Douglas County, Nebraska

County in Nebraska, United States

Not to be confused with Douglas, Nebraska.

County in Nebraska

Douglas County

County

Douglas County Courthouse in Omaha

Seal

Logo

Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska

Nebraska's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 41°17′43″N 96°09′16″W﻿ / ﻿41.29535°N 96.15448°W﻿ / 41.29535; -96.15448
Country|  United States
State|  Nebraska
Founded| November 23, 1854
Named after| Stephen A. Douglas
Seat| Omaha
Largest city| Omaha
Area

• Total

| 339 sq mi (880 km2)
• Land| 328 sq mi (850 km2)
• Water| 11 sq mi (30 km2)  3.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 584,526

• Estimate

(2023)

| 589,540
• Density| 1,700/sq mi (670/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 2nd
Website| www.douglascounty-ne.gov

Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population is 584,526. It is the state's most populous county, home to just under 30% of Nebraska's residents. Its county seat is Omaha,[1] the state's most populous city. The county was established in 1854 and named after Stephen A. Douglas (1813–1861), who was then serving as a U.S. senator from Illinois.[2][3]

Douglas County is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.[4]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Douglas County was represented by the prefix "1" (as it had the largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922). In 2002, the state discontinued the 1922 system in the three most populous counties: Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy counties.[5]

## Geography

[edit]

Douglas County is on the eastern border of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Iowa, across the Missouri River. The Elkhorn River runs southward through the west-central part of Douglas County, and it is bordered on east (Missouri River) and west (Platte River) by rivers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 339 square miles (880 km2), of which 328 square miles (850 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (3.2%) is water.[6]

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 80
* Interstate 480
* Interstate 680
* U.S. Highway 6
* U.S. Highway 75
* U.S. Highway 275
* Nebraska Highway 31
* Nebraska Highway 36
* Nebraska Highway 50
* Nebraska Highway 64
* Nebraska Highway 85
* Nebraska Highway 92
* Nebraska Highway 133

### Transit

[edit]

* Amtrak California Zephyr (Omaha station)
* Burlington Trailways (Omaha Bus Station)
* Express Arrow (Omaha Bus Station)
* Jefferson Lines (Omaha Bus Station)
* Metro Transit

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Dodge County – northwest
* Washington County – north
* Pottawattamie County, Iowa – east
* Sarpy County – south
* Saunders County – west

### Protected areas

[edit]

* Bluestem Prairie Preserve[7]
* Two Rivers State Recreation Area[8]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 4,328| | —
1870| 19,982| | 361.7%
1880| 37,645| | 88.4%
1890| 158,008| | 319.7%
1900| 140,590| | −11.0%
1910| 168,546| | 19.9%
1920| 204,524| | 21.3%
1930| 232,982| | 13.9%
1940| 247,562| | 6.3%
1950| 281,020| | 13.5%
1960| 343,490| | 22.2%
1970| 389,455| | 13.4%
1980| 397,038| | 1.9%
1990| 416,444| | 4.9%
2000| 463,585| | 11.3%
2010| 517,110| | 11.5%
2020| 584,526| | 13.0%
2023 (est.)| 589,540| | 0.9%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2019[13]

### 2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 584,526 people in the county. The population density was 1,724 people per square mile (666 people/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.8% White, 11.5% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 4.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 2.8% from two or more races. 12.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 517,110 people and 206,522 households in the county. The population density was 1,574 people per square mile (608 people/km2). There were 219,580 housing units at an average density of 669 units per square mile (258/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.4% White, 11.6% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.7% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. 11.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30% were of German, 15% Irish, 8.0% English, and 4.9% Italian ancestry.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,878, and the median income for a family was $67,666. Males had a median income of $44,542 versus $35,801 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,092. About 9.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile (541 people/km2). There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 units per square mile (225/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.96% White, 11.50% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.71% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.40% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 6.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.3% were of German, 11.5% Irish and 6.2% English ancestry.

There were 182,194 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.12.

The county population contained 26.60% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,209, and the median income for a family was $54,651. Males had a median income of $36,577 versus $27,265 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,879. About 6.70% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

[edit]

Douglas County is governed by a board of seven county commissioners, elected to staggered[14] four–year terms. County courthouse positions are also elected on a partisan basis. Most of the county's offices are located at the Douglas County Courthouse.

Douglas County Commission

District | Commissioner

|

1 | Roger Garcia
2 | James Cavanaugh
3 | Chris Rodgers (Vice-chair)[15]
4 | P.J. Morgan
5 | Brian Fahey
6 | Mary Ann Borgeson (Chair)[15]
7 | Mike Friend

Douglas County Officeholders

Office | Officeholder

|

Assessor/Register of Deeds | Walt Peffer[16]
County Attorney | Donald Kleine[17]
County Clerk/Comptroller | Dan Esch[18]
Clerk of the District Court | Crystal Rhoades
County Engineer | Todd Pfitzer
County Sheriff | Aaron Hanson
County Treasurer | John W. Ewing
Public Defender | Tom Riley

For much of the time after World War II, Douglas County was one of the more conservative urban counties in the United States. It supported the Republican candidate for president in all but one election from 1952 to 2004. However, it has become a far more competitive county in national elections compared to the rest of the state in the last ten years. Barack Obama won a majority of the county's votes in 2008, becoming the first Democrat to do so since 1964. He also narrowly carried the 2nd congressional district as well, garnering him one electoral vote statewide. It swung back to the Republican column in 2012 with Mitt Romney winning the county by an even closer majority. The county swung back to Democratic hands in 2016 with Hillary Clinton winning a plurality of its votes, but unlike Obama eight years prior she failed to carry the 2nd congressional district. In 2020, Joe Biden won the county by 11 points, a 56-year high for Democrats, and flipped the 2nd district back into the Democratic column.

As of January 2025, Douglas County is one of the only two counties in Nebraska (alongside Thurston) to have a plurality of registered Democrats.[19]

Political Party  | Number of registered voters (January 1, 2025)[20] | %

|
|

| Democratic | 135,721  | 36.54
| Republican | 132,438  | 35.65
| Independent  | 93,810  | 25.25
| Libertarian | 5,650  | 1.52
| Legal Marijuana Now | 3,859  | 1.04
Total  | 371,478  | 100.00
United States presidential election results for Douglas County, Nebraska[21] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 120,919  | 43.95%  | 148,733  | 54.06% | 5,493  | 2.00%
2020 | 119,159  | 43.09%  | 150,350  | 54.37% | 7,031  | 2.54%
2016 | 108,077  | 44.95%  | 113,798  | 47.33% | 18,558  | 7.72%
2012 | 113,220  | 50.56% | 106,456  | 47.54%  | 4,251  | 1.90%
2008 | 106,291  | 46.89%  | 116,810  | 51.53% | 3,600  | 1.59%
2004 | 120,813  | 58.34% | 83,330  | 40.24%  | 2,928  | 1.41%
2000 | 101,025  | 55.16% | 73,347  | 40.05%  | 8,784  | 4.80%
1996 | 92,334  | 51.38% | 70,708  | 39.34%  | 16,679  | 9.28%
1992 | 93,512  | 46.73% | 67,097  | 33.53%  | 39,512  | 19.74%
1988 | 99,916  | 56.27% | 76,541  | 43.11%  | 1,108  | 0.62%
1984 | 112,676  | 65.26% | 58,979  | 34.16%  | 1,003  | 0.58%
1980 | 96,908  | 59.12% | 51,668  | 31.52%  | 15,354  | 9.37%
1976 | 93,204  | 58.73% | 61,877  | 38.99%  | 3,626  | 2.28%
1972 | 101,579  | 67.82% | 48,201  | 32.18%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 69,808  | 50.89% | 51,617  | 37.63%  | 15,739  | 11.47%
1964 | 61,613  | 44.30%  | 77,480  | 55.70% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 72,005  | 52.92% | 64,060  | 47.08%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 73,270  | 59.39% | 50,110  | 40.61%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 71,457  | 56.24% | 55,591  | 43.76%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 47,175  | 48.92%  | 49,258  | 51.08% | 0  | 0.00%
1944 | 53,443  | 45.60%  | 63,762  | 54.40% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 53,325  | 44.38%  | 66,840  | 55.62% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 35,349  | 33.01%  | 70,245  | 65.60% | 1,482  | 1.38%
1932 | 33,938  | 35.81%  | 59,347  | 62.62% | 1,483  | 1.56%
1928 | 47,551  | 52.60% | 42,267  | 46.75%  | 587  | 0.65%
1924 | 29,390  | 44.98% | 18,672  | 28.58%  | 17,278  | 26.44%
1920 | 28,543  | 57.81% | 18,439  | 37.34%  | 2,393  | 4.85%
1916 | 14,557  | 35.13%  | 24,796  | 59.84% | 2,084  | 5.03%
1912 | 6,185  | 21.12%  | 12,908  | 44.08% | 10,189  | 34.80%
1908 | 14,066  | 45.80%  | 15,583  | 50.74% | 1,064  | 3.46%
1904 | 15,248  | 57.87% | 6,831  | 25.93%  | 4,270  | 16.21%
1900 | 14,266  | 50.88% | 13,241  | 47.23%  | 530  | 1.89%
1896 | 12,326  | 49.95% | 11,755  | 47.64%  | 596  | 2.42%
1892 | 10,702  | 48.27% | 2,904  | 13.10%  | 8,566  | 38.63%
1888 | 10,237  | 47.53%  | 10,810  | 50.19% | 493  | 2.29%
1884 | 4,894  | 51.61% | 4,516  | 47.62%  | 73  | 0.77%
1880 | 3,290  | 55.87% | 2,407  | 40.87%  | 192  | 3.26%

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Bennington
* Omaha (county seat)
* East Omaha
* Elkhorn (Omaha)
* Millard (Omaha)
* North Omaha
* South Omaha
* West Omaha
* Ralston
* Valley

### Villages

[edit]

* Boys Town
* Waterloo

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* King Lake
* Venice

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Briggs
* Debolt
* Elk City
* Irvington
* Lane

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[22]

* Arlington Public Schools
* Bennington Public Schools
* Douglas County West Community Schools
* Elkhorn Public Schools
* Fort Calhoun Community Schools
* Fremont Public Schools
* Gretna Public Schools
* Millard Public Schools
* Omaha Public Schools
* Ralston Public Schools
* Westside Community Schools
* Yutan Public Schools

A state-operated school, Nebraska School for the Deaf, was formerly in the county.

## See also

[edit]

* Ackerhurst Dairy Barn
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas County, Nebraska

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
2. ^ About Douglas County: History. DC website.
3. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 55. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
4. ^ US OMB. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
5. ^ "History Of Nebraska Passenger Vehicle License Plates". Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. Archived from the original on December 27, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
7. ^ Bluestem Prairie Preserve, Omaha NE Google Maps (accessed 20 January 2019)
8. ^ Two Rivers State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 20 January 2019)
9. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
14. ^ "Board members are elected to four-year terms, staggered, with three or four members elected every two years." [1]
15. ^ a b Douglas County Commissioners. (January 10, 2017). Board of County Commissioners. Retrieved from [2]
16. ^ "Unopposed for Douglas County assessor, Walt Peffer outlines plans to review valuations". Omaha World-Herald. May 18, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
17. ^ "Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine switches to GOP after Democrats' critical resolution". Omaha World-Herald. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
18. ^ "Home - Douglas County Clerk/Comptroller". Douglas County. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
19. ^ "2020 Eligible Voter Statistics" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. December 1, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 9, 2021.
20. ^ "Voter Registration Statistics" (PDF). nebraska.gov. January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
21. ^ Election Results
22. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Douglas County, NE" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022. \- Text list

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Douglas County, Nebraska.

* Official website

Places adjacent to Douglas County, Nebraska

| Dodge County | Washington County |

|
|

|  |
Saunders County |

Douglas County, Nebraska

| Pottawattamie County, Iowa
|  |
| Sarpy County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Douglas County, Nebraska, United States

County seat: Omaha

Cities|

* Bennington
* Omaha
* Ralston
* Valley

Map of Nebraska highlighting Douglas County

Villages|

* Boys Town
* Waterloo

CDPs|

* King Lake
* Venice

Unincorporated
communities|

* Briggs
* Debolt
* Elk City
* Irvington
* Lane

See also|

Neighborhoods of Omaha, Nebraska

* Nebraska portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Nebraska

Lincoln (capital)

Topics|

* Index
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Regions|

* Bohemian Alps
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* Grand Island metropolitan area
* Kearney Micropolitan Statistical Area
* Lincoln metropolitan area
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* Outback
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* Pine Ridge
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* Sandhills
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Largest cities|

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

Counties|

* Adams
* Antelope
* Arthur
* Banner
* Blaine
* Boone
* Box Butte
* Boyd
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* Burt
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* Sarpy
* Saunders
* Scotts Bluff
* Seward
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* Stanton
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* Thomas
* Thurston
* Valley
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Wheeler
* York

Nebraska portal

* v
* t
* e

Metropolitan area of Omaha–Council Bluffs

Primary cities|

| Nebraska|

* Omaha

|

Iowa|

* Council Bluffs

Cities over 10,000
(per 2010 census)|

| Nebraska|

* Bellevue
* La Vista
* Papillion

|

Cities of 5,000 to 10,000
(per 2010 census)|

| Nebraska|

* Blair
* Gretna
* Plattsmouth
* Ralston

|

Iowa|

* Glenwood

Cities of 1,000 to 5,000
(per 2010 census)|

| Nebraska|

* Arlington
* Ashland
* Eagle
* Louisville
* Springfield
* Valley
* Wahoo
* Weeping Water
* Yutan

|

Iowa|

* Avoca
* Carter Lake
* Dunlap
* Logan
* Malvern
* Missouri Valley
* Oakland
* Woodbine

Census-designated places|

| Nebraska|

* Chalco
* Offutt AFB

|

Cities and villages
of fewer than 1,000
(per 2010 census)|

| Nebraska|

* Alvo
* Avoca
* Bennington
* Boys Town
* Cedar Bluffs
* Cedar Creek
* Ceresco
* Colon
* Elmwood
* Fort Calhoun
* Greenwood
* Herman
* Ithaca
* Kennard
* Leshara
* Malmo
* Manley
* Mead
* Memphis
* Morse Bluff
* Murdock
* Murray
* Nehawka
* Prague
* South Bend
* Union
* Valparaiso
* Washington
* Waterloo
* Weston

|

Iowa|

* Carson
* Crescent
* Emerson
* Hancock
* Hastings
* Henderson
* Little Sioux
* Macedonia
* Magnolia
* McClelland
* Minden
* Mineola
* Modale
* Mondamin
* Neola
* Pacific Junction
* Persia
* Pisgah
* Shelby
* Silver City
* Treynor
* Underwood
* Walnut

Counties|

| Nebraska|

* Cass
* Douglas
* Sarpy
* Saunders
* Washington

|

Iowa|

* Harrison
* Mills
* Pottawattamie

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
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National|

* United States
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Other|

* NARA
* Yale LUX

41°17′43″N 96°09′16″W﻿ / ﻿41.29535°N 96.15448°W﻿ / 41.29535; -96.15448
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