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Pawnee County, Nebraska

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Template:Infobox U.S. county

Pawnee County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 2,544.[1] Its county seat is Pawnee City.[2]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Pawnee County is represented by the prefix 54 (it had the fifty-fourth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

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County Formation

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Pawnee County was formed in 1854.[3] It was named for the Pawnee Native American tribe.[4]

Pawnee County Formation

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Pawnee County was formed in 1854.[5] It was named for the Pawnee Native American tribe.[6]

Irving Tornado Family

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On May 30, 1879, a violent long-track tornado tracked through Pawnee County during a major Midwestern severe weather outbreak.[7] Retrospectively rated F4 on the Fujita scale, the primary vortex developed near Randolph, Kansas, before widening into a destructive 800-yard-wide track that extended for roughly 100 miles into Richardson County, Nebraska.[7][8] The storm caused severe regional devastation, killing at least 18 people and injuring over 60 along its path, including the near-total destruction of the town of Irving, Kansas.[7] The historic disaster was extensively cataloged in the field by U.S. Signal Service meteorologist John Park Finley, forming the foundational basis for early American severe storm research and convective forecasting models.[7][9]

2026 Tornado

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On May 18, 2026, the county was struck by a severe stovepipe tornado during a multi-day regional severe weather outbreak.[10] At 4:44 PM CDT, the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed a tornado on the ground moving toward Pawnee City,[11] prompting the issuance of a rare, high-tier Tornado Emergency under a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" alert.[12] The destructive vortex tracked northeastward through southeastern portions of the county toward Du Bois before crossing into neighboring Richardson County, Nebraska, stripping residential roofs and leaving localized structural damage to rural farmsteads along its path.[10][13] Preliminary ratings from the NWS indicate EF2+ intensity, though an official Enhanced Fujita (EF) rating has not yet been issued.

Geography

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Pawnee County lies on the south line of Nebraska. Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of Kansas. The Big Nemaha River flows southeastward through the NE corner of the county, and smaller local drainages flow upward through the county to discharge into the Big Nemaha. The county's terrain consists of rolling hills, with its planar areas largely devoted to agriculture.[14] The county has an area of 433 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 431 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) (0.4%) is water.[15]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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  • Bowwood State Wildlife Management Area[16]
  • Burchard State Wildlife Management Area[17]
  • Mayberry State Wildlife Management Area[18]
  • Pawnee Prairie State Wildlife Management Area[19]
  • Prairie Knoll State Wildlife Management Area[20]
  • Table Rock State Wildlife Management Area[21]

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 2,544. The median age was 47.9 years. 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 28.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.3 males age 18 and over.[22][23]

The racial makeup of the county was 96.7% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.[23]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[24]

There were 1,108 households in the county, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[22]

There were 1,402 housing units, of which 21.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.8% were owner-occupied and 19.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.4%.[22]

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States census,[25] there were 3,087 people, 1,339 households, and 850 families in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 1,587 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.87% White, 0.19% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.03% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,339 households, out of which 24.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.50% were non-families. 32.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86.

The county population contained 22.70% under the age of 18, 5.10% from 18 to 24, 21.00% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 27.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 92.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,000, and the median income for a family was $36,326. Males had a median income of $24,770 versus $17,976 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,687. About 6.80% of families and 11.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Villages

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Politics

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Pawnee County voters have been Republican-leaning for decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected a Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Pawnee County, Nebraska[26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1900 1,632 56.90% 1,121 39.09% 115 4.01%
1904 1,739 68.38% 562 22.10% 242 9.52%
1908 1,468 54.94% 1,115 41.73% 89 3.33%
1912 593 25.06% 958 40.49% 815 34.45%
1916 1,228 49.66% 1,171 47.35% 74 2.99%
1920 2,510 69.88% 972 27.06% 110 3.06%
1924 2,147 55.85% 1,365 35.51% 332 8.64%
1928 2,825 64.29% 1,547 35.21% 22 0.50%
1932 1,568 36.90% 2,641 62.16% 40 0.94%
1936 2,074 47.09% 2,297 52.16% 33 0.75%
1940 2,643 62.35% 1,596 37.65% 0 0.00%
1944 2,254 63.87% 1,275 36.13% 0 0.00%
1948 1,725 57.58% 1,271 42.42% 0 0.00%
1952 2,432 75.02% 810 24.98% 0 0.00%
1956 1,830 64.17% 1,022 35.83% 0 0.00%
1960 1,728 63.13% 1,009 36.87% 0 0.00%
1964 1,166 51.21% 1,111 48.79% 0 0.00%
1968 1,209 60.30% 583 29.08% 213 10.62%
1972 1,299 71.26% 524 28.74% 0 0.00%
1976 990 52.86% 845 45.11% 38 2.03%
1980 1,418 71.15% 431 21.63% 144 7.23%
1984 1,306 69.32% 552 29.30% 26 1.38%
1988 975 55.46% 767 43.63% 16 0.91%
1992 670 37.06% 566 31.31% 572 31.64%
1996 766 48.82% 580 36.97% 223 14.21%
2000 937 61.69% 522 34.36% 60 3.95%
2004 986 66.49% 481 32.43% 16 1.08%
2008 859 62.07% 483 34.90% 42 3.03%
2012 899 67.04% 400 29.83% 42 3.13%
2016 974 73.40% 279 21.02% 74 5.58%
2020 1,071 74.95% 322 22.53% 36 2.52%
2024 1,085 78.34% 284 20.51% 16 1.16%
2016 1 33.33% 1 33.33% 1 33.33%


See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Pawnee County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Pawnee County". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  4. ↑ Swanton, John Reed (1952). The Indian Tribes of North America. US Government Printing Office. p. 290. ISBN 978-0-8063-1730-4.
  5. ↑ "Pawnee County". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  6. ↑ Swanton, John Reed (1952). The Indian Tribes of North America. US Government Printing Office. p. 290. ISBN 978-0-8063-1730-4.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Finley, John Park (1881). Report of the Tornadoes of May 29 and 30, 1879, in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa: Professional Papers of the Signal Service, No. 4 (Report). United States Army Signal Corps / Government Printing Office. pp. 32–45.
  8. ↑ "This Day in Weather History: May 30". National Weather Service. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  9. ↑ "John Park Finley, America's first tornado forecaster". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. August 15, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Balbiyar, Wijdane (May 19, 2026). "Severe storm outbreak in Central US pushes east Tuesday as threat gradually eases". CNN. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  11. ↑ Cobb, Sam (May 18, 2026). "Tornadoes, hail, flash flooding reported across southeast Nebraska". KOLN. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  12. ↑ Shackelford, Rob (May 19, 2026). "Storms Prompt Tornado Emergency In Plains". The Weather Channel. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Video captures stovepipe tornado in southeastern Nebraska". CNN. May 19, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Pawnee County · Nebraska". Pawnee County · Nebraska.
  15. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  17. ↑ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  18. ↑ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  19. ↑ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  20. ↑ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  21. ↑ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  24. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  25. ↑ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  26. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
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Template:Geographic Location

Template:Pawnee County, Nebraska Template:Nebraska Coordinates: 40°08′N 96°14′W / 40.13°N 96.24°W / 40.13; -96.24

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