Demographics

Merrick County Population by decade

1860 - 109 1870 - 557 1880 - 5,341 1890 - 8,758 1900 - 9,255 1910 - 10,379 1920 - 10,763 1930 - 10,619 1940 - 9,354 1950 - 8,812 1960 - 8,363 1970 - 8,751 1980 - 8,945 1990 - 8,049 2000 - 8,204

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 8,204 people, 3,209 households, and 2,307 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 17 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 3,649 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.32% 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...

, 0.22% 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...

, 0.10% 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...

, 0.21% 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...

, 0.01% 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...

, 0.67% 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 0.48% from two or more races. 2.05% 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 3,209 households out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% 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, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,961, and the median income for a family was $39,729. Males had a median income of $26,998 versus $19,828 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 $15,958. About 7.00% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

Villages

• Chapman
  Chapman, Nebraska
  Chapman is a village in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 341 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Grand Island, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Chapman is located at ....
  
  
• Clarks
  Clarks, Nebraska
  Clarks is a village in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 361 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Grand Island, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Clarks is located at ....
  
  
• Palmer
  Palmer, Nebraska
  Palmer is a village in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 472 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Grand Island, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Palmer is located at ....
  
  
• Silver Creek
  Silver Creek, Nebraska
  Silver Creek is a village in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 441 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Grand Island, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Silver Creek is located at ....
  
  

Townships

• Central
  Central Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  Central Township is one of eleven townships in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 90 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 92.-External links:*...
  
  
• Chapman
  Chapman Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  Chapman Township is one of eleven townships in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 585 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 569.The Village of Chapman lies within the Township.-External links:*...
  
  
• Clarksville
  Clarksville Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  Clarksville Township is one of eleven townships in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 674 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 672.The Village of Clarks lies within the Township.-External links:*...
  
  
• Lone Tree
  Lone Tree Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  Lone Tree Township is one of eleven townships in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 623 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 607.-External links:*...
  
  
• Loup
  Loup Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  Loup Township is one of eleven townships in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 779 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 763.The Village of Palmer lies within the Township.-External links:*...
  
  
• Mead
  Mead Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  Mead Township is one of eleven townships in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 166 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 175.-External links:*...
  
  
• Midland
  Midland Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  Midland Township is one of eleven townships in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 250 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 251.-External links:*...
  
  
• Prairie Creek
  Prairie Creek Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  Prairie Creek Township is one of eleven townships in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 376 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 379.-External links:*...
  
  
• Prairie Island
  Prairie Island Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  Prairie Island Township is one of eleven townships in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 108 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 79.-External links:*...
  
  
• Silver Creek
  Silver Creek Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  Silver Creek Township is one of eleven townships in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 634 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 616.The Village of Silver Creek lies within the Township....
  
  
• Vieregg
  Vieregg Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  Vieregg Township is one of eleven townships in Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 921 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 895.-External links:*...