Dawson County, Nebraska

Dawson County, Nebraska
County
Dawson County Courthouse in Lexington
Dawson County Courthouse in Lexington
Map of Nebraska highlighting Dawson County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Coordinates: 40°52′N99°49′W / 40.87°N 99.81°W / 40.87; -99.81
Country United States
StateNebraska
Founded1860 (authorized by Territorial Legislature)1871 (authorized by proclamation of Acting Governor)
Named afterJacob Dawson
SeatLexington
Largest cityLexington
Area
 • Total
1,019 sq mi (2,640 km2)
 • Land1,013 sq mi (2,620 km2)
 • Water6.3 sq mi (16 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
24,111
 • Density23.80/sq mi (9.190/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.dawsoncountyne.org

Dawson County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 24,111.[1] Its county seat is Lexington.[2]

Dawson County is part of the Lexington, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Dawson County is represented by the prefix 18 (it had the 18th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Dawson County was established by the territorial legislature in 1860; it officially became a county in 1871 by proclamation of acting Governor William James. The county website states that the county was named for Jacob Dawson, the first postmaster in the settlement of Lancaster County, Nebraska.[3][4] Other sources state that it was named after Pennsylvania Congressman John Littleton Dawson.[5]

Geography

Dawson County lies near the center of Nebraska, in the portion of the state that observes Central Time. According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,019 square miles (2,640 km2), of which 1,013 square miles (2,620 km2) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km2) (0.6%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Transit

Protected areas

  • Bitterns Call State Wildlife Management Area[7]
  • Dogwood State Wildlife Management Area[8]
  • East Willow Island State Wildlife Management Area[9]
  • Gallagher Canyon State Recreation Area[10]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
186016—
1870103543.8%
18802,9092,724.3%
189010,129248.2%
190012,26421.1%
191015,96130.1%
192016,0040.3%
193017,87511.7%
194017,8900.1%
195019,3938.4%
196019,4050.1%
197019,7711.9%
198022,30412.8%
199019,940−10.6%
200024,36522.2%
201024,326−0.2%
202024,111−0.9%
US Decennial Census[11]1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]1990-2000[14] 2010[15] 2020[16]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 24,111. The median age was 36.4 years. 28.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.2 males age 18 and over.[17][18]

The racial makeup of the county was 62.6% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 19.8% from some other race, and 10.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 35.8% of the population.[18]

43.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 56.7% lived in rural areas.[19]

There were 8,868 households in the county, of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[17]

There were 9,792 housing units, of which 9.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.9% were owner-occupied and 32.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.9%.[17]

2000 census

In the 2000 United States census it was reported that 32.0% were of German, 6.7% American, 6.7% Irish and 6.4% English ancestry.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,132, and the median income for a family was $42,224. Males had a median income of $26,865 versus $20,569 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,973. About 8.60% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Politics

United States presidential election results for Dawson County, Nebraska[20]
Year RepublicanDemocraticThird party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
1880347 65.97%179 34.03% 0 0.00%
1884686 63.23%384 35.39% 15 1.38%
18881,087 61.31%614 34.63% 72 4.06%
18921,188 48.23%182 7.39% 1,093 44.38%
18961,128 44.29% 1,357 53.28%62 2.43%
19001,280 46.36% 1,399 50.67%82 2.97%
19041,712 61.52%457 16.42% 614 22.06%
19081,737 46.05% 1,926 51.06%109 2.89%
1912449 13.22% 1,613 47.48%1,335 39.30%
19161,444 40.74% 1,989 56.12%111 3.13%
19203,384 65.99%1,444 28.16% 300 5.85%
19243,016 50.67%1,526 25.64% 1,410 23.69%
19285,125 74.25%1,718 24.89% 59 0.85%
19322,859 38.09% 4,513 60.13%133 1.77%
19363,573 46.39% 4,021 52.21%108 1.40%
19405,445 66.02%2,803 33.98% 0 0.00%
19445,017 68.85%2,270 31.15% 0 0.00%
19484,203 61.75%2,603 38.25% 0 0.00%
19527,130 79.66%1,820 20.34% 0 0.00%
19566,503 76.13%2,039 23.87% 0 0.00%
19606,480 73.07%2,388 26.93% 0 0.00%
19644,577 54.70%3,790 45.30% 0 0.00%
19685,221 71.97%1,614 22.25% 419 5.78%
19726,211 81.35%1,424 18.65% 0 0.00%
19765,413 67.79%2,395 29.99% 177 2.22%
19806,689 77.70%1,463 16.99% 457 5.31%
19846,887 81.92%1,487 17.69% 33 0.39%
19885,529 71.30%2,184 28.16% 42 0.54%
19924,714 53.64%1,741 19.81% 2,334 26.56%
19964,794 59.44%2,180 27.03% 1,091 13.53%
20005,511 73.41%1,740 23.18% 256 3.41%
20046,149 77.29%1,728 21.72% 79 0.99%
20085,460 68.37%2,399 30.04% 127 1.59%
20125,460 69.47%2,199 27.98% 200 2.54%
20165,984 69.30%2,136 24.74% 515 5.96%
20206,524 70.98%2,497 27.17% 170 1.85%
20246,312 74.07%2,101 24.65% 109 1.28%

Education

School districts include:[21]

See also

Robert Henri Museum in Cozad

References

  1. ^"Dawson County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  2. ^"Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^About Dawson County (DC website; accessed 19 January 2019)
  4. ^Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). "Nebraska Place-Names". University of Nebraska Department of English. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  5. ^"Dawson, John L."Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  6. ^"2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  7. ^Bitterns Call State Wildlife Management Area, Cozad NE Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
  8. ^Dogwood State Wildlife Management Area, Lexington NE Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
  9. ^East Willow Island State Wildlife Management Area, Cozad NE Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
  10. ^Gallagher Canyon State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 19 January 2019)
  11. ^"US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  12. ^"Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  13. ^"Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  14. ^"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.
  15. ^"State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  16. ^"Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census". Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  17. ^ abc"2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  18. ^ ab"2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  19. ^"2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  20. ^"Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  21. ^Geography Division (January 14, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dawson County, NE(PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2025. - Text list

40°52′N99°49′W / 40.87°N 99.81°W / 40.87; -99.81

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