Gosper County, Nebraska

Gosper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 1,893.^[1] Its county seat is Elwood.^[2] The county was formed in 1873, and was organized in 1881.^[3][4][5] It was named for John J. Gosper, a Nebraska Secretary of State.^[6]

Gosper County is part of the Lexington, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Gosper County is represented by the prefix 73 (it had the seventy-third-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

The Platte River flows easterly through the top part of Gosper County.

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 463 square miles (1,200 km²), of which 458 square miles (1,190 km²) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km²) (1.0%) is water.^[7]

• U.S. Highway 283
• Nebraska Highway 18
• Nebraska Highway 23

• Gosper National Wildlife Management Area^[8]
• Johnson Lake State Recreation Area^[9]
• Phillips Lake State Recreation Area^[10]

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,893. The median age was 47.8 years. 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.7 males age 18 and over.^[16][17]

The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.0% of the population.^[17]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[18]

There were 789 households in the county, of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 18.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[16]

There were 1,148 housing units, of which 31.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.5% were owner-occupied and 24.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.6%.^[16]

As of the 2000 United States census,^[19] there were 2,143 people, 863 households, and 655 families in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km²). There were 1,281 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km²).

The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.42% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 863 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.10% were married couples living together, 3.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.10% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,827, and the median income for a family was $42,702. Males had a median income of $28,836 versus $21,204 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,957. About 4.80% of families and 7.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.10% of those under age 18 and 5.00% of those age 65 or over.

• Elwood (county seat)
• Smithfield

• Johnson Lake^[20]

Gosper County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

40°30′N 99°49′W / 40.50°N 99.82°W / 40.50; -99.82