Boyd County, Nebraska

Boyd County, Nebraska
County
The Boyd County Courthouse in Butte
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Coordinates: 42°53′40″N 98°46′23″W / 42.894448°N 98.773022°W / 42.894448; -98.773022
Country United States
State Nebraska
FoundedAugust 1, 1891
Named afterJames E. Boyd
SeatButte
Largest villageSpencer
Area
 • Total
544.527 sq mi (1,410.32 km2)
 • Land539.368 sq mi (1,396.96 km2)
 • Water5.159 sq mi (13.36 km2)  0.95%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,810
 • Estimate 
(2024)
1,700
 • Density3.36/sq mi (1.30/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code402 and 531
Congressional district3rd
Websiteboydcounty.ne.gov
• Nebraska county number 08[1]
• Nebraska license plate prefix 63[2]

Boyd County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,810.[3] and was estimated to be 1,700 in 2024.[4] The county seat is Butte and the largest village is Spencer.[5]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Boyd County was represented by the prefix "63" (as it had the 63rd-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Boyd County was created on August 1, 1891[6][7] and named after James E. Boyd, the governor of Nebraska at the time.[8]

In the 2010 census, three incorporated villages had populations of fewer than 10 people: Anoka, population 6, Gross, population 2, and Monowi, population 1. Monowi was the only incorporated city in the United States with only one resident at the 2010 census.[9]

All land north of the Keya Paha River (which includes most of Boyd County and a smaller portion of neighboring Keya Paha 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 544.527 square miles (1,410.32 km2), of which 539.368 square miles (1,396.96 km2) is land and 5.159 square miles (13.36 km2) (0.95%) is water.[10] It is the 73rd-largest county in Nebraska by total area.[11]

Boyd County is in Nebraska's Outback region.[12]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890695—
19007,332955.0%
19108,82620.4%
19208,243−6.6%
19307,169−13.0%
19406,060−15.5%
19504,911−19.0%
19604,513−8.1%
19703,752−16.9%
19803,331−11.2%
19902,835−14.9%
20002,438−14.0%
20102,099−13.9%
20201,810−13.8%
2024 (est.)1,700[13]−6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16]
1990–2000[17] 2010–2020[4]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,810. The median age was 55.1 years. 19.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 31.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.8 males age 18 and over.[18][19]

The racial makeup of the county was 95.2% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.[19]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[20]

There were 833 households in the county, of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]

There were 1,226 housing units, of which 32.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.9% were owner-occupied and 19.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.0%.[18]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 2,438 people, 1,014 households, and 670 families in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). There were 1,406 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.89% White, 0.57% Native American, 0.16% Asian, and 0.37% from two or more races. 0.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.2% were of German, 10.0% American, 9.3% Czech, 7.8% Irish, 6.9% English and 5.9% Swedish ancestry.

There were 1,014 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 3.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 32.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.

The county population contained 25.00% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 21.20% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 24.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,075, and the median income for a family was $32,000. Males had a median income of $20,859 versus $17,688 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,840. About 12.90% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Villages

Townships

Ghost towns

Politics

United States presidential election results for Boyd County, Nebraska[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1892 528 44.44% 184 15.49% 476 40.07%
1896 500 41.53% 657 54.57% 47 3.90%
1900 771 47.45% 795 48.92% 59 3.63%
1904 1,233 64.35% 328 17.12% 355 18.53%
1908 954 50.05% 891 46.75% 61 3.20%
1912 281 16.90% 651 39.15% 731 43.96%
1916 809 46.98% 852 49.48% 61 3.54%
1920 1,482 70.04% 527 24.91% 107 5.06%
1924 991 37.57% 522 19.79% 1,125 42.65%
1928 1,653 58.72% 1,143 40.60% 19 0.67%
1932 808 27.32% 2,098 70.95% 51 1.72%
1936 1,290 44.48% 1,555 53.62% 55 1.90%
1940 1,734 62.13% 1,057 37.87% 0 0.00%
1944 1,456 61.93% 895 38.07% 0 0.00%
1948 1,060 50.60% 1,035 49.40% 0 0.00%
1952 1,656 68.63% 757 31.37% 0 0.00%
1956 1,414 62.51% 848 37.49% 0 0.00%
1960 1,393 64.46% 768 35.54% 0 0.00%
1964 1,100 54.78% 908 45.22% 0 0.00%
1968 1,250 64.63% 437 22.60% 247 12.77%
1972 1,419 73.71% 506 26.29% 0 0.00%
1976 1,004 55.13% 792 43.49% 25 1.37%
1980 1,261 72.76% 376 21.70% 96 5.54%
1984 1,175 78.54% 308 20.59% 13 0.87%
1988 967 65.92% 480 32.72% 20 1.36%
1992 744 47.36% 353 22.47% 474 30.17%
1996 778 57.97% 372 27.72% 192 14.31%
2000 931 74.96% 265 21.34% 46 3.70%
2004 911 79.36% 228 19.86% 9 0.78%
2008 839 75.59% 250 22.52% 21 1.89%
2012 873 81.51% 188 17.55% 10 0.93%
2016 983 85.03% 128 11.07% 45 3.89%
2020 1,010 87.45% 135 11.69% 10 0.87%
2024 938 87.17% 132 12.27% 6 0.56%

See also

References

  1. ^ "Nebraska County Names and Numbers" (PDF). Nebraska Department of Revenue. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  2. ^ "Nebraska County Codes". 15 Q Net. November 17, 2002. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  3. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Boyd County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  6. ^ "Nebraska: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  7. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. (1960). Nebraska Place-Names. University of Nebraska Press. p. 21. ISBN 0803250606. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  8. ^ History of the Origin of the Place Names in Nine Northwestern States. 1908. p. 12.
  9. ^ Reuters, Monowi, Nebraska, Population: 1.
  10. ^ "2025 County Gazetteer Files – Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Boyd County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  12. ^ "About", North Central RC&D.
  13. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  14. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  15. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  19. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  20. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  21. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2026.

Further reading

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