Thurston County, Nebraska

Thurston County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 6,940.[1] Its county seat is Pender.[2]

Thurston County
U.S. county
Thurston County courthouse in Pender
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°10′N 96°33′W
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1889
Named forJohn Mellen Thurston
SeatPender
Largest villagePender
Area
 • Total396 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Land394 sq mi (1,020 km2)
 • Water2.5 sq mi (6 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
7,303
 • Density18.3/sq mi (7.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st

In the Nebraska license plate system, Thurston County is represented by the prefix 55 (it had the 55th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

The Siouan-speaking Omaha and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (Ho-Chunk) have reservations in Thurston County. The two reservations combined comprise the county's entire land area.

History

Varying cultures of indigenous peoples lived along the rivers for hundreds of years before European encounter. The Omaha occupied this territory and much of Nebraska and western Iowa before the Europeans arrived. They had migrated west from the Ohio Valley under pressure from the Iroquois Confederacy in the early 17th century.

Thurston County was organized by European Americans in 1889 from land that had been divided between Dakota and Burt counties since the dissolution of Blackbird County in 1879. It was named for US Senator John M. Thurston.[3]

Geography

Thurston County lies 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 west portion of the county is drained by the Logan Creek Drainage, which flows south-southeast. Thurston County has a total area of 396 square miles (1,030 km2), of which 394 square miles (1,020 km2) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4] The land area of the county is completely comprised from the Omaha and Winnebago Indian reservations.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
187031—
1880109251.6%
18903,1762,813.8%
19006,517105.2%
19108,70433.6%
19209,58910.2%
193010,4629.1%
194010,243−2.1%
19508,590−16.1%
19607,237−15.8%
19706,942−4.1%
19807,1863.5%
19906,936−3.5%
20007,1713.4%
20106,940−3.2%
Est. 20187,303[5]5.2%
US Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2014[1]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[10] there were 7,171 people, 2,255 households, and 1,725 families in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 2,467 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 45.77% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 52.03% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.77% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.43% of the population. 25.9% were of German ancestry. The villages of Emerson, Rosalie, Pender, and Thurston are predominantly white, while the villages of Macy, Walthill, and Winnebago are predominantly Native American.

There were 2,255 households out of which 40.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 19.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.50% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.64.

The county population contained 36.80% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 17.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,170, and the median income for a family was $30,893. Males had a median income of $24,792 versus $20,481 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,951. About 19.30% of families and 25.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.60% of those under age 18 and 14.70% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
Presidential election results
Presidential election results[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 50.0% 1,043 44.0% 919 6.0% 126
2012 42.4% 939 56.3% 1,247 1.3% 29
2008 45.7% 972 52.7% 1,120 1.6% 34
2004 48.4% 1,154 50.8% 1,212 0.9% 21
2000 50.0% 1,040 44.4% 924 5.7% 118
1996 39.5% 835 45.5% 962 15.0% 317
1992 39.8% 898 38.3% 865 21.9% 494
1988 47.2% 1,105 52.4% 1,225 0.4% 10
1984 56.4% 1,410 43.1% 1,077 0.5% 13
1980 61.7% 1,454 30.8% 726 7.5% 176
1976 53.9% 1,290 42.7% 1,021 3.4% 82
1972 65.1% 1,565 34.9% 840
1968 57.0% 1,341 34.1% 802 8.9% 210
1964 41.3% 1,194 58.7% 1,700
1960 57.2% 1,757 42.8% 1,315
1956 55.1% 1,722 45.0% 1,406
1952 62.0% 1,918 38.0% 1,174
1948 37.8% 1,149 62.2% 1,890
1944 49.3% 1,584 50.8% 1,632
1940 49.2% 1,973 50.8% 2,039
1936 29.4% 1,195 65.9% 2,676 4.7% 191
1932 18.2% 739 80.7% 3,273 1.1% 44
1928 45.3% 1,538 54.1% 1,837 0.5% 18
1924 37.4% 1,210 36.8% 1,191 25.9% 838
1920 63.3% 1,667 35.1% 925 1.5% 40
1916 35.7% 717 62.5% 1,255 1.8% 37
1912 23.8% 437 45.4% 834 30.9% 567
1908 54.0% 895 44.3% 734 1.7% 28
1904 56.4% 757 40.2% 539 3.4% 46
1900 54.5% 803 44.5% 656 1.0% 14

In recent decades, Native Americans in the United States have become more active politically, voting in increasing numbers in local, state and national elections. In 2004, Thurston, a majority-Native American county, was the only one in Nebraska with a majority voting for the Democratic Party presidential candidate, John Kerry.

Voter interest was high, and the 2008 presidential election was preceded by a major voter registration drive. The majority of voters in Thurston County voted for Democratic candidate Barack Obama, making the county one of four such in the state. In the 2012 presidential election, Thurston was the only Nebraska county that voted for Obama in his successful re-election bid.[12]

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Townships
gollark: There are other potatOS systems in the base itself.
gollark: The tower is mine.
gollark: @Terrariola#0000 stupid.
gollark: Hide extra potatOS computers in the tower and cable ducts.
gollark: PotatOS shall dominate all.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  3. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 164.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  6. "US Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  10. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  11. Election Results
  12. "Unofficial Results: General Election - November 6, 2012". Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved 4 December 2012.

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