Washington County, Nebraska

County in Nebraska, United States

County in Nebraska

Washington County

County

Washington County Courthouse in Blair

Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska

Nebraska's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 41°32′N 96°13′W﻿ / ﻿41.53°N 96.22°W﻿ / 41.53; -96.22
Country|  United States
State|  Nebraska
Founded| 1854 (created)
1855 (reorganized)
Named after| George Washington[1]
Seat| Blair
Largest city| Blair
Area

• Total

| 393 sq mi (1,020 km2)
• Land| 390 sq mi (1,000 km2)
• Water| 3.2 sq mi (8 km2)  0.8%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 20,865

• Estimate

(2023)

| 21,152
• Density| 53/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| www.co.washington.ne.us

Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 20,865.[2] Its county seat is Blair.[3] Washington County is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area.[4] In the Nebraska license plate system, Washington County is represented by the prefix 29 (it had the 29th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

## History

[edit]

Washington County is in eastern Nebraska on the Missouri River. It was explored by Europeans as early as 1739 by Pierre Antoine and Paul Mallet,[5] who were on a trapping expedition to Canada. In 1804, Lewis and Clark reported the establishment of the new United States government to a council of Indian chiefs near the present site of Fort Calhoun. As a result of this council, Fort Atkinson was established in 1819 and served as a key midwestern outpost until 1827.

The first permanent settlement in Washington County was in 1854. In that same year, the county was organized as one of the eight original counties proclaimed by acting Governor Thomas B. Cuming;[6] it was reorganized in 1855.[7][8][9] The county seat has been in three different towns: Fort Calhoun, DeSoto, and Blair, its present site since 1869.[10]

The Fort Calhoun Nuclear Generating Station south of Blair, which was North America's smallest commercial nuclear reactor by rated capacity, was closed in October 2016 to begin decommissioning.[11] An associated system of warning sirens was located in the southeastern part of the county for emergency notification in the event of a problem at the station.[12]

An Atlas missile launch site (Site B), formerly associated with Offutt Air Force Base and deactivated in the 1960s, lies east of Arlington.[13][14]

## Geography

[edit]

Washington County lies on the east side of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Iowa, across the Missouri River. The Elkhorn River flows southeastward along the county's southwest border, and a smaller drainage, the Little Papillon River, flows southward through the center part of the county, discharging into Glenn Cunningham Reservoir south of the county. The county's terrain consists of low rolling hills sloping to the east, with several drainage channels eroded into its eastern portion sloping down to the river. The county's planar areas are largely devoted to agriculture.[15] The county has an area of 393 square miles (1,020 km2), of which 390 square miles (1,000 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.8%) is water.[16] It is Nebraska's fifth-smallest county by area.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Burt County \- north
* Harrison County, Iowa \- northeast
* Pottawattamie County, Iowa \- southeast
* Douglas County \- south
* Dodge County \- west

### Protected areas

[edit]

* Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge
* DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Fort Atkinson State Historical Park
* Neale Woods Nature Center (partial)[17]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 1,249| | —
1870| 4,452| | 256.4%
1880| 8,631| | 93.9%
1890| 11,869| | 37.5%
1900| 13,086| | 10.3%
1910| 12,738| | −2.7%
1920| 12,180| | −4.4%
1930| 12,095| | −0.7%
1940| 11,578| | −4.3%
1950| 11,511| | −0.6%
1960| 12,103| | 5.1%
1970| 13,310| | 10.0%
1980| 15,508| | 16.5%
1990| 16,607| | 7.1%
2000| 18,780| | 13.1%
2010| 20,234| | 7.7%
2020| 20,865| | 3.1%
2023 (est.)| 21,152| | 1.4%
US Decennial Census[18]
1790-1960[19] 1900-1990[20]
1990-2000[21] 2010[22]

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,865 people and 8,234 households in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 96.3% White, 1% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.6% from two or more races. 3.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 93.6% of the county was Non-Hispanic White.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,234 people and 8,022 households in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 97.1% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from two or more races. 3.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 94.4% of the county was Non-Hispanic White.

As of the 2000 United States Census,[23] there were 18,780 people, 6,940 households, and 5,149 families in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile (19 people/km2). There were 7,408 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.12% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.1% were of German, 11.9% Danish, 9.0% Irish, 7.8% American and 7.0% English ancestry.

There were 6,940 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.00% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 21.80% 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 2.63 and the average family size was 3.09.

The county population contained 27.10% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,500, and the median income for a family was $56,429. Males had a median income of $36,901 versus $25,893 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,055. About 4.10% of families and 6.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.00% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

## Transportation

[edit]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 30
* U.S. Highway 75
* Nebraska Highway 31
* Nebraska Highway 91
* Nebraska Highway 133

### Airports

[edit]

Washington County contains Blair Municipal Airport, and several small privately owned grass airstrips, such as the Orum Aerodrome. There is also a helipad at the Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

## Communities

[edit]

Washington County

### Cities

[edit]

* Blair (county seat)
* Fort Calhoun

### Villages

[edit]

* Arlington
* Herman
* Kennard
* Washington

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Fontanelle

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* De Soto
* Nashville
* Orum
* Spiker
* Telbasta

### Precincts

[edit]

* Fort Calhoun
* Richland
* Herman
* Township 6
* Arlington

## Politics

[edit]

Between 1900 and 1936, Washington County was a bellwether county, voting for the winner of the nationwide presidential election until Wendell Willkie won it despite losing nationwide. However, as is the case in most rural counties throughout Nebraska and the rest of America, the county's voters have since become reliably Republican from 1940 onward. As of 2020, in only one presidential election since 1936, that being Lyndon Johnon's narrow victory in 1964, has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate, and even he was only able to win it by a single point.

United States presidential election results for Washington County, Nebraska[24] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 8,855  | 70.24% | 3,538  | 28.06%  | 214  | 1.70%
2020 | 8,583  | 68.85% | 3,554  | 28.51%  | 330  | 2.65%
2016 | 7,424  | 68.54% | 2,623  | 24.22%  | 785  | 7.25%
2012 | 6,899  | 67.33% | 3,132  | 30.57%  | 215  | 2.10%
2008 | 6,425  | 62.26% | 3,711  | 35.96%  | 184  | 1.78%
2004 | 7,083  | 71.19% | 2,754  | 27.68%  | 113  | 1.14%
2000 | 5,758  | 66.75% | 2,550  | 29.56%  | 318  | 3.69%
1996 | 4,391  | 57.03% | 2,248  | 29.19%  | 1,061  | 13.78%
1992 | 4,042  | 48.47% | 2,116  | 25.37%  | 2,182  | 26.16%
1988 | 4,587  | 63.80% | 2,567  | 35.70%  | 36  | 0.50%
1984 | 5,191  | 76.44% | 1,565  | 23.05%  | 35  | 0.52%
1980 | 4,570  | 70.71% | 1,454  | 22.50%  | 439  | 6.79%
1976 | 3,799  | 62.17% | 2,233  | 36.54%  | 79  | 1.29%
1972 | 4,290  | 75.38% | 1,401  | 24.62%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 3,063  | 63.36% | 1,279  | 26.46%  | 492  | 10.18%
1964 | 2,638  | 49.41%  | 2,701  | 50.59% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 3,772  | 69.01% | 1,694  | 30.99%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 3,531  | 67.10% | 1,731  | 32.90%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 3,770  | 69.11% | 1,685  | 30.89%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 2,400  | 55.74% | 1,906  | 44.26%  | 0  | 0.00%
1944 | 2,844  | 55.57% | 2,274  | 44.43%  | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 2,922  | 52.57% | 2,636  | 47.43%  | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 2,263  | 39.47%  | 3,426  | 59.75% | 45  | 0.78%
1932 | 1,382  | 26.80%  | 3,709  | 71.92% | 66  | 1.28%
1928 | 2,750  | 58.71% | 1,912  | 40.82%  | 22  | 0.47%
1924 | 1,876  | 45.16% | 1,231  | 29.63%  | 1,047  | 25.20%
1920 | 2,409  | 63.60% | 1,295  | 34.19%  | 84  | 2.22%
1916 | 1,297  | 43.97%  | 1,555  | 52.71% | 98  | 3.32%
1912 | 599  | 21.44%  | 1,180  | 42.23% | 1,015  | 36.33%
1908 | 1,592  | 50.85% | 1,460  | 46.63%  | 79  | 2.52%
1904 | 1,868  | 64.39% | 795  | 27.40%  | 238  | 8.20%
1900 | 1,741  | 54.39% | 1,412  | 44.11%  | 48  | 1.50%

## See also

[edit]

* Washington County Historical Association
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Nebraska

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 136.
2. ^ "Washington County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ United States Office of Management and Budget. "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. ^ The Nebraska Blue Book and Historical Register. Legislative Reference Bureau. 1920. p. 13.
6. ^ Johnson, Harrison (1880). Johnson's History of Nebraska. H. Gibson. p. 42.
7. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 142. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
8. ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska". The Kansas Collection. Archived from the original on May 7, 2003. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
9. ^ "Washington County". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
10. ^ Buss, William Henry; Osterman, Thomas T. (1921). History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and Their People. American Historical Society. p. 323.
11. ^ Fort Calhoun decommissioning is underway
12. ^ Region 5/6 Newsletter
13. ^ "[CPEO-MEF] FUDS: Atlas missile site, Arlington, NE". www.cpeo.org.
14. ^ "Atlas Missile Site B".
15. ^ "Washington County · Nebraska". Washington County · Nebraska.
16. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
17. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
18. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
19. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
20. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
21. ^ "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 12, 2014.
22. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
23. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
24. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Washington County, Nebraska

|  | Burt County | Harrison County, Iowa

|
|

|  |
Dodge County |

Washington County, Nebraska

|  |
| Douglas County | Pottawattamie County, Iowa

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Washington County, Nebraska, United States

County seat: Blair

Cities|

* Blair
* Fort Calhoun

Map of Nebraska highlighting Washington County

Villages|

* Arlington
* Herman
* Kennard
* Washington

Townships|

* Township 1
* Township 2
* Township 5
* Township 6
* Township 7

CDP|

* Fontanelle

Other
communities|

* De Soto
* Nashville
* Orum
* Spiker
* Telbasta

Former
community|

* Bowen

* Nebraska portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Nebraska

Lincoln (capital)

Topics|

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Regions|

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

* Alliance
* Beatrice
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* Lexington
* Lincoln
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* Omaha
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* York

Counties|

* Adams
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* Valley
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Wheeler
* York

Nebraska portal

* v
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* 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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41°32′N 96°13′W﻿ / ﻿41.53°N 96.22°W﻿ / 41.53; -96.22
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