Hamilton County is a
county in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sov ...
Nebraska. As of the
2020 United States Census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...
, the population was 9,429.
Its
county seat is
Aurora
An aurora (plural: auroras or aurorae), also commonly known as the polar lights, is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of bri ...
. The county was named for
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757July 12, 1804) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first United States secretary of the treasury from 1789 to 1795.
Born out of wedlock in Charlest ...
, the first
Secretary of the Treasury
The United States secretary of the treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, and is the chief financial officer of the federal government of the United States. The secretary of the treasury serves as the principal a ...
in the new United States government.
Hamilton County is included in the
Grand Island, NE
Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...
.
In the
Nebraska license plate system, Hamilton County is represented by the prefix 28 (it had the 28th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
History
The first permanent settlers arrived in Hamilton County in 1866. Hamilton County was created in 1867, and was organized in 1870. It was named for
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757July 12, 1804) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first United States secretary of the treasury from 1789 to 1795.
Born out of wedlock in Charlest ...
.
Geography
The
Platte River flows northeastward along the northwest side of Hamilton County, forming the northwestern boundary line with Merrick County.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.8%) is water.
Major highways
*
Interstate 80
*
U.S. Highway 34
U.S. Route 34 (US 34) is an east–west United States highway that runs for from north-central Colorado to the western suburbs of Chicago. Through Rocky Mountain National Park it is known as the Trail Ridge Road where it reaches elevation , ...
*
Nebraska Highway 2
Nebraska Highway 2 (N-2) is a state highway in Nebraska consisting of two discontinuous segments. The western segment begins at the South Dakota border northwest of Crawford and ends southeast of Grand Island at an intersection with Interstate ...
*
Nebraska Highway 14
Nebraska Highway 14 (N-14) is a highway in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It has a southern terminus at the Kansas border, where it continues south as K-14, southwest of Superior and a northern terminus east of Niobrara at the South Dakota border ...
*
Nebraska Highway 66
Nebraska Highway 66 is a highway in central and eastern Nebraska. It is a discontinuous highway with four segments heading in a west-to-east direction. The first segment begins at Nebraska Highway 14 south of Central City and ends at U.S. Highway ...
Adjacent counties
*
Polk County – northeast
*
York County – east
*
Clay County – south
*
Adams County – southwest
*
Hall County – west
*
Merrick County – north
Protected areas
* Gadwall State Wildlife Management Area
* Nelson Federal Waterfowl Production Area
* Pintail State Wildlife Management Area
*
Rainwater Basin Wildlife Management District
* Springer Federal Waterfowl Production Area
* Troester Federal Waterfowl Production Area
* Deep Well State Wildlife Management Area
Demographics
As of the
2000 United States Census
The United States census of 2000, conducted by the United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 people en ...
,
there were 9,403 people, 3,503 households, and 2,676 families residing in the county. The
population density was 17 people per square mile (7/km
2). There were 3,850 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km
2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.43%
White, 0.18%
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have of ...
or
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of enslav ...
, 0.12%
Native American, 0.22%
Asian, 0.49% from
other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 3,503 households, out of which 37.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.40% were
married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.60% were non-families. 21.10% 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 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07.
The county population contained 29.10% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,277, and the median income for a family was $45,659. Males had a median income of $29,238 versus $20,308 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $17,590. About 5.90% of families and 7.50% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
City
*
Aurora
An aurora (plural: auroras or aurorae), also commonly known as the polar lights, is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of bri ...
(county seat)
Villages
*
Giltner
*
Hampton
Hampton may refer to:
Places Australia
* Hampton bioregion, an IBRA biogeographic region in Western Australia
* Hampton, New South Wales
* Hampton, Queensland, a town in the Toowoomba Region
* Hampton, Victoria
Canada
*Hampton, New Brunswick
* ...
*
Hordville
*
Marquette
*
Phillips
*
Stockham
Census-designated place
*
Overland
Politics
Hamilton County voters have long been reliably Republican. In only one national election since 1916 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
See also
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Hamilton County, Nebraska
References
External links
Hamilton County Online
{{Coord, 40.88, -98.02, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-NE_source:UScensus1990
Nebraska counties
1870 establishments in Nebraska
Populated places established in 1870