Lancaster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 322,608, and was estimated to be 334,049 in 2025, making it the second-most populous county in Nebraska. The county seat and the largest city is Lincoln, the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the state capital. It is the 72nd-most populous city in the United States.

Lancaster County is part of the Lincoln, Nebraska metropolitan area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Lancaster County was represented by the prefix "2" (as it had the second-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922). In 2002, the state discontinued the 1922 system in the three most populous counties: Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy Counties.

History Lancaster County was created on March 16, 1855 and organized on October 10, 1859.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.04%) is water. It is the 26th-largest county in Nebraska by total area.

Major highways Interstate 80 Interstate 180 U.S. Highway 6 U.S. Highway 34 U.S. Highway 77 Nebraska Highway 2 Nebraska Highway 33 Nebraska Highway 43 Nebraska Highway 79

Transit Amtrak California Zephyr (Lincoln station) Burlington Trailways Express Arrow StarTran

Climate In 2004, Lancaster County was named a StormReady county by the National Weather Service.

Adjacent counties Saunders County – north Cass County – northeast Otoe County – southeast Johnson County – southeast Gage County – south Saline County – southwest Seward County – northwest Butler County – northwest

Protected areas Bluestem Lake State Recreation Area Branched Oak State Recreation Area Conestoga Lake State Recreation Area Frank Shoemaker Marsh (part of Lincoln Parks & Recreation System) Holmes Lake Recreation Area Olive Creek Lake State Recreation Area Pawnee State Recreation Area Pioneers Park Nature Center Stagecoach Lake State Recreation Area Wagon Train Lake State Recreation Area Wildwood Lake State Wildlife Management Area Yankee Hill State Wildlife Management Area

Demographics

As of the third quarter of 2025, the median home value in Lancaster County was $302,196.

As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 138,747 estimated households in Lancaster County with an average of 2.29 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $75,165. Approximately 12.6% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Lancaster County has an estimated 67.0% employment rate, with 44.4% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.9% holding a high school diploma. There were 144,949 housing units at an average density of .

The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (87.0%), Spanish (5.2%), Indo-European (3.6%), Asian and Pacific Islander (3.2%), and Other (1.1%).

The median age in the county was 34.5 years.

+Lancaster County, Nebraska – racial and ethnic composition Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) Pop. 1980 Pop. 1990 Pop. 2000 Pop. 2010 White alone (NH) 183,254(95.01%) 200,521(93.86%) 222,067(88.72%) 240,702(84.34%) 251,962(78.10%) Black or African American alone (NH) 3,472(1.80%) 4,583(2.15%) 6,892(2.75%) 9,636(3.38%) 13,369(4.14%) Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 952(0.49%) 1,090(0.51%) 1,411(0.56%) 1,674(0.59%) 1,707(0.53%) Asian alone (NH) 1,723(0.89%) 3,335(1.56%) 7,118(2.84%) 9,895(3.47%) 13,975(4.33%) Pacific Islander alone (NH) — — 134(0.05%) 131(0.05%) 170(0.05%) Other race alone (NH) 604(0.31%) 174(0.08%) 352(0.14%) 379(0.13%) 1,351(0.42%) Mixed race or multiracial (NH) — — 3,880(1.55%) 6,305(2.21%) 14,230(4.41%) Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,879(1.49%) 3,938(1.84%) 8,437(3.37%) 16,685(5.85%) 25,844(8.01%) Total 192,884(100.00%) 213,641(100.00%) 250,291(100.00%) 285,407(100.00%) 322,608(100.00%)

2024 estimate As of the 2024 estimate, there were 332,857 people, 138,747 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 144,949 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 85.2% White (77.7% NH White), 4.8% African American, 1.1% Native American, 5.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 9.0% of the population.

2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 322,608 people, 127,884 households, and 76,042 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 135,484 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 80.11% White, 4.26% African American, 0.83% Native American, 4.37% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.24% from some other races and 7.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 8.01% of the population.

The median age was 34.7 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.3 males age 18 and over.

90.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 9.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 127,884 households in the county, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 135,484 housing units, of which 5.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 59.2% were owner-occupied and 40.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.

2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 285,407 people, 113,373 households, and 69,309 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 120,875 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 87.11% White, 3.48% African American, 0.75% Native American, 3.49% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.36% from some other races and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.85% of the population.

2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 250,291 people, 99,187 households, and 60,702 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 104,217 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 90.07% White, 2.82% African American, 0.64% Native American, 2.86% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from some other races and 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.37% of the population. 39.1% were of German, 7.9% English and 7.8% Irish ancestry.

There were 99,187 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% 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 3.00.

The county population contained 23.50% under the age of 18, 15.40% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,850, and the median income for a family was $53,676. Males had a median income of $34,720 versus $25,614 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,265. About 5.50% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities Cities Bennet Hickman Lincoln (county seat) Waverly

Villages Davey Denton Firth Hallam Malcolm Panama Raymond Roca Sprague

Census-designated places Agnew Cheney Emerald Kramer Martell Prairie Home Princeton Walton Yankee Hill

Other unincorporated communities Arbor Berks Holland Rokeby Saltillo

Census divisions Lancaster County is divided into the following census divisions called precincts, defined by the boundaries of the original townships,

Buda Centerville Denton Elk Garfield Grant Highlands Lancaster Little Salt Middle Creek Mill Nemaha North Bluff Oak Olive Branch Panama Rock Creek Saltillo South Pass Stevens Creek Stockton Waverly West Lincoln West Oak Yankee Hill

Politics Lancaster County has historically been somewhat conservative for an urban county. In the last 30 national elections, Lancaster County selected the Republican Party candidate 78% of the time. However, it has become more competitive in recent years, largely due to the influence of Lincoln and the University of Nebraska. Since 1988, the margin in the county has been 10 points or less all but once. In 2008, Barack Obama won a narrow majority in Lancaster County, becoming the first Democrat to carry the county since 1964, and only the second since 1936. Republican Donald Trump never won the county in any of his three runs. Political Party Number of registered voters (April 1, 2026) Percent Republican 83,119 40.10% Democratic 68,251 32.93% Independent 50,845 24.53% Libertarian 3,208 1.55% Legal Marijuana Now 1,858 0.90%Total 207,281 100.00%

Representatives Roma Amundson, District 4 Commissioner, retired U.S. Brigadier General

Education School districts include: - Text list Crete Public Schools #2, Crete Freeman Public Schools #34, Adams Lincoln Public Schools #1, Lincoln Malcolm Public Schools #148, Malcolm Milford Public Schools #5, Milford Norris School District #160, Firth Palmyra District OR-1 #501, Palmyra Raymond Central Public Schools #161, Raymond Waverly School District #145, Waverly Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools #82, Wilber

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Lancaster County, Nebraska

Notable native Leon Riley (1906–1970), American minor league baseball player/manager (born in Princeton, Nebraska).

References

External links

Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln