Cuming County, Nebraska
County in Nebraska, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cuming County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 9,013.[1] Its county seat is West Point.[2] In the Nebraska license plate system, Cuming County is represented by the prefix 24 since it had the 24th largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922.
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Cuming County, Nebraska | |
|---|---|
Cuming County Courthouse in West Point | |
 Flag | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska | |
| Coordinates: 41°55′N 96°47′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nebraska |
| Founded | 1855 (authorized) 1857 (organized) |
| Named after | Thomas B. Cuming |
| Seat | West Point |
| Largest city | West Point |
| Area | |
• Total | 575 sq mi (1,490 km2) |
| • Land | 571 sq mi (1,480 km2) |
| • Water | 4.0 sq mi (10 km2) 0.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 9,013  |
| • Density | 16/sq mi (6.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
History
Cuming County was formed in 1855 and organized in 1857.[3][4] It was named for Thomas B. Cuming, the first secretary (and twice Acting Governor) of the newly created Nebraska Territory (1854–1858).[5]
The courthouse dates from the 1950s.[6]
On August 26, 2019, the DHHS announced that West Point's water was unsafe to drink after a year of complaints from citizens of the town. The maximum safe level of manganese for infants had been exceeded by over 700 micrograms per mL.[7]
Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km2) (0.7%) is water.[8]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Thurston County – northeast
- Burt County – east
- Dodge County – south
- Colfax County – southwest
- Stanton County – west
- Wayne County – northwest
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 67 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,964 | 4,323.9% | |
| 1880 | 5,569 | 87.9% | |
| 1890 | 12,265 | 120.2% | |
| 1900 | 14,584 | 18.9% | |
| 1910 | 13,782 | −5.5% | |
| 1920 | 13,769 | −0.1% | |
| 1930 | 14,327 | 4.1% | |
| 1940 | 13,562 | −5.3% | |
| 1950 | 12,994 | −4.2% | |
| 1960 | 12,435 | −4.3% | |
| 1970 | 12,034 | −3.2% | |
| 1980 | 11,664 | −3.1% | |
| 1990 | 10,117 | −13.3% | |
| 2000 | 10,203 | 0.9% | |
| 2010 | 9,139 | −10.4% | |
| 2020 | 9,013 | −1.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 8,918 | [9] | −1.1% |
| US Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010[14] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 9,013. The median age was 41.7 years. 24.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.7 males age 18 and over.[15][16]
The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.9% from some other race, and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 12.3% of the population.[16]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[17]
There were 3,668 households in the county, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 4,123 housing units, of which 11.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.3% were owner-occupied and 28.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.7%.[15]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census,[18] there were 10,203 people, 3,945 households, and 2,757 families in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km2). There were 4,283 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km2).
The racial makeup of the county was 95.88% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.63% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 5.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 67.4% were of German and 5.6% American ancestry.
There were 3,945 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.
The county population contained 27.20% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,186, and the median income for a family was $38,369. Males had a median income of $26,577 versus $19,246 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,443. About 7.00% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Education
School districts include:[19]
- Bancroft-Rosalie Community Schools
- Howells-Dodge Consolidated Schools
- Logan View Public Schools
- Lyons-Decatur Northeast Schools
- Oakland Craig Public Schools
- Pender Public Schools
- Scribner-Snyder Community Schools
- West Point Public Schools
- Wisner-Pilger Public Schools
Politics
Cuming County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 598 | 50.17% | 537 | 45.05% | 57 | 4.78% |
| 1884 | 871 | 48.28% | 921 | 51.05% | 12 | 0.67% |
| 1888 | 1,038 | 41.99% | 1,316 | 53.24% | 118 | 4.77% |
| 1892 | 844 | 33.98% | 578 | 23.27% | 1,062 | 42.75% |
| 1896 | 1,312 | 42.34% | 1,760 | 56.79% | 27 | 0.87% |
| 1900 | 1,385 | 43.84% | 1,736 | 54.95% | 38 | 1.20% |
| 1904 | 1,490 | 52.69% | 1,244 | 43.99% | 94 | 3.32% |
| 1908 | 1,284 | 42.24% | 1,722 | 56.64% | 34 | 1.12% |
| 1912 | 759 | 27.53% | 1,484 | 53.83% | 514 | 18.64% |
| 1916 | 1,551 | 51.04% | 1,424 | 46.86% | 64 | 2.11% |
| 1920 | 3,177 | 78.64% | 764 | 18.91% | 99 | 2.45% |
| 1924 | 1,642 | 36.71% | 981 | 21.93% | 1,850 | 41.36% |
| 1928 | 2,418 | 47.95% | 2,597 | 51.50% | 28 | 0.56% |
| 1932 | 1,191 | 21.12% | 4,391 | 77.87% | 57 | 1.01% |
| 1936 | 2,275 | 38.96% | 3,114 | 53.32% | 451 | 7.72% |
| 1940 | 4,383 | 73.32% | 1,595 | 26.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 4,008 | 74.10% | 1,401 | 25.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 2,930 | 63.88% | 1,657 | 36.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 4,557 | 80.63% | 1,095 | 19.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 4,223 | 76.43% | 1,302 | 23.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,894 | 67.45% | 1,879 | 32.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 3,064 | 57.50% | 2,265 | 42.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 3,254 | 72.55% | 935 | 20.85% | 296 | 6.60% |
| 1972 | 3,810 | 78.90% | 1,019 | 21.10% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 3,303 | 69.19% | 1,374 | 28.78% | 97 | 2.03% |
| 1980 | 4,006 | 78.07% | 803 | 15.65% | 322 | 6.28% |
| 1984 | 3,931 | 82.93% | 779 | 16.43% | 30 | 0.63% |
| 1988 | 3,208 | 71.75% | 1,239 | 27.71% | 24 | 0.54% |
| 1992 | 2,713 | 57.10% | 836 | 17.60% | 1,202 | 25.30% |
| 1996 | 2,520 | 61.60% | 1,033 | 25.25% | 538 | 13.15% |
| 2000 | 3,232 | 76.68% | 857 | 20.33% | 126 | 2.99% |
| 2004 | 3,330 | 76.57% | 966 | 22.21% | 53 | 1.22% |
| 2008 | 2,732 | 66.85% | 1,274 | 31.17% | 81 | 1.98% |
| 2012 | 2,876 | 72.33% | 1,031 | 25.93% | 69 | 1.74% |
| 2016 | 3,122 | 76.63% | 719 | 17.65% | 233 | 5.72% |
| 2020 | 3,507 | 78.65% | 870 | 19.51% | 82 | 1.84% |
| 2024 | 3,536 | 79.34% | 867 | 19.45% | 54 | 1.21% |