Dawes County, Nebraska

Major highways

Transit

• Chadron City Transit

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

• Nebraska National Forest (part)
• Pine Ridge National Recreation Area
• Oglala National Grassland (part)

State protected areas

• Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area
• Chadron State Park
• Fort Robinson State Park (part)
• Chadron Creek Ranch State Wildlife Management Area
• Bordeaux State Wildlife Management Area
• Bighorn State Wildlife Management Area
• Ponderosa State Wildlife Management Area

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,199. The median age was 36.7 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.9 males age 18 and over.^[12][13]

The racial makeup of the county was 86.2% White, 2.0% Black or African American, 4.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.0% of the population.^[13]

60.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 39.9% lived in rural areas.^[14]

There were 3,325 households in the county, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[12]

There were 4,002 housing units, of which 16.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.2% were owner-occupied and 36.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%.^[12]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census,^[15] there were 9,060 people, 3,512 households, and 2,086 families in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km²). There were 4,004 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.34% White, 0.81% Black or African American, 2.88% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 2.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.0% were of German, 9.9% English, 9.2% Irish and 7.4% American ancestry.

There were 3,512 households, out of which 26.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.50% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.60% were non-families. 31.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.87.

The county population contained 21.20% under the age of 18, 23.40% from 18 to 24, 20.40% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,476, and the median income for a family was $41,092. Males had a median income of $29,162 versus $17,404 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,353. About 9.80% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

• Chadron (county seat)
• Crawford

Village

• Whitney

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

• Belmont