Platte County, Nebraska#Micropolitan Statistical Area

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Platte County

| official_name = County of Platte

| settlement_type = County

| image_skyline = Platte County Courthouse (Nebraska) 2.jpg

| image_caption = Platte County Courthouse

| image_map = {{Maplink|zoom=8|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-width=250|frame-align=center|type=shape|fill=#ffffff|fill-opacity=0|stroke-width=3}}

| map_caption = Interactive map of Platte County

| image_map1 = Map of Nebraska highlighting Platte County.svg

| map_caption1 = Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{nowrap|{{US}}}}

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Nebraska}}

| established_title = Established

| established_date = January 26, 1856

| named_for = Platte River

| seat_type = County seat

| seat = Columbus

| parts_type = Largest city

| parts = Columbus

| unit_pref = US

| area_total_sq_mi = 685

| area_land_sq_mi = 674

| area_water_sq_mi = 11

| area_water_percent = 1.5

| elevation_max_ft = 1657

| elevation_min_ft = 1112

| population_as_of = 2020

| population = 34296

| population_density_sq_mi = 50.9

| area_code = 402/531

| area_code_type = Area code

| blank_name_sec1 = FIPS code

| blank_info_sec1 = 31141

| blank1_name_sec1 = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info_sec1 = {{GNIS 4|835892}}

| website = [http://www.plattecounty.net/ www.plattecounty.net]

| timezone = Central

| utc_offset = −6

| timezone_DST = CDT

| utc_offset_DST = −5

}}

Platte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 34,296.{{cite web|title=Platte County, Nebraska|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Platte_County,_Nebraska?g=050XX00US31141|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 19, 2023}} Its county seat is Columbus.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=7 June 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}} The county was created in 1855.{{cite web|url=http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/reports/platte_county.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116013650/http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/reports/platte_county.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 16, 2006|title=Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Platte County, Nebraska|publisher=Nebraska State Historical Society|date=July 1996|access-date=December 19, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kancoll.org/books/andreas_ne/platte/platte-p2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030510103013/http://www.kancoll.org/books/andreas_ne/platte/platte-p2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-05-10|title=Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska|last=Andreas|first=A. T.|date=1882|website=The Kansas Collection|access-date=December 19, 2014}}

Platte County comprises the Columbus, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Platte County is represented by the prefix 10 (it had the 10th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Platte County was officially established in 1856 and the board of commissioners had its first meeting the following year.{{Cite web|title=Nebraska State Genealogical Society - Platte County|url=https://nsgs.org/cpage.php?pt=107|access-date=2021-10-03|website=nsgs.org}}

Platte County had its first presumptive case of COVID-19 in late March 2020.{{Cite web|last=STAFF|first=TELEGRAM|title=Platte County has its first presumptive case of COVID-19|url=https://columbustelegram.com/news/local/platte-county-has-its-first-presumptive-case-of-covid-19/article_36ec573c-bf93-5b2f-8117-fde027bc8338.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Columbus Telegram|language=en}} As of Oct. 3, 2021, one in seven residents of the county have tested positive for COVID-19{{Cite news|date=2021-01-27|title=Platte County, Nebraska Covid Case and Risk Tracker|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/platte-nebraska-covid-cases.html|access-date=2021-10-03|issn=0362-4331}} and 40% of all residents are vaccinated.{{Cite news|date=2020-12-17|title=See How Vaccinations Are Going in Your County and State|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/covid-19-vaccine-doses.html|access-date=2021-10-04|issn=0362-4331}}

Geography

The Platte River flows eastward along the south line of Platte County. The Loup River also flows eastward and east-southeastward through the lower section of the county, discharging into the Platte River near Columbus. The Platte County terrain consists of low rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture, sloping to the east-southeast.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Platte+County,+NE/@41.5380145,-97.6818978,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8790d9be4802f775:0xf772ce7653caf7af!8m2!3d41.59406!4d-97.5247243 Platte County NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)]

The county has an area of {{convert|685|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|674|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|11|sqmi}} (1.5%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_31.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024152/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_31.txt|archive-date=November 13, 2013}}

=Major highways=

=Transit=

Express Arrow

=Adjacent counties=

Colfax County – east
Butler County – southeast
Polk County – south
Merrick County – south
Nance County – southwest
Boone County – west
Madison County – north
Stanton County – northeast

=Protected areas=

George Syas State Wildlife Management Area[https://www.google.com/maps/place/George+Syas+State+Wildlife+Management+Area,+Columbus,+NE+68601/@41.4349134,-97.6908328,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8790d9be4802f775:0xf772ce7653caf7af!2sPlatte+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d41.59406!4d-97.5247243!3m4!1s0x87909beff3380da5:0xfd0e93e492f2f23a!8m2!3d41.4318609!4d-97.6846567 George Syas State Wildlife Management Area, Columbus NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)]

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1860= 782

|1870= 1899

|1880= 9511

|1890= 15437

|1900= 17747

|1910= 19006

|1920= 19464

|1930= 21181

|1940= 20191

|1950= 19910

|1960= 23992

|1970= 26508

|1980= 28852

|1990= 29820

|2000= 31662

|2010= 32236

|2020= 34296

|estyear=

|estimate=

|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 11, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=December 11, 2014}} 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 11, 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=2010-03-27 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2014}} 2010{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31141.html|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607151915/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31/31141.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}

}}

As of the 2000 United States Census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=31 January 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} there were 31,662 people, 12,076 households, and 8,465 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|47|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 12,916 housing units at an average density of {{convert|19|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.29% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.49% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 6.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,076 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 29.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,359, and the median income for a family was $47,776. Males had a median income of $30,672 versus $21,842 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,064. About 5.40% of families and 7.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

=Cities=

Columbus (county seat)
Humphrey
Newman Grove (part)

=Villages=

=Census-designated place=

Lakeview

=Other unincorporated communities=

=Townships=

Notable people

James Keogh, executive editor of Time magazine and the head of the White House speechwriting staff under Richard M. Nixon{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/14/AR2006051400955.html|title=James Keogh; Time Editor, Nixon Staffer|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date= October 6, 2012|date=May 15, 2006}}

Politics

Platte County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only one election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

{{PresHead|place=Platte County, Nebraska|source=[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS Election Results]}}