Dawson County, Nebraska

County in Nebraska, United States

Not to be confused with Dawson, Nebraska.

U.S. county in Nebraska

Dawson County

U.S. county

Dawson County Courthouse in Lexington

Dawson County Courthouse in Lexington

Map of Nebraska highlighting Dawson County

Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska

Nebraska's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Nebraska
Founded| 1860 (authorized by Territorial Legislature)
1871 (authorized by proclamation of Acting Governor)
Named for| Jacob Dawson
Seat| Lexington
Largest city| Lexington
Area

• Total| 1,019 sq mi (2,640 km2)
• Land| 1,013 sq mi (2,620 km2)
• Water| 6.3 sq mi (16 km2)  0.6%%
Population

• Estimate

(2018)

| 24,111
• Density| 23.4/sq mi (9.0/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| www.dawsoncountyne.org

Dawson County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 24,326.[1] Its county seat is Lexington.[2]

Dawson County is part of the Lexington, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Dawson County is represented by the prefix 18 (it had the 18th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Protected areas
* 2.3 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 Cities
* 4.2 Villages
* 4.3 Census-designated place
* 4.4 Unincorporated communities
* 5 Politics
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## History

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Dawson County was established by the territorial legislature in 1860; it officially became a county in 1871 by proclamation of acting Governor William James. The county website states that the county was named for Jacob Dawson, the first postmaster in the settlement of Lancaster County, Nebraska.[3][4] Other sources offer another possibility: that it was named after Pennsylvania Congressman John Littleton Dawson;[5]

## Geography

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Dawson County lies near the center of Nebraska, in the portion of the state that observes Central Time. According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,019 square miles (2,640 km2), of which 1,013 square miles (2,620 km2) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km2) (0.6%) is water.[6]

### Major highways

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* Interstate 80
* U.S. Highway 30
* File:US 283.svg U.S. Highway 283
* File:N-21.svg Nebraska Highway 21
* File:N-23.svg Nebraska Highway 23
* Nebraska Highway 40
* File:N-47.svg Nebraska Highway 47

### Protected areas

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* Bitterns Call State Wildlife Management Area[7]
* Dogwood State Wildlife Management Area[8]
* East Willow Island State Wildlife Management Area[9]
* Gallagher Canyon State Recreation Area[10]

### Adjacent counties

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* Buffalo County – east
* Phelps County – southeast
* Gosper County – south
* Frontier County – southwest
* Lincoln County – west
* Custer County – north

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 16| | —
1870| 103| | 543.8%
1880| 2,909| | 2,724.3%
1890| 10,129| | 248.2%
1900| 12,264| | 21.1%
1910| 15,961| | 30.1%
1920| 16,004| | 0.3%
1930| 17,875| | 11.7%
1940| 17,890| | 0.1%
1950| 19,393| | 8.4%
1960| 19,405| | 0.1%
1970| 19,771| | 1.9%
1980| 22,304| | 12.8%
1990| 19,940| | −10.6%
2000| 24,365| | 22.2%
2010| 24,326| | −0.2%
2020| 24,111| | −0.9%
US Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2020 United States Census,[15] there were 24,111 people and 8,965 households in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km2). There were 10,341 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 72.7% White, 5.5% Black or African American, 2.5% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 28.7% from other races, and 10.4% from two or more races. 35.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In the 2000 United States Census it was reported that 32.0% were of German, 6.7% American, 6.7% Irish and 6.4% English ancestry.

There were 8,965 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.21.

The county population contained 29.20% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,132, and the median income for a family was $42,224. Males had a median income of $26,865 versus $20,569 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,973. About 8.60% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Cozad
* Gothenburg
* Lexington (county seat)

### Villages

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* Eddyville
* Farnam
* Overton
* Sumner

### Census-designated place

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* Willow Island

### Unincorporated communities

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* Buffalo
* Darr
* Josselyn

## Politics

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Presidential Elections Results[16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties

|
|
|

2020 | 71.0% 6,524 | 27.2% 2,497 | 1.9% 170
2016 | 69.3% 5,984 | 24.7% 2,136 | 6.0% 515
2012 | 69.5% 5,460 | 28.0% 2,199 | 2.5% 200
2008 | 68.4% 5,460 | 30.0% 2,399 | 1.6% 127
2004 | 77.3% 6,149 | 21.7% 1,728 | 1.0% 79
2000 | 73.4% 5,511 | 23.2% 1,740 | 3.4% 256
1996 | 59.4% 4,794 | 27.0% 2,180 | 13.5% 1,091
1992 | 53.6% 4,714 | 19.8% 1,741 | 26.6% 2,334
1988 | 71.3% 5,529 | 28.2% 2,184 | 0.5% 42
1984 | 81.9% 6,887 | 17.7% 1,487 | 0.4% 33
1980 | 77.7% 6,689 | 17.0% 1,463 | 5.3% 457
1976 | 67.8% 5,413 | 30.0% 2,395 | 2.2% 177
1972 | 81.4% 6,211 | 18.7% 1,424 |
1968 | 72.0% 5,221 | 22.3% 1,614 | 5.8% 419
1964 | 54.7% 4,577 | 45.3% 3,790 |
1960 | 73.1% 6,480 | 26.9% 2,388 |
1956 | 76.1% 6,503 | 23.9% 2,039 |
1952 | 79.7% 7,130 | 20.3% 1,820 |
1948 | 61.8% 4,203 | 38.3% 2,603 |
1944 | 68.9% 5,017 | 31.2% 2,270 |
1940 | 66.0% 5,445 | 34.0% 2,803 |
1936 | 46.4% 3,573 | 52.2% 4,021 | 1.4% 108
1932 | 38.1% 2,859 | 60.1% 4,513 | 1.8% 133
1928 | 74.3% 5,125 | 24.9% 1,718 | 0.9% 59
1924 | 50.7% 3,016 | 25.6% 1,526 | 23.7% 1,410
1920 | 66.0% 3,384 | 28.2% 1,444 | 5.9% 300
1916 | 40.7% 1,444 | 56.1% 1,989 | 3.1% 111
1912 | 13.2% 449 | 47.5% 1,613 | 39.3% 1,335
1908 | 46.1% 1,737 | 51.1% 1,926 | 2.9% 109
1904 | 61.5% 1,712 | 16.4% 457 | 22.1% 614
1900 | 46.4% 1,280 | 50.7% 1,399 | 3.0% 82

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Dawson County, Nebraska

## References

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1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ About Dawson County (DC website; accessed 19 January 2019)
4. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). "Nebraska Place-Names". University of Nebraska Department of English. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
5. ^ "Dawson, John L."[Usurped!] Nebraska State Historical Society.[Usurped!] Retrieved 9 September 2011.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
7. ^ Bitterns Call State Wildlife Management Area, Cozad NE Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
8. ^ Dogwood State Wildlife Management Area, Lexington NE Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
9. ^ East Willow Island State Wildlife Management Area, Cozad NE Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
10. ^ Gallagher Canyon State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
11. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
15. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
16. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".

## External links

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* Dawson County Sheriff's Office

Places adjacent to Dawson County, Nebraska

|  | Custer County |

|
|

|  |
Lincoln County |

Dawson County, Nebraska

| Buffalo County
|  |
Frontier County | Gosper County | Phelps County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Dawson County, Nebraska, United States

County seat: Lexington

Cities|

* Cozad
* Gothenburg
* Lexington

File:Map of Nebraska highlighting Dawson County.svgMap of Nebraska highlighting Dawson County

Villages|

* Eddyville
* Farnam
* Overton
* Sumner

CDP|

* Willow Island

Unincorporated
communities|

* Buffalo
* Darr
* Josselyn

Former communities|

* Ingham

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Nebraska

Lincoln (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Geography
* Government
* Governors
* Lt. Governors
* Legislature
* Speakers of the Legislature
* State Senators
* Congressional districts maps
* History
* People
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Crime
* Culture
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Elections
* Politics

Regions|

* Dissected Till Plains
* Grand Island metropolitan area
* Kearney Micropolitan Statistical Area
* Lincoln metropolitan area
* Omaha metropolitan area
* Panhandle
* Pine Ridge
* Rainwater Basin
* Sandhills
* Siouxland
* Wildcat Hills

Largest cities|

* Alliance
* Beatrice
* Bellevue
* Columbus
* Fremont
* Gering
* Grand Island
* Hastings
* Kearney
* La Vista
* Lexington
* Lincoln
* McCook
* Norfolk
* North Platte
* Omaha
* Papillion
* Scottsbluff
* South Sioux City
* York

Counties|

* Adams
* Antelope
* Arthur
* Banner
* Blaine
* Boone
* Box Butte
* Boyd
* Brown
* Buffalo
* Burt
* Butler
* Cass
* Cedar
* Chase
* Cherry
* Cheyenne
* Clay
* Colfax
* Cuming
* Custer
* Dakota
* Dawes
* Dawson
* Deuel
* Dixon
* Dodge
* Douglas
* Dundy
* Fillmore
* Franklin
* Frontier
* Furnas
* Gage
* Garden
* Garfield
* Gosper
* Grant
* Greeley
* Hall
* Hamilton
* Harlan
* Hayes
* Hitchcock
* Holt
* Hooker
* Howard
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* Kearney
* Keith
* Keya Paha
* Kimball
* Knox
* Lancaster
* Lincoln
* Logan
* Loup
* Madison
* McPherson
* Merrick
* Morrill
* Nance
* Nemaha
* Nuckolls
* Otoe
* Pawnee
* Perkins
* Phelps
* Pierce
* Platte
* Polk
* Red Willow
* Richardson
* Rock
* Saline
* Sarpy
* Saunders
* Scotts Bluff
* Seward
* Sheridan
* Sherman
* Sioux
* Stanton
* Thayer
* Thomas
* Thurston
* Valley
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Wheeler
* York

Coordinates: 40°52′N 99°49′W﻿ / ﻿40.87°N 99.81°W﻿ / 40.87; -99.81
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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