Custer County, Nebraska

{{Other uses|Custer County (disambiguation){{!}}Custer County}}

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Custer County

| state = Nebraska

| seal =

| founded = February 17, 1877

| seat wl = Broken Bow

| largest city = Broken Bow

| area_total_sq_mi = 2576

| area_land_sq_mi = 2576

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.4

| area percentage = 0.01

| census estimate yr = 2021

| pop = 10460{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=October 31, 2022}}

| density_sq_mi = 4.06

| time zone = Central

| web = http://www.co.custer.ne.us/

| ex image = Custer County, Nebraska courthouse from E.JPG

| ex image cap = Custer County Courthouse in Broken Bow

| district = 3rd

| named for = George Armstrong Custer

}}

File:Custer County Map.png

Custer County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 10,545. Its county seat is Broken Bow.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}} The county was formed in 1877{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=InM_AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105|title=History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Vol. 1| publisher=S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.|author=Burr, George L.|year=1921|page=105}} and named after General George Armstrong Custer,{{cite web |url=http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/custer.htm |title=Nebraska Association of County Officials : Home |website= |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716101004/http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/custer.htm|access-date=March 14, 2008|archive-date= July 16, 2011}} who was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Custer County is represented by the prefix 4 (it had the fourth-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|2576|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2576|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqmi}} (0.01%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_31.txt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024152/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_31.txt|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2013|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 6, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}} In area, it is the second largest county in Nebraska, behind only Cherry County, slightly more than twice its size.

=Major highways=

=Adjacent counties=

Valley County – northeast
Sherman County – southeast
Buffalo County – southeast
Dawson County – south
Lincoln County – southwest
Logan County – west
Blaine County – northwest
Loup County – northeast

History

Custer County, named in honor of General George Armstrong Custer, was officially organized in 1877, although its settlement commenced earlier. The region was once part of the Sioux territory, but following the Indian Wars, particularly after the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the land was opened for homesteading. The first settlers arrived in the early 1870s, inspired by the promise of land through the Homestead Act of 1862. These early pioneers encountered formidable challenges like extreme weather conditions, isolation, and the task of farming in what was considered the Great American Desert. They constructed sod houses due to the absence of timber, and settlements were strategically placed near water sources.{{Cite book |last=Butcher |first=Solomon Devore |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VJxDNjDXlJ8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Butcher,+Solomon+D.+S.D.+Butcher's+Pioneer+History+of+Custer+County:+And+Short+Sketches+of+Early+Days+in+Nebraska.+Broken+Bow,+NE:+The+Merchants+Publishing+Co.,+1901&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjT4NjS_ICKAxW7jokEHTYfJ3EQ6AF6BAgFEAI#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=S.D. Butcher's Pioneer History of Custer County, and Short Sketches of Early Days in Nebraska |date=1901 |publisher=Merchants Publishing Company |language=en}}

The Burlington Railroad's extension through the county in the early 1880s significantly boosted settlement by providing a means for transportation and trade. This led to the establishment of towns like Broken Bow, which was designated as the county seat. The railroad not only facilitated the influx of settlers but also allowed for the export of agricultural products, marking the transition from cattle ranching to more diverse farming practices.{{Cite book |last=Gaston |first=William Levi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zED7zgEACAAJ&dq=Gaston,+William+Levi,+and+Augustin+R.+Humphrey.+History+of+Custer+County,+Nebraska;+a+Narrative+of+the+Past,+with+Special+Emphasis+Upon+the+Pioneer+Period+of+the+County's+History.+Lincoln,+Neb.:&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiAt6zf_YCKAxUQC3kGHdF1DWsQ6AF6BAgEEAE |title=History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past, with Special Emphasis Upon the Pioneer Period of the County's History, Its Social, Commercial, Educational, Religious and Civic Development from the Early Days to the Present Time |last2=Humphrey |first2=A. R. |date=1993 |publisher=Higginson Book Company |language=en}}

Agriculture shifted from cattle ranching to diversified farming, with wheat and corn becoming prominent crops. By the dawn of the 20th century, he community had established schools, churches, and other civic institutions, marking the transition from a frontier settlement to a more organized community.

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1880= 2211

|1890= 21677

|1900= 19758

|1910= 25668

|1920= 26407

|1930= 26189

|1940= 22591

|1950= 19170

|1960= 16517

|1970= 14092

|1980= 13877

|1990= 12270

|2000= 11793

|2010= 10939

|2020= 10545

|estyear=2021

|estimate=10460

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=US Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 6, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=December 6, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ne190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 6, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 6, 2014}} 2010-2013{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31041.html|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607145612/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31041.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011|url-status=dead}}

}}

As of the 2000 United States Census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=May 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} there were 11,793 people, 4,826 households, and 3,320 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 5,585 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.63% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.3% were of German, 11.9% English, 10.6% Irish and 8.9% American ancestry.

There were 4,826 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.90% were married couples living together, 5.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

The county population contained 26.30% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,677, and the median income for a family was $37,063. Males had a median income of $24,609 versus $19,732 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,171. About 9.10% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.20% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.