Buffalo County, Nebraska

Infobox U.S. County
county = Buffalo County
state = Nebraska
founded = 1855
seat = Kearney | largest city = Kearney
area_total_sq_mi =975
area_land_sq_mi =968
area_water_sq_mi =7
area percentage = 0.75%
census yr = 2000
pop = 42259
density_km2 =17
web = www.buffalogov.org
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Buffalo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2000, the population was 42,259. Its county seat is KearneyGR|6.

Buffalo County is part of the Kearney, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Buffalo County is represented by the prefix 9 (it had the ninth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 975 square miles (2,526 km²), of which, 968 square miles (2,507 km²) of it is land and 7 square miles (19 km²) of it (0.75%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Hall County, Nebraska - (East)
*Adams County, Nebraska - (Southeast)
*Kearney County, Nebraska - (South)
*Phelps County, Nebraska - (Southwest)
*Dawson County, Nebraska - (West)
*Custer County, Nebraska - (Northwest)
*Sherman County, Nebraska - (North)
*Howard County, Nebraska - (Northeast)

History

Buffalo County was formed in 1855. It was named after the then prevalent buffalo herds.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 42,259 people, 15,930 households, and 10,227 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 16,830 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.18% White, 0.55% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.20% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 4.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.5% were of German, 8.1% Irish, 7.8% English, 6.8% American and 5.3% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 15,930 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.90% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.80% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% 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 3.02.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 17.80% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 19.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,782, and the median income for a family was $46,247. Males had a median income of $30,182 versus $21,977 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,510. About 6.30% of families and 11.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and Villages

*Amherst
*Buda
*Elm Creek
*Gibbon
*Kearney
*Miller
*Pleasanton
*Ravenna
*Riverdale
*Shelton

Townships

*Armada
*Beaver
*Cedar
*Center
*Cherry Creek
*Collins
*Divide
*Elm Creek
*Gardner
*Garfield
*Gibbon
*Grant
*Harrison
*Logan
*Loup
*Odessa
*Platte
*Riverdale
*Rusco
*Sartoria
*Schneider
*Scott
*Sharon
*Shelton
*Thornton
*Valley

References