Harlan County, Nebraska

County in Nebraska, United States

U.S. county in Nebraska

Harlan County

U.S. county

Harlan County Courthouse in Alma

Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska

Nebraska's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Nebraska
Founded| 1871
Seat| Alma
Largest city| Alma
Area

• Total| 574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Land| 553 sq mi (1,430 km2)
• Water| 21 sq mi (50 km2)  3.6%%
Population

• Estimate

(2021)

| 3,073
• Density| 6.2/sq mi (2.4/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| www.harlancounty.ne.gov

Harlan County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 3,073.[1] Its county seat is Alma.[2] The county is home to the Harlan County Reservoir.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Harlan County is represented by the prefix 51 (it had the 51st-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 Adjacent counties
* 2.3 Protected areas
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 City
* 4.2 Villages
* 4.3 Unincorporated communities
* 4.4 Townships
* 5 Politics
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 Further reading
* 9 External links

## History

[edit | edit source]

Prior to 1870, the portion of the Republican valley that now includes Harlan County was a prized hunting ground for indigenous peoples, and their efforts to keep intruders away deterred white settlement in the area. The defeat of the Sioux at the Battle of Summit Springs in 1869 largely eliminated this threat, and several parties were organized to explore the agricultural possibilities of the area.[3]

A party of forty men from eastern Nebraska settled near the site of present-day Orleans in August 1870. In 1871, a party from the Wyoming Territory, led by Thomas Harlan, settled near present-day Alma,[4] which was named after a settler's daughter.[5] In that year, Harlan County was separated from Lincoln County by the Nebraska state legislature. Accounts differ as to the county's namesake: either Thomas Harlan,[6] or James Harlan, who was U.S. Secretary of the Interior between 1865 and 1866.[5][7]

## Geography

[edit | edit source]

The Republican River flows southeastward across the lower part of Harlan County, being impounded by the Harlan County Lake at the SE corner of the county. The terrain consists of gently rolling low hills, with the majority of flat areas being used for center pivot irrigation.[8]

The county has a total area of 574 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 553 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 21 square miles (54 km2) (3.6%) is water.[9]

### Major highways

[edit | edit source]

* U.S. Highway 6
* U.S. Highway 34
* U.S. Highway 183
* Nebraska Highway 4
* Nebraska Highway 46
* Nebraska Highway 89

### Adjacent counties

[edit | edit source]

* Phelps County \- north
* Kearney County \- northeast
* Franklin County \- east
* Phillips County, Kansas \- south
* Norton County, Kansas \- southwest
* Furnas County \- west

### Protected areas

[edit | edit source]

* South East Sacramento State Wildlife Management Area[10]
* South Sacramento State Wildlife Management Area[11]

## Demographics

[edit | edit source]

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1880| 6,086| | —
1890| 8,158| | 34.0%
1900| 9,370| | 14.9%
1910| 9,578| | 2.2%
1920| 9,220| | −3.7%
1930| 8,951| | −2.9%
1940| 7,130| | −20.3%
1950| 7,189| | 0.8%
1960| 5,081| | −29.3%
1970| 4,357| | −14.2%
1980| 4,292| | −1.5%
1990| 3,810| | −11.2%
2000| 3,786| | −0.6%
2010| 3,423| | −9.6%
2020| 3,073| | −10.2%
2021 (est.)| 3,091| [1]| 0.6%
US Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2013[16]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[17] there were 3,786 people, 1,597 households, and 1,049 families in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 2,327 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.86% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,597 households, out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 4.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 30.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.93.

The county population contained 24.20% under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 23.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,679, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $27,580 versus $18,411 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,618. About 7.00% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit | edit source]

### City

[edit | edit source]

* Alma (county seat)

### Villages

[edit | edit source]

* Huntley
* Orleans
* Oxford (partial)
* Ragan
* Republican City
* Stamford

### Unincorporated communities

[edit | edit source]

* Mascot
* Oxford Junction

### Townships

[edit | edit source]

* Albany
* Alma
* Antelope
* Eldorado
* Emerson
* Fairfield
* Mullally
* Orleans
* Prairie Dog
* Republican City
* Reuben
* Sappa
* Scandinavia
* Spring Grove
* Turkey Creek
* Washington

## Politics

[edit | edit source]

Harlan County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Harlan County, Nebraska[18] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 1615  | 83.77% | 282  | 14.63%  | 31  | 1.61%
2016 | 1,496  | 81.66% | 254  | 13.86%  | 82  | 4.48%
2012 | 1,395  | 78.46% | 354  | 19.91%  | 29  | 1.63%
2008 | 1,329  | 75.25% | 402  | 22.76%  | 35  | 1.98%
2004 | 1,467  | 77.33% | 398  | 20.98%  | 32  | 1.69%
2000 | 1,358  | 73.33% | 438  | 23.65%  | 56  | 3.02%
1996 | 1,120  | 60.28% | 520  | 27.99%  | 218  | 11.73%
1992 | 992  | 46.88% | 488  | 23.06%  | 636  | 30.06%
1988 | 1,403  | 65.13% | 725  | 33.66%  | 26  | 1.21%
1984 | 1,692  | 76.80% | 493  | 22.38%  | 18  | 0.82%
1980 | 1,690  | 72.94% | 486  | 20.98%  | 141  | 6.09%
1976 | 1,325  | 58.76% | 879  | 38.98%  | 51  | 2.26%
1972 | 1,549  | 74.19% | 539  | 25.81%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 1,392  | 64.03% | 579  | 26.63%  | 203  | 9.34%
1964 | 1,283  | 51.78% | 1,195  | 48.22%  | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 1,766  | 66.42% | 893  | 33.58%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 1,850  | 68.57% | 848  | 31.43%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 2,300  | 75.91% | 730  | 24.09%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 1,490  | 54.98% | 1,220  | 45.02%  | 0  | 0.00%
1944 | 1,991  | 66.43% | 1,006  | 33.57%  | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 2,182  | 61.73% | 1,353  | 38.27%  | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 1,692  | 44.36%  | 2,084  | 54.64% | 38  | 1.00%
1932 | 1,272  | 32.79%  | 2,486  | 64.09% | 121  | 3.12%
1928 | 2,702  | 69.98% | 1,055  | 27.32%  | 104  | 2.69%
1924 | 1,845  | 50.01% | 1,216  | 32.96%  | 628  | 17.02%
1920 | 1,756  | 59.59% | 974  | 33.05%  | 217  | 7.36%
1916 | 834  | 37.48%  | 1,267  | 56.94% | 124  | 5.57%
1912 | 325  | 15.78%  | 918  | 44.58% | 816  | 39.63%
1908 | 1,081  | 44.99%  | 1,158  | 48.19% | 164  | 6.82%
1904 | 1,178  | 57.77% | 299  | 14.66%  | 562  | 27.56%
1900 | 880  | 44.74%  | 977  | 49.67% | 110  | 5.59%

## See also

[edit | edit source]

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

## References

[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b Bureau, US Census. "County Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Harlan County: First Settlements. Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
4. ^ Harlan County, Nebraska: Historical Note.[Usurped!] Film RG223. Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
5. ^ a b Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder. "Harlan County". Nebraska Place-Names. University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. 1925. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
6. ^ Harlan County, Nebraska.[Usurped!] Film RG223. Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
7. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 150.
8. ^ Harlan County NE Google Maps (accessed 22 January 2019)
9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
10. ^ South East Sacramento State Wildlife Management Area, Wilcox NE Google Maps (accessed 22 January 2019)
11. ^ South Sacramento State Wildlife Management Area, Wilcox NE Google Maps (accessed 22 January 2019)
12. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
16. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
17. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
18. ^ Election Results

## Further reading

[edit | edit source]

* Field Guide to the Geology of the Harlan County Lake Area, Harlan County, Nebraska — with a History of Events Leading to Construction of Harlan County Dam online pdf
* Rogers, Jean McKee. History of Harlan County 1870-1967.

## External links

[edit | edit source]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harlan County, Nebraska.

* Harlan County Tourism Office

Places adjacent to Harlan County, Nebraska

|  | Phelps County | Kearney County

|
|

|  |
Furnas County |

Harlan County, Nebraska

| Franklin County
|  |
Norton County, Kansas | Phillips County, Kansas |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Harlan County, Nebraska, United States

County seat: Alma

City|

* Alma

Map of Nebraska highlighting Harlan County

Villages|

* Huntley
* Orleans
* Oxford‡
* Ragan
* Republican City
* Stamford

Townships|

* Albany
* Alma
* Antelope
* Eldorado
* Emerson
* Fairfield
* Mullally
* Orleans
* Prairie Dog
* Republican City
* Reuben
* Sappa
* Scandinavia
* Spring Grove
* Turkey Creek
* Washington

Unincorporated
communities|

* Mascot
* Oxford Junction

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* 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°10′N 99°24′W﻿ / ﻿40.17°N 99.40°W﻿ / 40.17; -99.40
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template