Cass County, Nebraska

Cass County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,598.^[3] and was estimated to be 27,492 in 2024.^[4] The county seat and the largest city is Plattsmouth.^[5]

Cass County is included in the Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Cass County was represented by the prefix "20" (as it had the 20th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Cass County was created on November 23, 1854,^[6] and was named for General Lewis Cass, an American military officer, politician, and statesman.^[7][8][9]

Cass County lies on the east side of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Iowa, across the Missouri River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 565.891 square miles (1,465.65 km²), of which 556.911 square miles (1,442.39 km²) is land and 8.980 square miles (23.26 km²) (1.59%) is water.^[10] It is the 67th-largest county in Nebraska by total area.^[11]

Due to its proximity to Cass County, Iowa, and because both of those counties receive most of their broadcasts from Omaha, Nebraska, references to 'Cass County' must be frequently disambiguated, or result in confusion.

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 26,598. The median age was 42.4 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.4 males age 18 and over.^[17][18]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.6% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.7% of the population.^[18]

25.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 75.0% lived in rural areas.^[19]

There were 10,315 households in the county, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 17.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[17]

There were 11,623 housing units, of which 11.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.9% were owner-occupied and 17.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.^[17]

As of the 2010 census, there were 25,241 people, 9,698 households and 7,078 families. The population density was 45 people per square mile (17 people/km²). There were 11,117 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% White, 0.7% Black or Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 2.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the 2000 census, there were 24,334 people, 9,161 households, and 6,806 families in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17 people/km²). There were 10,179 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.89% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.4% were of German, 9.6% American, 8.8% Irish and 7.9% English ancestry.

There were 9,161 households, out of which 35.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.30% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 21.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 27.90% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,515, and the median income for a family was $52,196. Males had a median income of $36,639 versus $24,612 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,156. About 4.20% of families and 5.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 4.50% of those age 65 or over.

• Louisville
• Plattsmouth (county seat)
• Weeping Water

Cass County is divided into the following divisions, called precincts, except for the cities of Plattsmouth and Weeping Water.

At the presidential level, Cass County voters have voted predominantly for the Republican candidate. In only one national election since 1936 has the county given a majority to the Democratic Party candidate, that being 1964, which Lyndon B. Johnson won in a landslide nationally.

• Naomi Institute
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cass County, Nebraska
• Eugene T. Mahoney State Park