Washington County, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
National protected areas
- Boyer Chute National Wildlife RefugeBoyer Chute National Wildlife RefugeBoyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, created in 1996, is located along the banks of the Missouri River in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The 3,350-acre refuge preserves an area that had been cultivated and neglected before the early 1990s...
- DeSoto National Wildlife RefugeDeSoto National Wildlife Refuge|DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, created in 1958, is located along the banks of the Missouri River in the U.S. states of Iowa and Nebraska. The 8,362-acre refuge preserves an area that would had been otherwise lost to cultivation...
(part)
Demographics
| Washington County Population by decade |
1860 - 1,249 1870 - 4,452 1880 - 8,631 1890 - 11,869 1900 - 13,086 1910 - 12,738 1920 - 12,180 1930 - 12,095 1940 - 11,578 1950 - 11,511 1960 - 12,103 1970 - 13,310 1980 - 15,508 1990 - 16,607 2000 - 18,780 2010 - 20,234 |
As 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 18,780 people, 6,940 households, and 5,149 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 48 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 7,408 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.12% 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...
, 0.34% 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...
, 0.20% 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...
, 0.29% 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...
, 0.11% 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...
, 0.30% 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 0.63% from two or more races. 1.08% 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. 37.1% were of German, 11.9% Danish, 9.0% 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...
, 7.8% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 7.0% 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 6,940 households out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.00% 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, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% 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 3.09.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,500, and the median income for a family was $56,429. Males had a median income of $36,901 versus $25,893 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 $21,055. About 4.10% of families and 6.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.00% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Washington County is also home to the Blair Municipal Airport and several small privately owned grass airstrips, such as the Orum Aerodrome. The Fort Calhoun Nuclear Generating StationFort Calhoun Nuclear Generating Station
The Fort Calhoun Nuclear Generating Station is a nuclear power plant located on between Fort Calhoun, and Blair, Nebraska adjacent to the Missouri River between mile markers 645.6 and 646.0. The utility has an easement for another which is maintained in a natural state...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
's smallest commercial nuclear reactor by rated capacity, is located south of Blair. An associated system of warning sirens
Civil defense siren
A civil defense siren is a mechanical or electronic device for generating sound to...
are located in the southeastern part of the county for emergency notification in the event of a problem at the station. An Atlas missile launch site (Site B), formerly associated with Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S...
and deactivated in the 1960s, is situated to the east of Arlington.
Government
The Washington County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services throughout the county, including Arlington and Fort Calhoun. Blair retains its own police department. The Nebraska State PatrolNebraska State Patrol
The Nebraska State Patrol is Nebraska's only statewide full-service law enforcement agency. Serving Nebraska since 1937, State Patrol officers perform a wide variety of duties...
also has a presence in the county, primarily along the state highways.
Cities and villages
- ArlingtonArlington, NebraskaArlington is a village in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,197 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Arlington is located at ....
village - BlairBlair, NebraskaBlair is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,990 at the 2000 census. Blair is a part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
city - De SotoDe Soto, NebraskaDe Soto is a former community in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. It was named in honor of the sixteenth century Spanish explorer, Hernando De Soto1. De Soto was founded in 1855 and served as the county seat from 1858-1866. During its heyday, the town hosted many flourishing new...
(unincorporatedUnincorporated areaIn law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
) - FontanelleFontanelle, NebraskaFontanelle is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The site of repeated incursions by the neighboring Pawnee tribe, Fontanelle was an early boom town in the Nebraska Territory, but waned in importance after failing to secure a railroad connection in the late...
(unincorporated) - Fort CalhounFort Calhoun, NebraskaFort Calhoun is a city in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 856 at the 2000 census.Fort Calhoun Nuclear Generating Station is built on...
city - HermanHerman, NebraskaHerman is a village in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 310 at the 2000 census.On July 13, 1899, Herman was struck by a tornado that killed or maimed over fifty people.-History:...
village - KennardKennard, NebraskaKennard is a village in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 371 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kennard is located at ....
village - NashvilleNashville, NebraskaNashville is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Nebraska, United States.-History:The Chicago and North Western Railway arrived in Nashville in the 1870s, and was also called the Omaha Road.-Geography:...
(unincorporated) - Orum (unincorporated)
- Spiker (unincorporated)
- Telbasta (unincorporated)
- WashingtonWashington, NebraskaWashington is a village in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 126 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Washington is located at ....
village
Townships
- Township 1Township 1, Washington County, NebraskaTownship 1 is one of five townships in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,464 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 3,696.The City of Fort Calhoun lies within the Township.-References:...
- Township 2Township 2, Washington County, NebraskaTownship 2 is one of five townships in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,338 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 2,473.A portion of the Village of Kennard lies within the Township....
- Township 5Township 5, Washington County, NebraskaTownship 5 is one of five townships in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,388 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 1,545.The Village of Herman lies within the Township.-References:...
- Township 6Township 6, Washington County, NebraskaTownship 6 is one of five townships in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,516 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 1,713.-References:...
- Township 7Township 7, Washington County, NebraskaTownship 7 is one of five townships in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,562 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 2,701....
See also
- Washington County Historical AssociationWashington County Historical AssociationThe Washington County Historical Association, or WCHA, is located in the Washington County Historical Museum at 102 North 14th Street in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, NebraskaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, NebraskaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Nebraska. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington County, Nebraska, United States...