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McPherson County, Nebraska

Coordinates: 41°34′N 101°04′W / 41.57°N 101.06°W / 41.57; -101.06
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

McPherson County
County
McPherson County Courthouse in Tryon
McPherson County Courthouse in Tryon
Map of Nebraska highlighting McPherson County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Map of the United States highlighting Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°34′N 101°04′W / 41.57°N 101.06°W / 41.57; -101.06
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1890
Named forJames B. McPherson
SeatTryon
Largest communityTryon
Area
 • Total
860 sq mi (2,200 km2)
 • Land859 sq mi (2,220 km2)
 • Water1.0 sq mi (3 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
399
 • Density0.46/sq mi (0.18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.mcphersoncounty.ne.gov

McPherson County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 399,[1] making it the least populous county in the state of Nebraska and the fifth-least populous county in the United States. Its county seat is Tryon.[2] The county was formed in 1890 from Logan County; it was named for American Civil War General James B. McPherson.[3]

In 1913, a portion of McPherson County was partitioned off to create Arthur County, giving McPherson County its present boundaries.

McPherson County is part of the North Platte, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, McPherson County is represented by the prefix 90 (it ranked 90th of 93 counties in the number of vehicles registered when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography

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The terrain of McPherson County consists of low rolling hills sloping to the south-southeast. A small portion of the area is under center pivot irrigation.[4] The county has a total area of 860 square miles (2,200 km2), of which 859 square miles (2,220 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.1%) is water.[5]

Most of Nebraska's 93 counties (the eastern 2/3, including McPherson County) observe Central Time; the western counties observe Mountain Time. McPherson County is the westernmost of the Nebraska counties to observe Central Time.[6]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890401—
190051728.9%
19102,470377.8%
19201,692−31.5%
19301,358−19.7%
19401,175−13.5%
1950825−29.8%
1960735−10.9%
1970623−15.2%
1980593−4.8%
1990546−7.9%
2000533−2.4%
20105391.1%
2020399−26.0%
US Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[11] 2020[12]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[13] there were 533 people, 202 households, and 157 families in the county. The population density was 0.6 people per square mile (0.23 people/km2). There were 283 housing units at an average density of 0.3 units per square mile (0.12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.94% White, 0.38% Asian, 1.69% from other races. 1.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.4% were of German, 14.4% American, 9.2% Irish, 8.7% Swedish and 6.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 202 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.80% were married couples living together, 3.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.80% were non-families. 19.80% 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 2.64 and the average family size was 3.01.

The county population contained 27.60% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males. The median income for a household in the county was $25,750, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $25,192 versus $13,393 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,055. 16.20% of the population and 14.00% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 21.70% are under the age of 18 and 17.30% are 65 or older.

Communities

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated community

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Former communities

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Politics

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McPherson County voters have been strongly Republican since the beginning. In only two national elections since 1900 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024). In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton had the worst showing for a major party Presidential candidate in the county's history, tallying just 14 votes for only 4.9%. She had accumulated fewer votes than any third-party or write-in votes, making it the only county in Nebraska for this to happen. In 2024, Democrat Kamala Harris performed even worse than Clinton, receiving only 12 votes or 4.2%.

United States presidential election results for McPherson County, Nebraska[15][16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 267 94.01% 12 4.23% 5 1.76%
2020 275 91.06% 17 5.63% 10 3.31%
2016 257 89.55% 14 4.88% 16 5.57%
2012 237 81.44% 41 14.09% 13 4.47%
2008 240 81.91% 45 15.36% 8 2.73%
2004 259 83.01% 49 15.71% 4 1.28%
2000 244 81.06% 48 15.95% 9 2.99%
1996 233 72.36% 50 15.53% 39 12.11%
1992 217 65.96% 49 14.89% 63 19.15%
1988 229 78.42% 60 20.55% 3 1.03%
1984 295 82.87% 57 16.01% 4 1.12%
1980 285 83.09% 49 14.29% 9 2.62%
1976 221 66.37% 104 31.23% 8 2.40%
1972 247 85.47% 42 14.53% 0 0.00%
1968 236 76.13% 40 12.90% 34 10.97%
1964 219 67.80% 104 32.20% 0 0.00%
1960 303 81.89% 67 18.11% 0 0.00%
1956 281 74.14% 98 25.86% 0 0.00%
1952 355 87.01% 53 12.99% 0 0.00%
1948 209 68.08% 98 31.92% 0 0.00%
1944 310 72.43% 118 27.57% 0 0.00%
1940 414 71.63% 164 28.37% 0 0.00%
1936 326 55.82% 250 42.81% 8 1.37%
1932 291 43.50% 367 54.86% 11 1.64%
1928 419 84.31% 69 13.88% 9 1.81%
1924 213 40.34% 96 18.18% 219 41.48%
1920 229 70.03% 75 22.94% 23 7.03%
1916 106 33.33% 184 57.86% 28 8.81%
1912 114 19.76% 180 31.20% 283 49.05%
1908 234 54.67% 165 38.55% 29 6.78%
1904 108 80.60% 12 8.96% 14 10.45%
1900 85 59.86% 54 38.03% 3 2.11%

References

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  1. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". The United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. p. 195.
  4. ^ McPherson County NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  6. ^ Map of Time Zone Line through Nebraska (accessed 22 January 2019)
  7. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  12. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ^ Flats NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)
  15. ^ Election Results
  16. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Bob La Follette, received 207 votes, while Prohibition candidate Herman P. Faris received 12 votes.

41°34′N 101°04′W / 41.57°N 101.06°W / 41.57; -101.06

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