Keya Paha County, Nebraska
Keya Paha County, Nebraska | |
|---|---|
The Keya Paha County Courthouse in Springview | |
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska | |
| Coordinates: 42°52′32″N 99°43′06″W / 42.875480°N 99.718351°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| Founded | December 17, 1884 |
| Named after | Dakota for “Turtle Hill River” |
| Seat | Springview |
| Largest village | Springview |
| Area | |
• Total | 773.922 sq mi (2,004.45 km2) |
| • Land | 772.876 sq mi (2,001.74 km2) |
| • Water | 1.046 sq mi (2.71 km2) 0.14% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 769 |
• Estimate (2024) | 819 |
| • Density | 0.995/sq mi (0.384/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 402 and 531 |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | keyapahacountyne.gov |
| • Nebraska county number 52[1] • Nebraska license plate prefix 82[2] | |
Keya Paha County (/ˈkɪpəhɔː/ KIP-ə-haw)[3] is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 769,[4] and was estimated to be 819 in 2024.[5] The county seat and the largest village is Springview.[6]
In the Nebraska license plate system, Keya Paha County was represented by the prefix "82" (as it had the 82nd-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).
History
Keya Paha County was created on December 17, 1884[7][8] of land partitioned from Brown County.[9]
The name "Keya Paha" is taken from the Dakota language; literally translated, it means "turtle hill". The Dakota name for a set of small hills was given to the county and to the Keya Paha River, which runs through it.[10]
All land north of the Keya Paha River (which includes a small portion of Keya Paha County and most of neighboring Boyd County) was not originally part of Nebraska at the time of statehood, but was transferred from Dakota Territory in 1882.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 773.922 square miles (2,004.45 km2), of which 772.876 square miles (2,001.74 km2) is land and 1.046 square miles (2.71 km2) (0.14%) is water.[11] It is the 28th-largest county in Nebraska by total area.[12]
Keya Paha County lies on the northern boundary of Nebraska, abutting the state of South Dakota. The county's terrain consists of low rolling hills, whose level areas are used for agriculture, including center pivot irrigation. The Keya Paha River flows east-southeastward through the northeastern part of the county, while the Niobrara River flows eastward along the south county line.
Keya Paha County is located in Nebraska's Outback region.[13]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Tripp County, South Dakota – north
- Gregory County, South Dakota – northeast
- Boyd County – east
- Holt County – southeast
- Rock County – south
- Brown County – south
- Cherry County – west
- Todd County, South Dakota – northwest
National protected area
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 3,920 | — | |
| 1900 | 3,076 | −21.5% | |
| 1910 | 3,452 | 12.2% | |
| 1920 | 3,594 | 4.1% | |
| 1930 | 3,203 | −10.9% | |
| 1940 | 3,235 | 1.0% | |
| 1950 | 2,160 | −33.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,672 | −22.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,340 | −19.9% | |
| 1980 | 1,301 | −2.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,029 | −20.9% | |
| 2000 | 983 | −4.5% | |
| 2010 | 824 | −16.2% | |
| 2020 | 769 | −6.7% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 819 | [14] | 6.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] 1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17] 1990–2000[18] 2010–2020[5] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 769. The median age was 49.1 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 28.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.0 males age 18 and over.[19][20]
The racial makeup of the county was 95.8% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.[20]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[21]
There were 353 households in the county, of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 17.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[19]
There were 496 housing units, of which 28.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.3% were owner-occupied and 18.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%.[19]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 983 people, 409 households, and 292 families in the county. The population density was 1.3 people per square mile (0.50 people/km2); there were 548 housing units at an average density of 0.7 units per square mile (0.27/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.39% White, 0.20% Native American, and 0.41% from two or more races; 3.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; 46.7% were of German, 10.6% English, 9.8% American, 7.0% Irish and 6.0% Swedish ancestry.
There were 409 households, out of which 24.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.30% were married couples living together, 4.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.91.
The county population contained 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $24,911, and the median income for a family was $28,287. Males had a median income of $18,750 versus $19,107 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,860. About 22.40% of families and 26.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.30% of those under age 18 and 18.80% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Villages
- Burton
- Springview (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
Former communities
Politics
Keya Paha County was the most Republican of all the counties in Nebraska, with 88.96% of its 548 registered voters registered as Republicans.[22] The last Democratic presidential candidate to win the county was Woodrow Wilson in 1916.[23] In 1932, it was one of only two counties in the state not to vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt.[24] The county was also the only one statewide to reject FDR in all four of his runs and one of the westernmost to do so along with Utahs Kane and South Dakotas Lawrence counties. 1994, Ben Nelson was the last Democratic gubernatorial candidate to carry the county.[25]
| Political Party | Number of registered voters (March 1, 2026)[26] | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 548 | 88.96% | |
| Democratic | 39 | 6.33% | |
| Independent | 27 | 4.38% | |
| Libertarian | 2 | 0.32% | |
| Legal Marijuana Now | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Total | 616 | 100.00% | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1900 | 380 | 49.74% | 353 | 46.20% | 31 | 4.06% |
| 1904 | 448 | 62.14% | 97 | 13.45% | 176 | 24.41% |
| 1908 | 422 | 50.06% | 354 | 41.99% | 67 | 7.95% |
| 1912 | 259 | 32.09% | 221 | 27.39% | 327 | 40.52% |
| 1916 | 316 | 39.75% | 401 | 50.44% | 78 | 9.81% |
| 1920 | 479 | 64.73% | 218 | 29.46% | 43 | 5.81% |
| 1924 | 504 | 41.48% | 251 | 20.66% | 460 | 37.86% |
| 1928 | 989 | 79.76% | 232 | 18.71% | 19 | 1.53% |
| 1932 | 675 | 50.52% | 645 | 48.28% | 16 | 1.20% |
| 1936 | 830 | 59.58% | 556 | 39.91% | 7 | 0.50% |
| 1940 | 1,004 | 66.67% | 502 | 33.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 781 | 70.04% | 334 | 29.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 538 | 57.54% | 397 | 42.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 785 | 79.05% | 208 | 20.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 635 | 70.71% | 263 | 29.29% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 646 | 72.83% | 241 | 27.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 506 | 61.26% | 320 | 38.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 531 | 76.96% | 109 | 15.80% | 50 | 7.25% |
| 1972 | 563 | 79.41% | 146 | 20.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 405 | 60.72% | 245 | 36.73% | 17 | 2.55% |
| 1980 | 526 | 76.45% | 130 | 18.90% | 32 | 4.65% |
| 1984 | 507 | 79.84% | 128 | 20.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 446 | 74.96% | 145 | 24.37% | 4 | 0.67% |
| 1992 | 368 | 58.32% | 105 | 16.64% | 158 | 25.04% |
| 1996 | 385 | 72.10% | 94 | 17.60% | 55 | 10.30% |
| 2000 | 422 | 82.26% | 78 | 15.20% | 13 | 2.53% |
| 2004 | 442 | 80.51% | 98 | 17.85% | 9 | 1.64% |
| 2008 | 409 | 76.74% | 115 | 21.58% | 9 | 1.69% |
| 2012 | 393 | 81.20% | 80 | 16.53% | 11 | 2.27% |
| 2016 | 460 | 88.63% | 40 | 7.71% | 19 | 3.66% |
| 2020 | 476 | 89.81% | 49 | 9.25% | 5 | 0.94% |
| 2024 | 500 | 91.74% | 44 | 8.07% | 1 | 0.18% |
See also
References
- ^ "Nebraska County Names and Numbers" (PDF). Nebraska Department of Revenue. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ "Nebraska County Codes". 15 Q Net. November 17, 2002. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ McNally, Hannah, and Diana Lambdin Meyer (1997). Nebraska: Off the Beaten Path. Morris Book Publishing LLC. p. 81.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Keya Paha County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ "Nebraska: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ "Keya Paha County". nebraskacounties.org. Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ Burr, George L.; Buck, O. O. (1921). History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska. S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. p. 123.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (January 1, 1925). "Nebraska Place-Names". University of Nebraska Department of English. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ "2025 County Gazetteer Files – Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Keya Paha County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ "About", North Central RC&D.
- ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 246 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 70 votes and Prohibition Eugene Chafin received 11 votes.
- ^ "Geographie Electorale". Atlas of the U.S. Presidential Elections. 1916. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ "Presidential election of 1932 - Map by counties". geoelections.free.fr. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "Gubernatorial General Election Map Comparison: Nebraska: 1960 to 2022". uselectionatlas.org. 2006. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ "Voter Statistics Count Report" (PDF). nebraska.gov. Secretary of State of Nebraska. March 2, 2026. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2026.