the New Orleans Saints and St...
, NFL player with the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. - Doc MiddletonDoc MiddletonJames M. Riley was an outlaw and horse thief, whose exploits of stealing perhaps 2,000 horses over a two-year period earned a spot in the Wild West Show.Riley was born in...
, an outlaw, saloon operator, and deputy sheriff in the late 1800s. - Scott "Ote" Berry, four time pro rodeo steer wrestling world champion.
- Melvin and Leslie Hare - brothers in their 20s convicted in the beating death in Gordon in February 1972 of Raymond Yellow Thunder, a 51-year-old Oglala LakotaOglala LakotaThe Oglala Lakota or Oglala Sioux are one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people; along with the Nakota and Dakota, they make up the Great Sioux Nation. A majority of the Oglala live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the eighth-largest Native American reservation in the...
from the Pine Ridge Reservation. They each served a year in prison.
Ray Yellow Thunder
Raymond Yellow Thunder (1921–1972) was an Oglala Sioux, born in Kyle, South DakotaKyle, South Dakota
Kyle is a census-designated place in Shannon County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 846 at the 2010 census...
. He is notable as a public figure because of his murder in Gordon by much younger European-American men, known to be local thugs. In February 1972, Yellow Thunder was brought into the American Legion bar by Melvin and Leslie Hare and two other men. They humiliated him by taking his pants off, then took him outside and beat him to death, leaving him in an abandoned car. Initially authorities made no charges in the case. The AIM (American Indian Movement) protested Yellow Thunder's death and demanded action be taken against the perpetrators. At first the police charged the Hares and the others with assault and battery, but increased the charge to manslaughter in May 1972. The Hare brothers were convicted and served one year each in prison.