Harlan County, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
History
Prior to 1870, the portion of the Republican valley that now includes Harlan County was a prized hunting ground for the Native Americans; and the threat of attack deterred white settlement in the area. The defeat of the Sioux at the Battle of Summit SpringsBattle of Summit Springs
The Battle of Summit Springs, on July 11, 1869, was an armed conflict between elements of the United States Army under the command of Colonel Eugene A. Carr and a group of Cheyenne Dog Soldiers led by Tall Bull, who died during the engagement...
in 1869 largely eliminated this threat, and several parties were organized to explore the agricultural possibilities of the area.
A party of forty men from eastern Nebraska settled near the site of present-day Orleans
Orleans, Nebraska
Orleans is a village in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 425 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Orleans is located at ....
in August 1870. In 1871, a party from Cheyenne, Wyoming, led by Thomas Harlan, settled near Alma, which was named after a daughter of one of the settlers. In that year, Harlan County was separated from Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,632 people, 14,076 households, and 9,444 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile . There are 15,438 housing units in Lincoln....
by the Nebraska state legislature. Accounts differ as to the county's namesake: either Thomas Harlan, or James Harlan
James Harlan (senator)
James Harlan was a member of the United States Senate and a U.S. Cabinet Secretary.-Biography:Harlan represented the state of Iowa in the United States Senate as a member of the Free Soil Party in 1855. In 1857 the Senate declared the seat vacant because of irregularities in the legislative...
, who was U.S. Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
between 1865 and 1866.
Demographics
| Harlan County Population by decade |
1880 - 6,086 1890 - 8,158 1900 - 9,370 1910 - 9,578 1920 - 9,220 1930 - 8,951 1940 - 7,130 1950 - 7,189 1960 - 5,081 1970 - 4,357 1980 - 4,292 1990 - 3,810 2000 - 3,786 2010 - 3,423 |
As of the census
Census
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 3,786 people, 1,597 households, and 1,049 families residing in the county. 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 7 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 2,327 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.86% White
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...
, 0.13% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 0.11% Native American
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...
, 0.08% Asian
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...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
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...
, 0.16% 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 0.63% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race.
There were 1,597 households out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% 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, 4.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 30.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 23.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,679, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $27,580 versus $18,411 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 county was $15,618. About 7.00% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.
City and villages
- AlmaAlma, NebraskaAlma is a city in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,214 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Harlan County. The town is named after a daughter of one of the early settlers...
- HuntleyHuntley, NebraskaHuntley is a village in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 67 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Huntley is located at ....
- OrleansOrleans, NebraskaOrleans is a village in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 425 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Orleans is located at ....
- OxfordOxford, NebraskaOxford is a village in Furnas and Harlan Counties in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The population was 876 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Oxford is located at...
(partial) - RaganRagan, NebraskaRagan is a village in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 46 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ragan is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
- Republican CityRepublican City, NebraskaRepublican City is a village in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 209 at the 2000 census. The town is near the Harlan County Reservoir.-Geography:Republican City is located at ....
- StamfordStamford, NebraskaStamford is a village in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 202 at the 2000 census.-History:Stamford, named after Stamford, Connecticut, was laid out by the Lincoln Land Company in 1887, becoming incorporated as a village in 1907. The first town board members were Frank...
Townships
- AlbanyAlbany Township, Harlan County, NebraskaAlbany Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 52 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 48.-External links:*...
- AlmaAlma Township, Harlan County, NebraskaAlma Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 213 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 195.-External links:*...
- AntelopeAntelope Township, Harlan County, NebraskaAntelope Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 143 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 130.Most of the Village of Ragan lies within the Township....
- EldoradoEldorado Township, Harlan County, NebraskaEldorado Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 68 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 63.-External links:*...
- EmersonEmerson Township, Harlan County, NebraskaEmerson Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 307 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 276.A portion of the Village of Oxford lies within the Township....
- FairfieldFairfield Township, Harlan County, NebraskaFairfield Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 61 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 56.-External links:*...
- MullallyMullally Township, Harlan County, NebraskaMullally Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 300 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 270.The Village of Republican City lies within the Township....
- OrleansOrleans Township, Harlan County, NebraskaOrleans Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 523 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 468.The Village of Orleans lies within the Township.-External links:*...
- Prairie DogPrairie Dog Township, Harlan County, NebraskaPrairie Dog Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 42 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 39.-External links:*...
- Republican CityRepublican City Township, Harlan County, NebraskaRepublican City Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 129 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 117. The village of Republican City is less than a mile north of the township.-External links:*...
- ReubenReuben Township, Harlan County, NebraskaReuben Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 61 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 56.-External links:*...
- SappaSappa Township, Harlan County, NebraskaSappa Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 324 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 298.The Village of Stamford lies within the Township.-External links:*...
- ScandinaviaScandinavia Township, Harlan County, NebraskaScandinavia Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 126 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 116.A small portion of the Village of Ragan lies within the Township....
- Spring GroveSpring Grove Township, Harlan County, NebraskaSpring Grove Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 75 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 69.-External links:*...
- Turkey CreekTurkey Creek Township, Harlan County, NebraskaTurkey Creek Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 82 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 76.A portion of the Village of Huntley lies within the Township....
- WashingtonWashington Township, Harlan County, NebraskaWashington Township is one of sixteen townships in Harlan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 66 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 61.A portion of the Village of Huntley lies within the Township....
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Harlan County, Nebraska