Knox County, Nebraska

Knox County
County
Knox County Courthouse in Center
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°38′N 97°53′W / 42.63°N 97.88°W / 42.63; -97.88
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1857
Named for	Henry Knox
Seat	Center
Largest city	Creighton
Area
• Total	1,140 sq mi (3,000 km2)
• Land	1,108 sq mi (2,870 km2)
• Water	31 sq mi (80 km2)  2.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,401
• Estimate  (2022)	8,336
• Density	7.4/sq mi (2.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.co.knox.ne.us

Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 8,391.^[1] Its county seat is Center.^[2] Knox County was named for Continental and U.S. Army Major General Henry Knox.^[3][4] In the Nebraska license plate system, Knox County is represented by the prefix 12 (it had the 12th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Knox County was organized by the Territorial Legislature in 1857, and named L'Eau Qui Court, that being the French name for the river named by the Ponca Niobrara—both names meaning, in English, Running Water. The name was changed to Knox by a statute passed February 21, 1873, which took effect April 1, 1873.^[5][6]

Knox County lies along the north line of Nebraska. Its north boundary line abuts the south boundary line of the state of South Dakota. The terrain of the county consists of low rolling hills sloped to the northeast; most of the flat terrain is used for agriculture. The Missouri River flows eastward along the county's north boundary line. The Niobrara River enters the county's west boundary, flowing eastward then northward to drain into the Missouri River near the village of Niobrara. A smaller drainage, Verdigre Creek, flows northward into the county through the western central part of the county, draining into the Niobrara River shortly upstream of that river's mouth.^[7] The county has a total area of 1,140 square miles (3,000 km²), of which 1,108 square miles (2,870 km²) is land and 31 square miles (80 km²) (2.8%) is water.^[8]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	152		—
1870	261		71.7%
1880	3,666		1,304.6%
1890	8,582		134.1%
1900	14,343		67.1%
1910	18,358		28.0%
1920	18,894		2.9%
1930	19,110		1.1%
1940	16,478		−13.8%
1950	14,820		−10.1%
1960	13,300		−10.3%
1970	11,723		−11.9%
1980	11,457		−2.3%
1990	9,534		−16.8%
2000	9,374		−1.7%
2010	8,701		−7.2%
2020	8,391		−3.6%
2022 (est.)	8,336		−0.7%
US Decennial Census[12] 1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14] 1990-2000[15] 2010-2013[16][17] 2020-2022[16]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,701 people, 3,647 households, and 2,368 families in the county. The population density was 7.9 people per square mile (3.1 people/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.2% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 10% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 1.8% from Two or More Races. 2.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[18] there were 9,374 people, 3,811 households, and 2,595 families in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km²). There were 4,773 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.63% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 7.12% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,811 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 29.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98.

The county population contained 25.50% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 23.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,564, and the median income for a family was $34,073. Males had a median income of $23,373 versus $18,319 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,971. About 12.50% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Racial composition	2010[19]	2000[20]
White	87.2%	92.2%
Non-Hispanic	85.8%	91.3%
Native American	10%	7.5%
Black or African American	0.4%	0.1%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	2.5%	0.9%
Asian	0.5%	0.2%
Two or More Races	1.8%	0.6%

• Bloomfield
• Creighton
• Crofton

• Lindy

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

United States presidential election results for Knox County, Nebraska^[21]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	3,721	79.04%	905	19.22%	82	1.74%
2016	3,188	77.47%	720	17.50%	207	5.03%
2012	2,885	71.48%	1,059	26.24%	92	2.28%
2008	2,728	66.80%	1,255	30.73%	101	2.47%
2004	3,062	72.68%	1,086	25.78%	65	1.54%
2000	2,784	69.98%	1,037	26.07%	157	3.95%
1996	2,123	53.91%	1,266	32.15%	549	13.94%
1992	2,113	49.55%	968	22.70%	1,183	27.74%
1988	2,644	63.76%	1,477	35.62%	26	0.63%
1984	3,364	73.77%	1,149	25.20%	47	1.03%
1980	3,404	71.08%	1,057	22.07%	328	6.85%
1976	2,610	56.08%	1,922	41.30%	122	2.62%
1972	3,318	72.02%	1,289	27.98%	0	0.00%
1968	3,129	68.20%	1,131	24.65%	328	7.15%
1964	2,752	51.26%	2,617	48.74%	0	0.00%
1960	3,847	64.45%	2,122	35.55%	0	0.00%
1956	3,814	64.38%	2,110	35.62%	0	0.00%
1952	4,840	75.47%	1,573	24.53%	0	0.00%
1948	2,778	51.68%	2,597	48.32%	0	0.00%
1944	3,762	60.20%	2,487	39.80%	0	0.00%
1940	4,352	57.79%	3,179	42.21%	0	0.00%
1936	2,949	38.89%	4,449	58.67%	185	2.44%
1932	1,830	25.67%	5,229	73.36%	69	0.97%
1928	3,668	55.46%	2,914	44.06%	32	0.48%
1924	2,405	38.63%	1,532	24.61%	2,289	36.77%
1920	3,678	69.87%	1,470	27.93%	116	2.20%
1916	1,910	44.11%	2,329	53.79%	91	2.10%
1912	1,028	26.58%	1,803	46.61%	1,037	26.81%
1908	1,871	45.67%	2,106	51.40%	120	2.93%
1904	2,163	61.50%	864	24.57%	490	13.93%
1900	1,600	47.80%	1,630	48.70%	117	3.50%

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Knox County, Nebraska

• Knox County website

42°38′N 97°53′W / 42.63°N 97.88°W / 42.63; -97.88