Red Willow County, Nebraska

Red Willow County, Nebraska
Red Willow County Courthouse in McCook
Location in the state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location in the U.S.
Founded	1873
Named for	Red Willow Creek
Seat	McCook
Largest city	McCook
Area
• Total	718 sq mi (1,860 km^2)
• Land	717 sq mi (1,857 km^2)
• Water	1.0 sq mi (3 km^2), 0.1%
Population
• (2010)	11,055
• Density	15/sq mi (6/km²)
Congressional district	3rd
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Red Willow County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,055.^[1] Its county seat is McCook.^[2]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Red Willow County is represented by the prefix 48 (it had the forty-eighth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Red Willow County was formed in 1873. It was named after the Red Willow Creek. The name is reported to be a mistranslation of the Dakota Indian name Chanshasha Wakpala, which literally means Red Dogwood Creek. The Dakota referred to the creek as such because of an abundance of the red dogwood shrub that grew along the creek banks. Its stem and branches are deep red in color, and it is favored in basket making.^[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 square miles (1,860 km²), of which 717 square miles (1,860 km²) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) (0.1%) is water.^[4]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 6
• U.S. Highway 34
• U.S. Highway 83
• Nebraska Highway 89

Adjacent counties

• Furnas County, Nebraska (east)
• Decatur County, Kansas (south)
• Rawlins County, Kansas (southwest)
• Hitchcock County, Nebraska (west)
• Frontier County, Nebraska (north)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	3,044		—
1890	8,837		190.3%
1900	9,604		8.7%
1910	11,056		15.1%
1920	11,434		3.4%
1930	13,859		21.2%
1940	11,951		−13.8%
1950	12,977		8.6%
1960	12,940		−0.3%
1970	12,191		−5.8%
1980	12,615		3.5%
1990	11,705		−7.2%
2000	11,448		−2.2%
2010	11,055		−3.4%
Est. 2014	10,867	[5]	−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census^[10] of 2000, there were 11,448 people, 4,710 households, and 3,188 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 5,278 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.55% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 2.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,710 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,293, and the median income for a family was $40,279. Males had a median income of $27,768 versus $18,768 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,303. About 7.60% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

• Bartley
• Danbury
• Indianola
• Lebanon
• Marion
• McCook (county seat)
• Perry
• Shippee

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Red Willow County, Nebraska

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
3. "History", Nebraska Association of County Officials, Retrieved on March 14, 2008.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
10. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

Official website

Coordinates: 40°11′N 100°29′W / 40.18°N 100.48°W