Dixon County, Nebraska

Major highways

National protected area

• Missouri National Recreational River (part)

State protected area

• Buckskin Hills State Wildlife Management Area^[8]
• Ponca State Park
• Tarbox Hollow Living Prairie^[9]

Adjacent counties

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,606. The median age was 41.9 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 104.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.2 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 84.5% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.3% from some other race, and 7.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 14.2% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,206 households in the county, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,520 housing units, of which 12.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.5% were owner-occupied and 22.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%.^[17][18][19]

Prior censuses

As of the 2000 United States census,^[20] there were 6,339 people, 2,413 households, and 1,705 families in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5.0 people/km²). There were 2,673 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.64% White, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 3.79% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 5.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.5% were of German, 10.4% Irish, 8.5% Swedish, 5.9% American, 5.9% Norwegian and 5.1% English.

There were 2,413 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.50% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.12.

The county population contained 27.50% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,201, and the median income for a family was $41,122. Males had a median income of $27,784 versus $20,573 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,350. About 7.50% of families and 10.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

• Ponca (county seat)
• Wakefield

Villages

Unincorporated community

• Lime Grove

Townships