Seward County, Nebraska

Adjacent counties

• Butler County – north
• Lancaster County – east
• Saline County – south
• Fillmore County – southwest
• York County – west
• Polk County – northwest

Protected areas

• Bur Oak State Wildlife Management Area^[13]
• Freeman Lakes Waterfowl Production Area^[14]
• North Lake Basin State Wildlife Management Area^[15]
• Oak Glen State Wildlife Management Area^[16]
• Tamora Waterfowl Production Area^[17]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 17,609. The median age was 37.9 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.6 males age 18 and over.^[23][24]

The racial makeup of the county was 94.1% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.^[24]

42.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 57.6% lived in rural areas.^[25]

There were 6,558 households in the county, of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[23]

There were 7,061 housing units, of which 7.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.4% were owner-occupied and 25.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.^[23]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 16,496 people, 6,013 households, and 4,215 families in the county. The population density was 29 inhabitants per square mile (11/km²). There were 6,428 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.05% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,013 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.50% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% 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 3.04.

The county population contained 24.70% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,700, and the median income for a family was $51,813. Males had a median income of $32,218 versus $22,329 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,379. About 4.10% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.20% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

• Milford
• Seward (county seat)

Villages

Census-designated place

• Tamora

Unincorporated communities

• Grover
• Ruby

Ghost town

• Pittsburg

Civil asset forfeiture

The county engages in extensive civil asset forfeiture. Having fewer than 18,000 people, it accounted for at least 90 cases in the last decade, one-third of all civil forfeiture cases in the state during that period and double that of any other Nebraska county. From 2018 to 2023, the county obtained $7.5 million in forfeited cash. Nearly all of the civil forfeitures stem from traffic stops of out-of-state drivers on Interstate 80 where Seward County police give stopped drivers a choice to give up their cash with an "abandonment form" or refuse and be subject to felony charges; the routine seizures never result in convictions of drivers, raising questions about the intent of the forfeitures.^[26] This practice continues despite 2016 state law LB 1106, meant to stop it by first requiring a criminal conviction for illegal drugs, child pornography, or illegal gambling, and establishing new reporting requirements and transfer regulations for seizures or forfeitures. However, loopholes in the law still allow seizure during a traffic stop if police believe the cash is connected to drugs, even if no drugs are found in the vehicle, a tactic that is used routinely by Seward County police.^[26][27] A bill introduced in February 2024 by Nebraska legislator Tom Brewer, LB 916, intends to ban civil forfeiture in the state entirely, requiring in all cases that prosecutors use the criminal justice process, rather than civil courts, to seize property.^{[28][needs update]}

Voting history

Seward County voters are reliably Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).