Nebraska
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Nebraska Population News Articles
Population Density
Historic & Projected Growth
Population by County
POPULATION DENSITY
People per square mile, 2010: 23.8
People per square mile, 2020: 25.5
HISTORIC & PROJECTED GROWTH 1790 TO 2040
Year |
Population |
1790 |
0 |
1800 |
0 |
1810 |
0 |
1820 |
0 |
1830 |
0 |
1840 |
0 |
1850 |
0 |
1860 |
28,841 |
1870 |
122,993 |
1880 |
452,402 |
1890 |
1,062,656 |
1900 |
1,066,300 |
1910 |
1,192,214 |
1920 |
1,296,372 |
1930 |
1,377,963 |
1940 |
1,315,834 |
1950 |
1,325,510 |
1960 |
1,411,330 |
1970 |
1,485,333 |
1980 |
1,569,825 |
1990 |
1,578,385 |
2000 |
1,711,263 |
2010 |
1,826,341 |
2020 |
1,961,504 |
2030 |
*2,089,841 |
2040 |
*2,190,918 |
Sources: Census figures from U.S. Bureau of the Census & *Estimates from Weldon Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group
(The Census Bureau and Weldon Cooper Center have not yet provided updated State projections to reflect 2020 census numbers.)
Population by County
Census 2020 Population |
Census 2010 Population |
Change from 2020 |
Percent Change |
|
NEBRASKA |
1,961,504 |
1,826,341 |
135,163 |
7.40% |
Adams County |
31205 |
31,364 |
-159 |
-0.51% |
Antelope County |
6295 |
6,685 |
-390 |
-5.83% |
Arthur County |
434 |
460 |
-26 |
-5.65% |
Banner County |
674 |
690 |
-16 |
-2.32% |
Blaine County |
431 |
478 |
-47 |
-9.83% |
Boone County |
5379 |
5,505 |
-126 |
-2.29% |
Box Butte County |
10842 |
11,308 |
-466 |
-4.12% |
Boyd County |
1810 |
2,099 |
-289 |
-13.77% |
Brown County |
2903 |
3,145 |
-242 |
-7.69% |
Buffalo County |
50084 |
46,102 |
3,982 |
8.64% |
Burt County |
6722 |
6,858 |
-136 |
-1.98% |
Butler County |
8369 |
8,395 |
-26 |
-0.31% |
Cass County |
26598 |
25,241 |
1,357 |
5.38% |
Cedar County |
8380 |
8,852 |
-472 |
-5.33% |
Chase County |
3893 |
3,966 |
-73 |
-1.84% |
Cherry County |
5455 |
5,713 |
-258 |
-4.52% |
Cheyenne County |
9468 |
9,998 |
-530 |
-5.30% |
Clay County |
6104 |
6,542 |
-438 |
-6.70% |
Colfax County |
10582 |
10,515 |
67 |
0.64% |
Cuming County |
9013 |
9,139 |
-126 |
-1.38% |
Custer County |
10545 |
10,939 |
-394 |
-3.60% |
Dakota County |
21582 |
21,006 |
576 |
2.74% |
Dawes County |
8199 |
9,182 |
-983 |
-10.71% |
Dawson County |
24111 |
24,326 |
-215 |
-0.88% |
Deuel County |
1838 |
1,941 |
-103 |
-5.31% |
Dixon County |
5606 |
6,000 |
-394 |
-6.57% |
Dodge County |
37167 |
36,691 |
476 |
1.30% |
Douglas County |
584526 |
517,110 |
67,416 |
13.04% |
Dundy County |
1654 |
2,008 |
-354 |
-17.63% |
Fillmore County |
5551 |
5,890 |
-339 |
-5.76% |
Franklin County |
2889 |
3,225 |
-336 |
-10.42% |
Frontier County |
2519 |
2,756 |
-237 |
-8.60% |
Furnas County |
4636 |
4,959 |
-323 |
-6.51% |
Gage County |
21704 |
22,311 |
-607 |
-2.72% |
Garden County |
1874 |
2,057 |
-183 |
-8.90% |
Garfield County |
1813 |
2,049 |
-236 |
-11.52% |
Gosper County |
1893 |
2,044 |
-151 |
-7.39% |
Grant County |
611 |
614 |
-3 |
-0.49% |
Greeley County |
2188 |
2,538 |
-350 |
-13.79% |
Hall County |
62895 |
58,607 |
4,288 |
7.32% |
Hamilton County |
9429 |
9,124 |
305 |
3.34% |
Harlan County |
3073 |
3,423 |
-350 |
-10.22% |
Hayes County |
856 |
967 |
-111 |
-11.48% |
Hitchcock County |
2616 |
2,908 |
-292 |
-10.04% |
Holt County |
10127 |
10,435 |
-308 |
-2.95% |
Hooker County |
711 |
736 |
-25 |
-3.40% |
Howard County |
6475 |
6,274 |
201 |
3.20% |
Jefferson County |
7240 |
7,547 |
-307 |
-4.07% |
Johnson County |
5290 |
5,217 |
73 |
1.40% |
Kearney County |
6688 |
6,489 |
199 |
3.07% |
Keith County |
8335 |
8,368 |
-33 |
-0.39% |
Keya Paha County |
769 |
824 |
-55 |
-6.67% |
Kimball County |
3434 |
3,821 |
-387 |
-10.13% |
Knox County |
8391 |
8,701 |
-310 |
-3.56% |
Lancaster County |
322608 |
285,407 |
37,201 |
13.03% |
Lincoln County |
34676 |
36,288 |
-1,612 |
-4.44% |
Logan County |
716 |
763 |
-47 |
-6.16% |
Loup County |
607 |
632 |
-25 |
-3.96% |
McPherson County |
399 |
539 |
-140 |
-25.97% |
Madison County |
35585 |
34,876 |
709 |
2.03% |
Merrick County |
7668 |
7,845 |
-177 |
-2.26% |
Morrill County |
4555 |
5,042 |
-487 |
-9.66% |
Nance County |
3380 |
3,735 |
-355 |
-9.50% |
Nemaha County |
7074 |
7,248 |
-174 |
-2.40% |
Nuckolls County |
4095 |
4,500 |
-405 |
-9.00% |
Otoe County |
15912 |
15,740 |
172 |
1.09% |
Pawnee County |
2544 |
2,773 |
-229 |
-8.26% |
Perkins County |
2858 |
2,970 |
-112 |
-3.77% |
Phelps County |
8968 |
9,188 |
-220 |
-2.39% |
Pierce County |
7317 |
7,266 |
51 |
0.70% |
Platte County |
34296 |
32,237 |
2,059 |
6.39% |
Polk County |
5214 |
5,406 |
-192 |
-3.55% |
Red Willow County |
10702 |
11,055 |
-353 |
-3.19% |
Richardson County |
7871 |
8,363 |
-492 |
-5.88% |
Rock County |
1262 |
1,526 |
-264 |
-17.30% |
Saline County |
14292 |
14,200 |
92 |
0.65% |
Sarpy County |
190604 |
158,840 |
31,764 |
20.00% |
Saunders County |
22278 |
20,780 |
1,498 |
7.21% |
Scotts Bluff County |
36084 |
36,970 |
-886 |
-2.40% |
Seward County |
17609 |
16,750 |
859 |
5.13% |
Sheridan County |
5127 |
5,469 |
-342 |
-6.25% |
Sherman County |
2959 |
3,152 |
-193 |
-6.12% |
Sioux County |
1135 |
1,311 |
-176 |
-13.42% |
Stanton County |
5842 |
6,129 |
-287 |
-4.68% |
Thayer County |
5034 |
5,228 |
-194 |
-3.71% |
Thomas County |
669 |
647 |
22 |
3.40% |
Thurston County |
6773 |
6,940 |
-167 |
-2.41% |
Valley County |
4059 |
4,260 |
-201 |
-4.72% |
Washington County |
20865 |
20,234 |
631 |
3.12% |
Wayne County |
9697 |
9,595 |
102 |
1.06% |
Webster County |
3395 |
3,812 |
-417 |
-10.94% |
Wheeler County |
774 |
818 |
-44 |
-5.38% |
York County |
14125 |
13,665 |
460 |
3.37% |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census
Nebraska Population News Articles
Grand Island JBS plant reports wastewater spill after pump failure – Feb 4, 2026
Nebraska lawmaker proposes ‘safe spaces’ bill to limit immigration enforcement – Jan 28, 2026
Nebraska population rises slightly, as international growth reverses – Jan 27, 2026
2025 Nebraska Annual Report – Jan 21, 2026
Lincoln, Nebraska City invests in upgrading public parksv – Jan 21, 2026
Update of state climate report says Nebraska getting warmer, wetter – Sep 25, 2025
Omaha is preventing floods with infrastructure that doubles as land art – Sep 15, 2025
Toxic Coal Ash in Nebraska: Addressing Coal Plants’ Hazardous Legacy – Sep 4, 2025
Smoke from Canadian wildfires creates unhealthy air quality in Nebraska – June 8, 2025
Nebraska sheriff disputes DHS report labeling counties as noncompliant with immigration enforcement – May 29, 2025
Weather Service offices covering parts of rural Nebraska no longer monitor weather 24/7 – May 24, 2025
Gov. Pillen Signs Bill to Protect Power Grid from Cryptocurrency Operation Use – May 20, 2025
Lincoln surpasses 300,000 population mark according to census estimate – May 19, 2025
Brown water pours from Valley faucets, city seeks a solution to sediment problem – May 15, 2025
Climatologist talks droughts, floods and what’s ahead for Nebraska at UNL lecture – Nov 21, 2024
Climatologist talks droughts, floods and what’s ahead for Nebraska at UNL lecture – Nov 21, 2024
Beef Over Beef: Promises of Economic Boom Smash Into Fears Over Immigrants in Nebraska Town – Nov 20, 2024
Streamlining Nebraska’s hydrological data: Faster, smarter and accessible – Nov 15, 2024
Nebraska Evolving – Sept 6, 2024
Severe Drought Conditions for 22.6% of Nebraska Residents in 2024 – Sept 4, 2024
17 Nebraska counties to receive federal aid for severe storms in late May – Aug 20, 2024
Mosquito numbers in Nebraska jumped this summer. It’s likely going to get worse in the future. – Aug 15, 2024
Project aims to improve water quality of Lincoln ponds – Aug 12, 2024
Where refugees in Nebraska are arriving from? June 10, 2024
Nebraska farmer says regenerative ag principals helped prevent erosion during rainy May – May 30, 2024
Climate expert talks trends, future outlook after spring storms tear through Nebraska and Iowa – May 24, 2024
Nebraska ‘exurbs’ outshine suburbs in latest population growth figures – May 20, 2024
After 5 years without drinkable water, Santee asks: When will our tap water be safe? – May 17, 2024
Private developments impacting local traffic in Omaha – October 2, 2023
‘Unbelievable’ insurance increases are walloping Nebraska homeowners. Climate change is a big reason why. – September 28, 2023
$10 million grant will help green up Nebraska communities – September 25, 2023
The 6 Fast-Growing Counties in Nebraska Are Exploding in Growth – September 23, 2023
Students urged to get involved, ‘use their voice’ to address climate change – September 22, 2023
States see influx of migrants from India, Venezuela and China – September 15, 2023
Arrival of large-scale solar projects in Nebraska met with resistance – July 5, 2023
Student addressing nitrates in wells during drought – June 18, 2023
Putting Flood Resiliency to the Test – June 15, 2023
Population growth strongest in some Nebraska suburban and rural counties – June 12, 2023
Into the Fire: Nebraska Communities Rebuild after Wildfires Spurred by Climate Change – June 12, 2023
Study points to poultry litter as source of Nebraska water pollution – December 7, 2022
A hotter, drier future could change how we eat, how we breathe and where we get our water – December 5, 2022
Impacts on Omaha and Nebraska from Global Climate Conference – November 18, 2022
Electric Vehicles in Rural Nebraska – November 17, 2022
Lincoln’s only overnight shelter gears up for winter ahead – November 15, 2022
Nebraska could experience long-term climate consequences following Supreme Court’s EPA ruling – June 30, 2022
Scientists weigh in on Nebraska’s unusual hail storms and whether they are the new norm – June 27, 2022
Grand Island receives $6.3M for rail project – June 16, 2022
Climate change could present opportunities for Nebraska, speakers conclude – June 16, 2022
Recent storms didn’t eliminate Central Nebraska drought – June 9, 2022
Kansas Burns Can Lead to Poor Nebraska Air – March 7, 2022
Drought expands across Nebraska, including into Lancaster County – March 3, 2022
‘Non-stop change and growth’: Growing pains for Gretna and Bennington schools – February 23, 2022
Nebraska Agrochemical Contamination Throws Families, Communities, Water Providers into Turmoil – February 9, 2022