Garden County, Nebraska

Garden County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 2,057.[1] Its county seat is Oshkosh.[2]

"Garden County" redirects here. For the county in Ireland that is referred to as the Garden County, see County Wicklow.
Garden County
U.S. county
Garden County Courthouse in Oshkosh
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°37′N 102°20′W
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1909
Named forGarden of Eden
SeatOshkosh
Largest cityOshkosh
Area
 • Total1,731 sq mi (4,480 km2)
 • Land1,704 sq mi (4,410 km2)
 • Water27 sq mi (70 km2)  1.5%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2017)
1,906
 • Density1.1/sq mi (0.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.gardencone.com

In the Nebraska license plate system, Garden County is represented by the prefix 77 (it had the seventy-seventh-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Garden County was formed in 1909 by popular vote. Voters in the general election of November 2, 1909 approved making the northern part of Deuel County into its own county.[3] It is said the county was so named in the hope that this land should become the garden of the West or with allusion to the "Garden of Eden".[4]

The county has lost population since the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The land was homesteaded for family farms that often turned out to be too small for subsistence farming under the arid conditions of the region. In the early decades of settlement by immigrants and migrants from the East, farmers did not know how to work the land on the prairies. Tons of topsoil were lost after droughts.

Geography

The North Platte River runs ESE through the south part of Garden County. Since the county is in the western portion of Nebraska, its residents observe Mountain Time. The eastern two-thirds portion of the state observes Central Time.

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,731 square miles (4,480 km2), of which 1,704 square miles (4,410 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (1.5%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19103,538—
19204,57229.2%
19305,09911.5%
19404,680−8.2%
19504,114−12.1%
19603,472−15.6%
19702,929−15.6%
19802,802−4.3%
19902,460−12.2%
20002,292−6.8%
20102,057−10.3%
2017 (est.)1,906[7]−7.3%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]
Lone tree on the prairie, on Rt 92 near Lisco

As of the 2000 United States Census,[12] there were 2,292 people, 1,020 households, and 658 families in the county. The population density was 1.3 people per square mile (0.5/km2). There were 1,298 housing units at an average density of 0.8 per square mile (0.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.34% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.52% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 43.5% were of German, 10.0% Irish, 9.6% American and 9.2% English ancestry.

There were 1,020 households, out of which 24.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.40% were non-families. 32.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.77.

The county population contained 21.80% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 27.00% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,458, and the median income for a family was $32,546. Males had a median income of $21,495 versus $17,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,414. About 10.80% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.00% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Like much of the Nebraska Panhandle, Garden County has been a Republican-leaning county since the late 20th century. It was one of only two counties that Ben Nelson failed to carry in 1994.[13] In Presidential elections, the last Democratic candidate to carry the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1932.[14] As part of Nebraska's 3rd congressional district, Garden County has been represented by Republicans since 1961.

Presidential election results
Presidential Elections Results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 84.7% 1,016 13.4% 161 1.9% 23
2016 80.8% 869 14.2% 153 4.9% 53
2012 76.0% 829 22.2% 242 1.8% 20
2008 74.2% 844 24.9% 283 1.0% 11
2004 82.0% 970 17.0% 201 1.0% 12
2000 79.0% 963 16.7% 203 4.4% 53
1996 65.6% 851 21.5% 279 12.9% 167
1992 53.5% 697 16.3% 212 30.2% 394
1988 72.4% 986 26.9% 366 0.7% 10
1984 85.7% 1,158 13.3% 180 1.0% 13
1980 82.1% 1,297 12.8% 202 5.1% 81
1976 64.4% 928 30.9% 445 4.8% 69
1972 85.1% 1,161 15.0% 204
1968 78.6% 1,120 14.5% 206 7.0% 99
1964 66.4% 1,106 33.6% 559
1960 76.4% 1,376 23.6% 426
1956 77.7% 1,167 22.3% 335
1952 81.0% 1,457 19.0% 341
1948 64.0% 923 36.0% 519
1944 69.8% 1,248 30.2% 541
1940 64.7% 1,351 35.3% 736
1936 49.6% 996 49.1% 986 1.3% 25
1932 38.2% 768 59.9% 1,204 1.9% 38
1928 77.8% 1,470 21.4% 404 0.8% 15
1924 46.7% 725 29.6% 459 23.8% 369
1920 66.2% 924 30.2% 421 3.6% 50
1916 32.0% 306 62.6% 598 5.4% 52
1912 15.9% 136 33.1% 282 51.0% 435

Communities

City

Village

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated places

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 31 May 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  3. Joseph Nathan Kane, The American Counties (4th Ed.), (The Scarecrow Press, 1983), pp. 130, 479
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  6. Clear Creek State Waterfowl Management Area, Lewellen NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  8. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  13. David Leip Electoral Atlas (Maps for Nebraska gubernatorial races)
  14. Geographie Electorale
  15. Election Results

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