Hamilton County, Nebraska

Hamilton County
Hamilton County
County
	Hamilton County courthouse in Aurora
	Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
	Nebraska's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 40°53′N 98°01′W / 40.88°N 98.02°W
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1867 (created); 1870 (organized)
Named for	Alexander Hamilton
Seat	Aurora
Largest city	Aurora
Area
• Total	547 sq mi (1,420 km2)
• Land	544 sq mi (1,410 km2)
• Water	4.1 sq mi (11 km2) 0.8%
Population (2020)
• Total	9,429
• Density	17/sq mi (6.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.co.hamilton.ne.us

Hamilton County is a county in the U.S. state Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 9,429.^[1] Its county seat is Aurora.^[2] The county was named for Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury in the new United States government.

Hamilton County is included in the Grand Island, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Hamilton County is represented by the prefix 28 (it had the 28th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

The first permanent settlers arrived in Hamilton County in 1866.^[3] Hamilton County was created in 1867,^[4] and was organized in 1870.^[5]^[6] It was named for Alexander Hamilton.^[7]

Geography

The Platte River flows northeastward along the northwest side of Hamilton County, forming the northwestern boundary line with Merrick County.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 547 square miles (1,420 km²), of which 543 square miles (1,410 km²) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km²) (0.8%) is water.^[8]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Polk County – northeast
York County – east
Clay County – south
Adams County – southwest
Hall County – west
Merrick County – north

Protected areas

Gadwall State Wildlife Management Area^[9]
Nelson Federal Waterfowl Production Area^[10]
Pintail State Wildlife Management Area^[11]
Rainwater Basin Wildlife Management District^[12]
Springer Federal Waterfowl Production Area^[13]
Troester Federal Waterfowl Production Area^[14]
Deep Well State Wildlife Management Area^[15]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	130	—
1880	8,267	6,259.2%
1890	14,096	70.5%
1900	13,330	−5.4%
1910	13,459	1.0%
1920	13,237	−1.6%
1930	12,159	−8.1%
1940	9,982	−17.9%
1950	8,778	−12.1%
1960	8,714	−0.7%
1970	8,867	1.8%
1980	9,301	4.9%
1990	8,862	−4.7%
2000	9,403	6.1%
2010	9,124	−3.0%
2020	9,429	3.3%
US Decennial Census^[16] 1790-1960^[17] 1900-1990^[18] 1990-2000^[19] 2010^[20]

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[21] there were 9,403 people, 3,503 households, and 2,676 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km²). There were 3,850 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.43% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,503 households, out of which 37.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.40% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.60% were non-families. 21.10% 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 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 29.10% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,277, and the median income for a family was $45,659. Males had a median income of $29,238 versus $20,308 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,590. About 5.90% of families and 7.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Aurora (county seat)

Villages

Census-designated place

Overland

Politics

Hamilton County voters have long been reliably Republican. In only one national election since 1916 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Hamilton County, Nebraska^[22]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	4,309	77.42%	1,118	20.09%	139	2.50%
2016	3,783	75.60%	878	17.55%	343	6.85%
2012	3,600	73.91%	1,146	23.53%	125	2.57%
2008	3,389	70.62%	1,332	27.76%	78	1.63%
2004	3,785	77.78%	1,012	20.80%	69	1.42%
2000	3,251	72.39%	1,066	23.74%	174	3.87%
1996	2,623	61.37%	1,172	27.42%	479	11.21%
1992	2,388	51.72%	994	21.53%	1,235	26.75%
1988	3,022	69.73%	1,289	29.74%	23	0.53%
1984	3,418	79.77%	842	19.65%	25	0.58%
1980	3,200	74.92%	778	18.22%	293	6.86%
1976	2,737	65.46%	1,337	31.98%	107	2.56%
1972	2,960	76.55%	907	23.45%	0	0.00%
1968	2,592	70.94%	918	25.12%	144	3.94%
1964	2,105	52.74%	1,886	47.26%	0	0.00%
1960	3,249	72.65%	1,223	27.35%	0	0.00%
1956	3,217	74.95%	1,075	25.05%	0	0.00%
1952	3,579	76.00%	1,130	24.00%	0	0.00%
1948	2,406	61.46%	1,509	38.54%	0	0.00%
1944	3,057	69.68%	1,330	30.32%	0	0.00%
1940	3,286	66.36%	1,666	33.64%	0	0.00%
1936	2,748	50.43%	2,653	48.69%	48	0.88%
1932	2,003	39.66%	2,969	58.78%	79	1.56%
1928	3,634	68.77%	1,606	30.39%	44	0.83%
1924	2,935	56.12%	1,545	29.54%	750	14.34%
1920	2,950	66.89%	1,356	30.75%	104	2.36%
1916	1,444	43.16%	1,816	54.27%	86	2.57%
1912	450	14.57%	1,433	46.41%	1,205	39.02%
1908	1,633	47.36%	1,664	48.26%	151	4.38%
1904	1,845	61.38%	551	18.33%	610	20.29%
1900	1,524	47.85%	1,571	49.32%	90	2.83%