De Witt, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
De Witt is a village in Saline County
, Nebraska
, United States
. The population was 513 at the 2010 census. The town was incorporated by the Nebraska Territorial Legislature
in February 1857.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 572 people, 243 households, and 164 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,370.3 people per square mile (525.8/km²). There were 254 housing units at an average density of 608.5 per square mile (233.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.60% White, 0.17% African American, 0.35% Asian, 0.17% from other races
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.
There were 243 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $38,056, and the median income for a family was $48,021. Males had a median income of $26,583 versus $22,778 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $17,684. About 3.6% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.
, was first manufactured in De Witt. The Vise-Grip was originally manufactured in De Witt by Petersen Manufacturing, founded by Danish immigrant William Petersen. Petersen, a blacksmith by trade, invented the first locking pliers
and began selling them from the trunk of his car to farmers and people in surrounding towns. In 1985 American Tool Companies Inc. was formed by the Petersen family, and it in turn acquired Petersen Manufacturing. In 1993 American Tool acquired Irwin Industrial. The company operated under the Irwin Industrial name beginning in 2002 when it was purchased by Newell Rubbermaid.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26531610/ On October 31, 2008 the plant was closed and 330 jobs were lost when manufacturing of Vise-Grips and other tools moved to China. http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/33646769.html
In 2009 Gerry Durnell writing in Automobile Quarterly said: "The original Vise-Grip manufacturing plant now sits vacant. One auction has already taken place, another is contemplated, and the building is for sale. More than 330 people from the town of Dewitt (sic) and surrounding communities are no longer employed by Newell Rubbermaid
, which owns the company and chose to take Vise-Grip production overseas."
Saline County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 13,843 people, 5,188 households, and 3,507 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 5,611 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 513 at the 2010 census. The town was incorporated by the Nebraska Territorial Legislature
Nebraska Territorial Legislature
The Nebraska Territorial Legislature was held from January 16, 1855 until 1865 in Omaha City, Nebraska Territory.- Slavery :In 1854 the Kansas-Nebraska Act created the Nebraska Territory, overturning the Missouri Compromise by allowing legislatures of the Nebraska and Kansas territories to...
in February 1857.
Geography
De Witt is located at 40°23′42"N 96°55′15"W (40.394982, -96.920790).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 572 people, 243 households, and 164 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,370.3 people per square mile (525.8/km²). There were 254 housing units at an average density of 608.5 per square mile (233.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.60% White, 0.17% African American, 0.35% Asian, 0.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.
There were 243 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $38,056, and the median income for a family was $48,021. Males had a median income of $26,583 versus $22,778 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $17,684. About 3.6% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
A popular tool, called the Vise-GripPliers
Pliers are a hand tool used to hold objects firmly, for bending, or physical compression. Generally, pliers consist of a pair of metal first-class levers joined at a fulcrum positioned closer to one end of the levers, creating short jaws on one side of the fulcrum, and longer handles on the other...
, was first manufactured in De Witt. The Vise-Grip was originally manufactured in De Witt by Petersen Manufacturing, founded by Danish immigrant William Petersen. Petersen, a blacksmith by trade, invented the first locking pliers
Locking pliers
Locking pliers, Mole grips or Vise-Grips are pliers that can be locked into position, using an over-center action. One side of the handle includes a bolt that is used to adjust the spacing of the jaws, the other side of the handle often includes a lever to push the two sides of the handles apart...
and began selling them from the trunk of his car to farmers and people in surrounding towns. In 1985 American Tool Companies Inc. was formed by the Petersen family, and it in turn acquired Petersen Manufacturing. In 1993 American Tool acquired Irwin Industrial. The company operated under the Irwin Industrial name beginning in 2002 when it was purchased by Newell Rubbermaid.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26531610/ On October 31, 2008 the plant was closed and 330 jobs were lost when manufacturing of Vise-Grips and other tools moved to China. http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/33646769.html
In 2009 Gerry Durnell writing in Automobile Quarterly said: "The original Vise-Grip manufacturing plant now sits vacant. One auction has already taken place, another is contemplated, and the building is for sale. More than 330 people from the town of Dewitt (sic) and surrounding communities are no longer employed by Newell Rubbermaid
Newell Rubbermaid
Newell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products including such well-known brands as Rubbermaid food storage, home organization, and refuse container products; Sharpie, PaperMate, Parker and Waterman writing instruments; Calphalon gourmet cookware; Goody beauty and...
, which owns the company and chose to take Vise-Grip production overseas."