Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 8,391. Its county seat is Center. Knox County was named for Continental and U.S. Army Major General Henry Knox. In the Nebraska license plate system, Knox County is represented by the prefix 12 (it had the 12th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History Knox County was organized by the Territorial Legislature in 1857, and named L'Eau Qui Court, that being the French name for the river named by the Ponca Niobrara—both names meaning, in English, Running Water. The name was changed to Knox by a statute passed February 21, 1873, which took effect April 1, 1873.

Geography

Knox County lies along the north line of Nebraska. Its north boundary line abuts the south boundary line of the state of South Dakota. The terrain of the county consists of low rolling hills sloped to the northeast; most of the flat terrain is used for agriculture. The Missouri River flows eastward along the county's north boundary line. The Niobrara River enters the county's west boundary, flowing eastward then northward to drain into the Missouri River near the village of Niobrara. A smaller drainage, Verdigre Creek, flows northward into the county through the western central part of the county, draining into the Niobrara River shortly upstream of that river's mouth.Knox County NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019) The county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.8%) is water.

Major highways

Nebraska Highway 12 Nebraska Highway 13 Nebraska Highway 14 Nebraska Highway 59 Nebraska Highway 84 Nebraska Highway 121

Adjacent counties

Bon Homme County, South Dakota - north Yankton County, South Dakota - northeast Cedar County - east Pierce County - southeast Antelope County - south Holt County - west Boyd County - northwest Charles Mix County, South Dakota - northwest

Protected areas

Bazile Creek State Wildlife Management AreaBazile Creek State Wildlife Management Area, Niobrara NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019) Bloomfield Recreation Area Deep Water Recreation AreaDeep Water Recreation Area, Crofton NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019) Lewis and Clark Lake (part) Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area Miller Creek Recreation AreaMiller Creek Recreation Area, Knox County NE Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019) Missouri National Recreational River (part) Niobrara State Park South Shore Recreation Area

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition Racial composition202020102000White83.6%87.2%92.2%Non-Hispanic85.8%91.3%Native American11.5%10%7.5%Black or African American0.2%0.4%0.1%Hispanic or Latino (of any race)2.2%2.5%0.9%Asian0.3%0.5%0.2%Two or More Races3.3%1.8%0.6%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,391. The median age was 44.5 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 83.6% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 11.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.2% of the population.

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

There were 3,435 households in the county, of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,502 housing units, of which 23.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.4% were owner-occupied and 24.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.4%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 8,701 people, 3,647 households, and 2,368 families in the county. The population density was . The racial makeup of the county was 87.2% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 10% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 1.8% from Two or More Races. 2.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 9,374 people, 3,811 households, and 2,595 families in the county. The population density was . There were 4,773 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 91.63% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 7.12% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,811 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 29.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.40% 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 2.98.

The county population contained 25.50% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 23.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,564, and the median income for a family was $34,073. Males had a median income of $23,373 versus $18,319 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,971. About 12.50% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities Cities Bloomfield Creighton Crofton

Villages

Bazile Mills Center (county seat) Niobrara Santee Verdel Verdigre Wausa Winnetoon

Census-designated place Lindy

Unincorporated communities

Dukeville Jelen Knoxville Mars Pishelville Sparta Venus Walnut

Townships

Addison Bohemia Central Cleveland Columbia Creighton Dolphin Dowling Eastern Frankfort Harrison Herrick Hill Jefferson Lincoln Logan Miller Morton Niobrara North Frankfort Peoria Raymond Spade Sparta Union Valley Verdigre Walnut Grove Washington Western

Politics Knox County voters are strongly Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

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

References

External links Knox County website