Merrick County, Nebraska

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Merrick County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 7,668.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> Its county seat is Central City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Merrick County is part of the Grand Island, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Merrick County is represented by the prefix 46 (it had the 46th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Merrick County was formed in 1858, and was organized in 1864.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was named for Elvira Merrick, the maiden name of the wife of territorial legislator Henry W. DePuy, who introduced the bill that created the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

When first formed, the county was bounded on the south by the Platte River, and by straight lines on the north, east, and west; enclosing Template:Convert of the Pawnee Reservation, which had been established in 1857. In 1873, the state legislature removed these reservation lands from the county, leaving it with a jagged northern border from which narrow panhandles extended northward from the northeast and northwest corners. In 1897, the Pawnee Reservation became Nance County.<ref>"Merrick County's 100th Year: 1858-1958".Template:Dead link NEGenWeb Project. Retrieved 28 December 2009.</ref>

Geography

The terrain of Merrick County is low rolling plains, sloping to the east and northeast. Most of the area is under cultivation. The Platte River flows northeastward along the southeast border line of the county. A smaller drainage, Prairie Creek, parallels the river, flowing northeastward through the center of the county before discharging into the Platte River northeast of Merrick County.<ref>Merrick County NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)</ref> The county has an area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.9%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Platte County – northeast
Polk County – east
Hamilton County – south
Hall County – southwest
Howard County – west
Nance County – north

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Demographics

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As of the 2000 United States census,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> there were 8,204 people, 3,209 households, and 2,307 families in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,649 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 98.32% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,209 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.

The county population contained 27.50% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,961, and the median income for a family was $39,729. Males had a median income of $26,998 versus $19,828 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,958. About 7.00% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Central City (county seat)

Villages

Politics

References

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Merrick County, Nebraska

Contents

History