Hitchcock County, Nebraska
Hitchcock County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 2,616. Its county seat is Trenton.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Hitchcock County is represented by the prefix 67.
History
Hitchcock County was formed in 1873. It was named for US Senator Phineas Warren Hitchcock.The Massacre Canyon battle between Sioux and Pawnee took place on August 5, 1873, at a spot three miles east of Trenton.
Geography
The terrain of Hitchcock County consists of rolling low hills. The flattened hilltops are used for agriculture; mostly dry farming with some center pivot irrigation. The Republican River flows eastward through the central part of the county. The county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.The eastern two-thirds of the state of Nebraska observes Central Time; the western portion of the state observes Mountain Time. Hitchcock County is the westernmost county to observe Central Time.
Lakes
- Swanson Lake: formed by a dam on the Republican River, between Stratton and Trenton.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Red Willow County – east
- Rawlins County, Kansas – south
- Dundy County – west
- Hayes County – north
- Frontier County –northeast
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 2,616. The median age was 47.4 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.7 males age 18 and over.The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.3% of the population.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,137 households in the county, of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 1,571 housing units, of which 27.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.7% were owner-occupied and 19.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.0%.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 3,111 people, 1,287 households, and 899 families in the county. The population density was. There were 1,675 housing units at an average density of.The racial makeup of the county was 98.36% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 1.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,287 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89.
The county population contained 23.80% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 22.60% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 22.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,287, and the median income for a family was $34,490. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $18,879 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,804. About 10.90% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.90% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Villages
Former communities
- Beverly
- Blackwood
- Cornell
- Dike
- Driftwood
- Meeker
- Poe
- Rill
- Rupert