Douglas County, Nebraska

Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population is 584,526. It is the state's most populous county, home to well over one-fourth of Nebraska's residents. Its county seat is Omaha,[1] the state's largest city. The county was established in 1854 and named after Stephen A. Douglas (1813–1861), who was then serving as Senator from Illinois.[2][3]

Not to be confused with Douglas, Nebraska.

Douglas County
County
Douglas County Courthouse in Omaha
Douglas County Courthouse in Omaha
Official seal of Douglas County
Seal
Official logo of Douglas County
Logo
Map of Nebraska highlighting Douglas County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Map of the United States highlighting Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°17′43″N 96°09′16″W
Country United States
State Nebraska
FoundedNovember 23, 1854
Named forStephen A. Douglas
SeatOmaha
Largest cityOmaha
Area
 • Total339 sq mi (880 km2)
 • Land328 sq mi (850 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  3.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total584,526
 • Density1,782/sq mi (688/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.douglascounty-ne.gov

Douglas County is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.[4]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Douglas County was represented by the prefix "1" (as it had the largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922). In 2002, the state discontinued the 1922 system in the three most populous counties: Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy counties.[5]

Geography

Douglas County is on the east side of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Iowa, across the Missouri River. The Elkhorn River runs southward through the west-central part of Douglas County, and it is bordered on east (Missouri River) and west (Platte River) by rivers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 339 square miles (880 km2), of which 328 square miles (850 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (3.2%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Protected areas
  • Bluestem Prairie Preserve[7]
  • Two Rivers State Recreation Area[8]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18604,328—
187019,982361.7%
188037,64588.4%
1890158,008319.7%
1900140,590−11.0%
1910168,54619.9%
1920204,52421.3%
1930232,98213.9%
1940247,5626.3%
1950281,02013.5%
1960343,49022.2%
1970389,45513.4%
1980397,0381.9%
1990416,4444.9%
2000463,58511.3%
2010517,11011.5%
2020584,52613.0%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2019[13]

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 584,526 people in the county. The population density was 1,724 people per square mile (666 people/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.8% White, 11.5% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 4.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 2.8% from two or more races. 12.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 517,110 people and 206,522 households in the county. The population density was 1,574 people per square mile (608 people/km2). There were 219,580 housing units at an average density of 669 units per square mile (258/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.4% White, 11.6% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.7% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. 11.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30% were of German, 15% Irish, 8.0% English, and 4.9% Italian ancestry.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,878, and the median income for a family was $67,666. Males had a median income of $44,542 versus $35,801 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,092. About 9.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile (541 people/km2). There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 units per square mile (225/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.96% White, 11.50% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.71% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.40% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 6.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.3% were of German, 11.5% Irish and 6.2% English ancestry.

There were 182,194 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% 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 3.12.

The county population contained 26.60% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,209, and the median income for a family was $54,651. Males had a median income of $36,577 versus $27,265 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,879. About 6.70% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Douglas County is governed by a board of seven county commissioners, elected to staggered[14] four–year terms. County courthouse positions are also elected on a partisan basis. Most of the county's offices are located at the Douglas County Courthouse.

Douglas County Commission
DistrictCommissioner
1Roger Garcia
2James Cavanaugh
3Chris Rodgers (Vice-chair)[15]
4P.J. Morgan
5Maureen Boyle
6Mary Ann Borgeson (Chair)[15]
7Mike Friend
Douglas County Officeholders
OfficeOfficeholder
Assessor/Register of DeedsWalt Peffer[16]
County AttorneyDonald Kleine[17]
County Clerk/ComptrollerDan Esch[18]
Clerk of the District CourtCrystal Rhoades
County EngineerTodd Pfitzer
County SheriffAaron Hanson
County TreasurerJohn W. Ewing
Public DefenderTom Riley

For much of the time after World War II, Douglas County was one of the more conservative urban counties in the United States. It supported the Republican candidate for president in all but one election from 1952 to 2004. However, it has become a far more competitive county in national elections compared to the rest of the state in the last ten years. Barack Obama won a majority of the county's votes in 2008, becoming the first Democrat to do so since 1964. He also narrowly carried the 2nd congressional district as well, garnering him one electoral vote statewide. It swung back to the Republican column in 2012 with Mitt Romney winning the county by an even closer majority. The county swung back to Democratic hands in 2016 with Hillary Clinton winning a plurality of its votes, but unlike Obama eight years prior she failed to carry the 2nd congressional district. In 2020, Joe Biden won the county by 11 points, a 56-year high for Democrats, and flipped the 2nd district back into the Democratic column. Congressman Don Bacon, a Republican won Douglas County in his race.

As of December 2020, Douglas County is one of three counties in Nebraska (alongside Thurston and Dakota) to have a plurality of registered Democrats.[19]

Political Party Number of registered voters (June 1, 2023)[20] %
Democratic 132,948 37.51
Republican 125,545 35.41
Independent 88,450 24.95
Libertarian 5,716 1.61
Legal Marijuana Now 1,849 0.52
Total 354,508 100.00
United States presidential election results for Douglas County, Nebraska[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 119,159 43.09% 150,350 54.37% 7,031 2.54%
2016 108,077 44.95% 113,798 47.33% 18,558 7.72%
2012 113,220 50.56% 106,456 47.54% 4,251 1.90%
2008 106,291 46.89% 116,810 51.53% 3,600 1.59%
2004 120,813 58.34% 83,330 40.24% 2,928 1.41%
2000 101,025 55.16% 73,347 40.05% 8,784 4.80%
1996 92,334 51.38% 70,708 39.34% 16,679 9.28%
1992 93,512 46.73% 67,097 33.53% 39,512 19.74%
1988 99,916 56.27% 76,541 43.11% 1,108 0.62%
1984 112,676 65.26% 58,979 34.16% 1,003 0.58%
1980 96,908 59.12% 51,668 31.52% 15,354 9.37%
1976 93,204 58.73% 61,877 38.99% 3,626 2.28%
1972 101,579 67.82% 48,201 32.18% 0 0.00%
1968 69,808 50.89% 51,617 37.63% 15,739 11.47%
1964 61,613 44.30% 77,480 55.70% 0 0.00%
1960 72,005 52.92% 64,060 47.08% 0 0.00%
1956 73,270 59.39% 50,110 40.61% 0 0.00%
1952 71,457 56.24% 55,591 43.76% 0 0.00%
1948 47,175 48.92% 49,258 51.08% 0 0.00%
1944 53,443 45.60% 63,762 54.40% 0 0.00%
1940 53,325 44.38% 66,840 55.62% 0 0.00%
1936 35,349 33.01% 70,245 65.60% 1,482 1.38%
1932 33,938 35.81% 59,347 62.62% 1,483 1.56%
1928 47,551 52.60% 42,267 46.75% 587 0.65%
1924 29,390 44.98% 18,672 28.58% 17,278 26.44%
1920 28,543 57.81% 18,439 37.34% 2,393 4.85%
1916 14,557 35.13% 24,796 59.84% 2,084 5.03%
1912 6,185 21.12% 12,908 44.08% 10,189 34.80%
1908 14,066 45.80% 15,583 50.74% 1,064 3.46%
1904 15,248 57.87% 6,831 25.93% 4,270 16.21%
1900 14,266 50.88% 13,241 47.23% 530 1.89%
1896 12,326 49.95% 11,755 47.64% 596 2.42%
1892 10,702 48.27% 2,904 13.10% 8,566 38.63%
1888 10,237 47.53% 10,810 50.19% 493 2.29%
1884 4,894 51.61% 4,516 47.62% 73 0.77%
1880 3,290 55.87% 2,407 40.87% 192 3.26%

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Education

School districts include:[22]

A state-operated school, Nebraska School for the Deaf, was formerly in the county.

See also

References
  1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. About Douglas County: History. DC website.
  3. Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 55. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  4. US OMB. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
  5. "History Of Nebraska Passenger Vehicle License Plates". Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  7. Bluestem Prairie Preserve, Omaha NE Google Maps (accessed 20 January 2019)
  8. Two Rivers State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 20 January 2019)
  9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  12. "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.
  13. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  14. "Board members are elected to four-year terms, staggered, with three or four members elected every two years."
  15. Douglas County Commissioners. (10 January 2017). Board of County Commissioners. Retrieved from
  16. "Unopposed for Douglas County assessor, Walt Peffer outlines plans to review valuations". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  17. "Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine switches to GOP after Democrats' critical resolution". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  18. "Home - Douglas County Clerk/Comptroller". Douglas County. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  19. "2020 Eligible Voter Statistics" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. December 1, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 9, 2021.
  20. "Voter Registration Statistics" (PDF). nebraska.gov. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  21. Election Results
  22. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Douglas County, NE" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022. - Text list
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