Webster County is a county in the U.S. stateofNebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 3,411.[1] Its county seatisRed Cloud.[2] The county was formed in 1871, and was named for Daniel Webster.[3]
Webster County
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Webster County Courthouse in Red Cloud
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Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
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Nebraska's location within the U.S.
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| Coordinates: 40°11′N 98°30′W / 40.18°N 98.5°W / 40.18; -98.5 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nebraska |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Named for | Daniel Webster |
| Seat | Red Cloud |
| Largest city | Red Cloud |
| Area | |
| • Total | 575 sq mi (1,490 km2) |
| • Land | 575 sq mi (1,490 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) 0.02% |
| Population | |
| • Estimate
(2021)
| 3,411 |
| • Density | 6.1/sq mi (2.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
In the Nebraska license plate system, Webster County is represented by the prefix 45 (it had the forty-fifth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
Webster County lies along the south line of Nebraska. Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of Kansas. The terrain of Webster County consists of low rolling hills, sloping to the east. The more planar areas of the county are used for agriculture, mostly under center pivot irrigation.[4]
The Republican River flows eastward across the lower part of the county. The county has an area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 575 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.02%) is water.[5]
U.S. Highway 281
Nebraska Highway 4
Nebraska Highway 78| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 16 | — | |
| 1880 | 7,104 | 44,300.0% | |
| 1890 | 11,210 | 57.8% | |
| 1900 | 11,619 | 3.6% | |
| 1910 | 12,008 | 3.3% | |
| 1920 | 10,922 | −9.0% | |
| 1930 | 10,210 | −6.5% | |
| 1940 | 8,701 | −14.8% | |
| 1950 | 7,395 | −15.0% | |
| 1960 | 6,224 | −15.8% | |
| 1970 | 5,396 | −13.3% | |
| 1980 | 4,858 | −10.0% | |
| 1990 | 4,279 | −11.9% | |
| 2000 | 4,061 | −5.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,812 | −6.1% | |
| 2020 | 3,395 | −10.9% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 3,411 | [1] | 0.5% |
| US Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[12] | |||
As of the 2000 United States Census[13] there were 4,061 people, 1,708 households, and 1,118 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 1,972 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.10% White, 0.15% BlackorAfrican American, 0.27% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.54% of the population were HispanicorLatino of any race. 50.7% were of German, 9.7% English, 8.3% American and 7.6% Irish ancestry.
There were 1,708 households, out of which 26.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 5.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.50% were non-families. 32.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.89.
The county population contained 23.60% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 24.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,026, and the median income for a family was $36,513. Males had a median income of $26,555 versus $18,480 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,802. About 7.70% of families and 11.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.
Webster County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 1,511 | 80.54% | 335 | 17.86% | 30 | 1.60% |
| 2016 | 1,330 | 77.87% | 306 | 17.92% | 72 | 4.22% |
| 2012 | 1,258 | 72.22% | 442 | 25.37% | 42 | 2.41% |
| 2008 | 1,233 | 67.86% | 552 | 30.38% | 32 | 1.76% |
| 2004 | 1,403 | 70.08% | 557 | 27.82% | 42 | 2.10% |
| 2000 | 1,302 | 66.94% | 584 | 30.03% | 59 | 3.03% |
| 1996 | 1,094 | 55.96% | 621 | 31.76% | 240 | 12.28% |
| 1992 | 973 | 42.98% | 625 | 27.61% | 666 | 29.42% |
| 1988 | 1,314 | 59.03% | 891 | 40.03% | 21 | 0.94% |
| 1984 | 1,694 | 71.93% | 645 | 27.39% | 16 | 0.68% |
| 1980 | 1,676 | 69.75% | 547 | 22.76% | 180 | 7.49% |
| 1976 | 1,267 | 51.90% | 1,130 | 46.29% | 44 | 1.80% |
| 1972 | 1,631 | 70.09% | 696 | 29.91% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,521 | 61.13% | 781 | 31.39% | 186 | 7.48% |
| 1964 | 1,191 | 41.82% | 1,657 | 58.18% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,026 | 64.75% | 1,103 | 35.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,298 | 70.62% | 956 | 29.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 2,719 | 74.62% | 925 | 25.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,964 | 59.00% | 1,365 | 41.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 2,523 | 69.75% | 1,094 | 30.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 2,847 | 68.18% | 1,329 | 31.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 1,912 | 43.77% | 2,408 | 55.13% | 48 | 1.10% |
| 1932 | 1,627 | 37.07% | 2,632 | 59.97% | 130 | 2.96% |
| 1928 | 2,924 | 68.22% | 1,342 | 31.31% | 20 | 0.47% |
| 1924 | 2,194 | 54.40% | 1,207 | 29.93% | 632 | 15.67% |
| 1920 | 2,599 | 70.72% | 913 | 24.84% | 163 | 4.44% |
| 1916 | 1,191 | 42.98% | 1,469 | 53.01% | 111 | 4.01% |
| 1912 | 532 | 19.25% | 1,168 | 42.26% | 1,064 | 38.49% |
| 1908 | 1,408 | 48.59% | 1,354 | 46.72% | 136 | 4.69% |
| 1904 | 1,585 | 61.84% | 424 | 16.54% | 554 | 21.62% |
| 1900 | 1,355 | 49.67% | 1,322 | 48.46% | 51 | 1.87% |
As of 2021[update], county elected officials include:
