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Garden County, Nebraska

Coordinates: 41°37′N 102°20′W / 41.62°N 102.34°W / 41.62; -102.34
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"Garden County" redirects here. For the county in Ireland that is referred to as the Garden County, see County Wicklow.

Garden County
County
Garden County Courthouse in Oshkosh
Garden County Courthouse in Oshkosh
Map of Nebraska highlighting Garden 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°37′N 102°20′W / 41.62°N 102.34°W / 41.62; -102.34
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1909
Named forGarden of Eden
SeatOshkosh
Largest cityOshkosh
Area
 • Total
1,731 sq mi (4,480 km2)
 • Land1,704 sq mi (4,410 km2)
 • Water27 sq mi (70 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,874
 • Density1.1/sq mi (0.42/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitegardencounty.ne.gov

Garden County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 1,874.[1] Its county seat is Oshkosh.[2]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Garden County is represented by the prefix 77 (it had the seventy-seventh-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

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Garden County was formed in 1909 by popular vote. Voters in the general election of November 2, 1909, approved making the northern part of Deuel County into its own county.[3] It is said the county was so named in the hope that this land should become the garden of the West or with allusion to the "Garden of Eden".[4]

The county has lost population since the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The land was homesteaded for family farms that often turned out to be too small for subsistence farming under the arid conditions of the region. In the early decades of settlement by immigrants and migrants from the East, farmers did not know how to work the land on the prairies. Tons of topsoil were lost after droughts.

Geography

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The North Platte River runs ESE through the south part of Garden County. Since the county is in the western portion of Nebraska, its residents observe Mountain Time. The eastern two-thirds portion of the state observes Central Time.

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,731 square miles (4,480 km2), of which 1,704 square miles (4,410 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (1.5%) is water.[5]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19103,538—
19204,57229.2%
19305,09911.5%
19404,680−8.2%
19504,114−12.1%
19603,472−15.6%
19702,929−15.6%
19802,802−4.3%
19902,460−12.2%
20002,292−6.8%
20102,057−10.3%
20201,874−8.9%
2022 (est.)1,837−2.0%
US Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010[11] 2020 2022[12]
Lone tree on the prairie, on Rt 92 near Lisco

As of the 2000 United States Census,[13] there were 2,292 people, 1,020 households, and 658 families in the county. The population density was 1.3 people per square mile (0.50 people/km2). There were 1,298 housing units at an average density of 0.8 units per square mile (0.31/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.34% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.52% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 43.5% were of German, 10.0% Irish, 9.6% American and 9.2% English ancestry.

There were 1,020 households, out of which 24.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.40% were non-families. 32.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.77.

The county population contained 21.80% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 27.00% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,458, and the median income for a family was $32,546. Males had a median income of $21,495 versus $17,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,414. About 10.80% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.00% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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Like much of the Nebraska Panhandle, Garden County has been a Republican-leaning county since the late 20th century. It was one of only two counties that Ben Nelson failed to carry in 1994.[14] In Presidential elections, the last Democratic candidate to carry the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1932.[15] As part of Nebraska's 3rd congressional district, Garden County has been represented by Republicans since 1961.

United States presidential election results for Garden County, Nebraska[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,016 84.67% 161 13.42% 23 1.92%
2016 869 80.84% 153 14.23% 53 4.93%
2012 829 75.99% 242 22.18% 20 1.83%
2008 844 74.17% 283 24.87% 11 0.97%
2004 970 81.99% 201 16.99% 12 1.01%
2000 963 79.00% 203 16.65% 53 4.35%
1996 851 65.61% 279 21.51% 167 12.88%
1992 697 53.49% 212 16.27% 394 30.24%
1988 986 72.39% 366 26.87% 10 0.73%
1984 1,158 85.71% 180 13.32% 13 0.96%
1980 1,297 82.09% 202 12.78% 81 5.13%
1976 928 64.36% 445 30.86% 69 4.79%
1972 1,161 85.05% 204 14.95% 0 0.00%
1968 1,120 78.60% 206 14.46% 99 6.95%
1964 1,106 66.43% 559 33.57% 0 0.00%
1960 1,376 76.36% 426 23.64% 0 0.00%
1956 1,167 77.70% 335 22.30% 0 0.00%
1952 1,457 81.03% 341 18.97% 0 0.00%
1948 923 64.01% 519 35.99% 0 0.00%
1944 1,248 69.76% 541 30.24% 0 0.00%
1940 1,351 64.73% 736 35.27% 0 0.00%
1936 996 49.63% 986 49.13% 25 1.25%
1932 768 38.21% 1,204 59.90% 38 1.89%
1928 1,470 77.82% 404 21.39% 15 0.79%
1924 725 46.68% 459 29.56% 369 23.76%
1920 924 66.24% 421 30.18% 50 3.58%
1916 306 32.01% 598 62.55% 52 5.44%
1912 136 15.94% 282 33.06% 435 51.00%

Communities

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City

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Village

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated places

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Former Communities

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  • Cormick
  • Kowanda
  • Lutherville
  • Lytle
  • Orlando
  • Penn
  • Ruthton
  • Warren

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Garden County, Nebraska.

References

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  1. ^ "Garden 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. ^ Joseph Nathan Kane, The American Counties (4th Ed.), (The Scarecrow Press, 1983), pp. 130, 479
  4. ^ "Garden County". Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  6. ^ Clear Creek State Waterfowl Management Area, Lewellen NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  7. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "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 7, 2014.
  11. ^ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/gardencountynebraska/PST045222. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ David Leip Electoral Atlas (Maps for Nebraska gubernatorial races)
  15. ^ Geographie Electorale
  16. ^ Election Results

41°37′N 102°20′W / 41.62°N 102.34°W / 41.62; -102.34

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