Richardson County, Nebraska

Coordinates: 40°07′N 95°43′W / 40.12°N 95.72°W / 40.12; -95.72
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Richardson County
County
Richardson County Courthouse in Falls City
Richardson County Courthouse in Falls City
Map of Nebraska highlighting Richardson County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Map of the United States highlighting Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°07′N 95°43′W / 40.12°N 95.72°W / 40.12; -95.72
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1854 (founded)
1855 (re-authorized)
Named forWilliam Alexander Richardson
SeatFalls City
Largest cityFalls City
Area
 • Total555 sq mi (1,440 km2)
 • Land552 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Water2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,871
 • Density14/sq mi (5.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.richardson.ne.us

Richardson County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,871.[1] Its county seat is Falls City.[2]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Richardson County is represented by the prefix 19 (it had the nineteenth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Parts of the Ioway Reservation and the Sac and Fox Reservation are located in the southeast corner of the county between Falls City, Rulo (Nebraska), and Hiawatha (Kansas). The incorporated village of Preston, Nebraska is located inside the latter reservation.

History[edit]

The Nebraska Territory, including this county, was opened for settlement through the Kansas–Nebraska Act on May 30, 1854. Richardson County was created that same year and reorganized in 1855 by the first territorial legislature.[3] It was named after William A. Richardson, a US Representative from the state of Illinois who had sponsored the Kansas-Nebraska Act; subsequently, in 1858, Richardson was appointed governor of the Nebraska Territory.[4]

The first courthouse was built in 1863. The second courthouse was built in 1873 and burned on 7 May 1919.[3]

On May 30, 1879, the "Irving, Kansas Tornado" passed through Richardson County. This tornado measured F4 on the Fujita scale, and had a damage path 800 yards (730 m) wide and 100 miles (160 km) long. Eighteen people were killed and sixty were injured in this tornado.[5]

In the summer of 1966, Braniff Airlines Flight 250 crashed near Falls City due to bad weather, killing all 42 on board.[6] The BAC One-Eleven aircraft was on the Kansas City to Omaha leg of a multi-stop flight from New Orleans to Minneapolis on Saturday night, 6 August 1966.

Geography[edit]

Richardson County lies at the southeast tip of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Missouri (across the Missouri River). Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of Kansas. Several branches and tributaries of the Big Nemaha River flow southeast through the county, depositing their waters into the Missouri River at the county's SE corner. The county's terrain consists of rolling hills, sloped to the southeast, cut by numerous drainages. The county area is largely devoted to agriculture.[7] The lowest point in the state of Nebraska is located on the Missouri River in Richardson County, where it flows out of Nebraska and into Kansas and Missouri.

The county has a total area of 555 square miles (1,440 km2), of which 552 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.5%) is water.[8]

Major highways[edit]

The major highways through the area are U.S. Highway 73 () and U.S. Highway 75 () running north and south through the county, U.S. Highway 159 () running east toward the Rulo bridge (and connecting to the state of Missouri), and Nebraska Highway 8 () running west along the southern border of Nebraska. Other state highways provide connections between smaller towns.

Protected area[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18602,835—
18709,780245.0%
188015,03153.7%
189017,57416.9%
190019,61411.6%
191017,448−11.0%
192018,9688.7%
193019,8264.5%
194019,178−3.3%
195016,886−12.0%
196013,903−17.7%
197012,277−11.7%
198011,315−7.8%
19909,937−12.2%
20009,531−4.1%
20108,363−12.3%
20207,871−5.9%
US Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010[16]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[17] there were 9,531 people, 3,993 households, and 2,567 families in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). There were 4,560 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.65% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 2.32% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,993 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.40% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.70% were non-families. 32.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95.

The county population contained 25.50% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 21.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,884, and the median income for a family was $39,779. Males had a median income of $25,938 versus $18,775 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,460. About 6.30% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Villages[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Former communities[edit]

  • Archer
  • Arago
  • Mount Roy
  • Winnebago
  • Yankton[3]

Politics[edit]

Richardson County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Richardson County, Nebraska[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,073 74.33% 996 24.09% 65 1.57%
2016 2,769 72.77% 818 21.50% 218 5.73%
2012 2,443 65.34% 1,191 31.85% 105 2.81%
2008 2,342 59.02% 1,513 38.13% 113 2.85%
2004 2,924 68.35% 1,297 30.32% 57 1.33%
2000 2,623 63.20% 1,382 33.30% 145 3.49%
1996 2,089 48.85% 1,517 35.48% 670 15.67%
1992 2,050 41.47% 1,513 30.61% 1,380 27.92%
1988 2,703 58.02% 1,926 41.34% 30 0.64%
1984 3,634 71.28% 1,422 27.89% 42 0.82%
1980 3,634 68.00% 1,350 25.26% 360 6.74%
1976 3,119 55.43% 2,416 42.94% 92 1.63%
1972 3,662 70.83% 1,508 29.17% 0 0.00%
1968 3,133 59.66% 1,591 30.30% 527 10.04%
1964 2,850 46.76% 3,245 53.24% 0 0.00%
1960 4,481 62.66% 2,670 37.34% 0 0.00%
1956 4,480 64.05% 2,514 35.95% 0 0.00%
1952 5,688 70.66% 2,362 29.34% 0 0.00%
1948 3,778 51.77% 3,519 48.23% 0 0.00%
1944 4,482 56.27% 3,483 43.73% 0 0.00%
1940 4,833 54.07% 4,105 45.93% 0 0.00%
1936 3,908 40.05% 5,813 59.57% 37 0.38%
1932 2,802 33.97% 5,383 65.26% 64 0.78%
1928 5,833 65.09% 3,072 34.28% 57 0.64%
1924 3,625 48.22% 3,089 41.09% 803 10.68%
1920 4,496 61.72% 2,679 36.78% 109 1.50%
1916 2,039 42.30% 2,650 54.98% 131 2.72%
1912 965 21.70% 1,977 44.45% 1,506 33.86%
1908 2,123 47.51% 2,258 50.53% 88 1.97%
1904 2,554 56.83% 1,664 37.03% 276 6.14%
1900 2,491 49.12% 2,529 49.87% 51 1.01%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Richardson County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c The History of Richardson County, Official Website
  4. ^ "Richardson County". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  5. ^ "File Not Found". www.kansas.net. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  6. ^ "Flaming jet crashes kiiling all 42 aboard". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. August 8, 1966. p. 1.
  7. ^ Richardson County NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  9. ^ Four Mile Creek State Wildlife Management Area, Du Bois NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)
  10. ^ Kirkmans Cove Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)
  11. ^ Verdon Lake State Recreation Area, Verdon NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)
  12. ^ "US Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  15. ^ "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 11, 2014.
  16. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  18. ^ Election Results

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richardson County, Nebraska.

40°07′N 95°43′W / 40.12°N 95.72°W / 40.12; -95.72

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