Stanton County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 5,842.[1] Its county seat is Stanton.[2] The county was formed in 1856 and organized in 1867.[3][4][5][6] It was first called Izard County until 1862, when it was renamed for Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War during the administration of President Abraham Lincoln.[7]
Stanton County | |
|---|---|
_from_S_4.JPG) Stanton County courthouse in Stanton | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska | |
 Nebraska's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 41°55′N 97°11′W / 41.92°N 97.19°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nebraska |
| Founded | 1856 (founded as "Izard County") 1862 (renamed "Stanton County") 1867 (organized) |
| Named for | Edwin M. Stanton |
| Seat | Stanton |
| Largest city | Stanton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 431 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Land | 428 sq mi (1,110 km2) |
| • Water | 3.1 sq mi (8 km2) 0.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 5,842 |
| • Density | 14/sq mi (5.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Stanton County is part of the Norfolk, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Stanton County is represented by the prefix 53 (it had the 53rd-greatest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
Geography
The terrain of Stanton County consists of low rolling hills, sloped toward the east. The Elkhorn River flows easterly through the upper central part of the county.[8] The county has a total area of 431 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 428 square miles (1,110 km2) is land and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2) (0.7%) is water.[9]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Cuming County – east
- Colfax County – south
- Platte County – southwest
- Madison County – west
- Pierce County – northwest
- Wayne County – north
Protected areas
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 636 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,813 | 185.1% | |
| 1890 | 4,619 | 154.8% | |
| 1900 | 6,959 | 50.7% | |
| 1910 | 7,542 | 8.4% | |
| 1920 | 7,756 | 2.8% | |
| 1930 | 7,809 | 0.7% | |
| 1940 | 6,887 | −11.8% | |
| 1950 | 6,387 | −7.3% | |
| 1960 | 5,783 | −9.5% | |
| 1970 | 5,758 | −0.4% | |
| 1980 | 6,549 | 13.7% | |
| 1990 | 6,244 | −4.7% | |
| 2000 | 6,455 | 3.4% | |
| 2010 | 6,129 | −5.1% | |
| 2020 | 5,842 | −4.7% | |
| US Decennial Census[14] 1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16] 1990-2000[17] 2010[18] | |||
As of the 2000 United States Census,[19] there were 6,455 people, 2,297 households, and 1,784 families in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 2,452 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.72% White, 0.42% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 1.38% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 2.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 55.8% were of German, 9.7% Czech and 5.6% Irish ancestry.
There were 2,297 households, out of which 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.50% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.30% were non-families. 19.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.16.
The county population contained 29.80% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,676, and the median income for a family was $41,040. Males had a median income of $27,969 versus $19,428 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,511. About 5.30% of families and 6.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.80% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
City
- Stanton (county seat)
Village
Census-designated place
Politics
Stanton County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 2,561 | 80.92% | 532 | 16.81% | 72 | 2.27% |
| 2016 | 2,187 | 78.08% | 417 | 14.89% | 197 | 7.03% |
| 2012 | 1,949 | 73.71% | 614 | 23.22% | 81 | 3.06% |
| 2008 | 1,781 | 71.38% | 664 | 26.61% | 50 | 2.00% |
| 2004 | 2,159 | 78.65% | 559 | 20.36% | 27 | 0.98% |
| 2000 | 1,895 | 76.23% | 500 | 20.11% | 91 | 3.66% |
| 1996 | 1,457 | 59.64% | 577 | 23.62% | 409 | 16.74% |
| 1992 | 1,274 | 49.71% | 496 | 19.35% | 793 | 30.94% |
| 1988 | 1,711 | 72.50% | 639 | 27.08% | 10 | 0.42% |
| 1984 | 2,082 | 83.01% | 411 | 16.39% | 15 | 0.60% |
| 1980 | 1,945 | 78.87% | 362 | 14.68% | 159 | 6.45% |
| 1976 | 1,469 | 64.26% | 764 | 33.42% | 53 | 2.32% |
| 1972 | 1,662 | 77.66% | 478 | 22.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,408 | 71.36% | 411 | 20.83% | 154 | 7.81% |
| 1964 | 1,299 | 56.16% | 1,014 | 43.84% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,680 | 66.22% | 857 | 33.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,676 | 65.14% | 897 | 34.86% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 1,983 | 74.69% | 672 | 25.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,259 | 56.01% | 989 | 43.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 1,682 | 65.81% | 874 | 34.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 2,074 | 65.74% | 1,081 | 34.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 1,169 | 36.55% | 1,917 | 59.94% | 112 | 3.50% |
| 1932 | 568 | 19.73% | 2,302 | 79.96% | 9 | 0.31% |
| 1928 | 1,211 | 48.17% | 1,296 | 51.55% | 7 | 0.28% |
| 1924 | 962 | 39.43% | 596 | 24.43% | 882 | 36.15% |
| 1920 | 1,457 | 72.67% | 501 | 24.99% | 47 | 2.34% |
| 1916 | 736 | 43.91% | 899 | 53.64% | 41 | 2.45% |
| 1912 | 471 | 31.15% | 724 | 47.88% | 317 | 20.97% |
| 1908 | 792 | 48.59% | 823 | 50.49% | 15 | 0.92% |
| 1904 | 895 | 59.87% | 513 | 34.31% | 87 | 5.82% |
| 1900 | 788 | 50.48% | 751 | 48.11% | 22 | 1.41% |