Seward County, Nebraska
Seward County, Nebraska | |
|---|---|
The Seward County Courthouse in Seward | |
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska | |
| Coordinates: 40°52′19″N 97°08′25″W / 40.871944°N 97.140383°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| Founded | March 16, 1855 (created) October 1, 1865 (organized) |
| Named after | William H. Seward |
| Seat | Seward |
| Largest city | Seward |
| Area | |
• Total | 575.886 sq mi (1,491.54 km2) |
| • Land | 571.431 sq mi (1,480.00 km2) |
| • Water | 4.455 sq mi (11.54 km2) 0.77% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 17,609 |
• Estimate (2024) | 17,769 |
| • Density | 30.816/sq mi (11.898/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 402 and 531 |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | sewardcountyne.gov |
| • Nebraska county number 80[1] • Nebraska license plate prefix 16[2] | |
Seward County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,609,[3] and was estimated to be 17,769 in 2024.[4] The county seat and the largest city is Seward.[5]
Seward County is part of the Lincoln, NE metropolitan area.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Seward County was represented by the prefix "16" (as it had the 16th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).
History
Seward County was created on March 16, 1855 and organized on October 1, 1865.[6][7][8][9] It was originally called Greene County, and in 1862 it was renamed for William H. Seward, Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575.886 square miles (1,491.54 km2), of which 571.431 square miles (1,480.00 km2) is land and 4.455 square miles (11.54 km2) (0.77%) is water.[10] It is the 56th-largest county in Nebraska by total area.[11]
The Seward County terrain consists of low rolling hills, largely dedicated to agriculture including center pivot irrigation. The Big Blue River flows south-southeasterly through the central part of the county.[12]
Adjacent counties
- Butler County – north
- Lancaster County – east
- Saline County – south
- Fillmore County – southwest
- York County – west
- Polk County – northwest
Protected areas
- Bur Oak State Wildlife Management Area[13]
- Freeman Lakes Waterfowl Production Area[14]
- North Lake Basin State Wildlife Management Area[15]
- Oak Glen State Wildlife Management Area[16]
- Tamora Waterfowl Production Area[17]
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 2,953 | — | |
| 1880 | 11,147 | 277.5% | |
| 1890 | 16,140 | 44.8% | |
| 1900 | 15,690 | −2.8% | |
| 1910 | 15,895 | 1.3% | |
| 1920 | 15,867 | −0.2% | |
| 1930 | 15,938 | 0.4% | |
| 1940 | 14,167 | −11.1% | |
| 1950 | 13,155 | −7.1% | |
| 1960 | 13,581 | 3.2% | |
| 1970 | 14,460 | 6.5% | |
| 1980 | 15,789 | 9.2% | |
| 1990 | 15,450 | −2.1% | |
| 2000 | 16,496 | 6.8% | |
| 2010 | 16,750 | 1.5% | |
| 2020 | 17,609 | 5.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 17,769 | [18] | 0.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[19] 1790–1960[20] 1900–1990[21] 1990–2000[22] 2010–2020[4] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 17,609. The median age was 37.9 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.6 males age 18 and over.[23][24]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.1% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.[24]
42.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 57.6% lived in rural areas.[25]
There were 6,558 households in the county, of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]
There were 7,061 housing units, of which 7.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.4% were owner-occupied and 25.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.[23]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 16,496 people, 6,013 households, and 4,215 families in the county. The population density was 29 inhabitants per square mile (11/km2). There were 6,428 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.05% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,013 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.50% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.
The county population contained 24.70% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,700, and the median income for a family was $51,813. Males had a median income of $32,218 versus $22,329 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,379. About 4.10% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.20% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Villages
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Ghost town
Politics and government
Civil asset forfeiture
The county engages in extensive civil asset forfeiture. Having fewer than 18,000 people, it accounted for at least 90 cases in the last decade, one-third of all civil forfeiture cases in the state during that period and double that of any other Nebraska county. From 2018 to 2023, the county obtained $7.5 million in forfeited cash. Nearly all of the civil forfeitures stem from traffic stops of out-of-state drivers on Interstate 80 where Seward County police give stopped drivers a choice to give up their cash with an "abandonment form" or refuse and be subject to felony charges; the routine seizures never result in convictions of drivers, raising questions about the intent of the forfeitures.[26] This practice continues despite 2016 state law LB 1106, meant to stop it by first requiring a criminal conviction for illegal drugs, child pornography, or illegal gambling, and establishing new reporting requirements and transfer regulations for seizures or forfeitures. However, loopholes in the law still allow seizure during a traffic stop if police believe the cash is connected to drugs, even if no drugs are found in the vehicle, a tactic that is used routinely by Seward County police.[26][27] A bill introduced in February 2024 by Nebraska legislator Tom Brewer, LB 916, intends to ban civil forfeiture in the state entirely, requiring in all cases that prosecutors use the criminal justice process, rather than civil courts, to seize property.[28]
Voting history
Seward County voters are reliably Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1900 | 1,937 | 50.30% | 1,865 | 48.43% | 49 | 1.27% |
| 1904 | 2,243 | 61.64% | 1,027 | 28.22% | 369 | 10.14% |
| 1908 | 1,930 | 48.21% | 2,029 | 50.69% | 44 | 1.10% |
| 1912 | 788 | 23.29% | 1,573 | 46.48% | 1,023 | 30.23% |
| 1916 | 1,855 | 50.11% | 1,797 | 48.54% | 50 | 1.35% |
| 1920 | 3,690 | 69.98% | 1,497 | 28.39% | 86 | 1.63% |
| 1924 | 2,797 | 49.21% | 1,848 | 32.51% | 1,039 | 18.28% |
| 1928 | 3,539 | 59.68% | 2,367 | 39.92% | 24 | 0.40% |
| 1932 | 2,298 | 34.97% | 4,208 | 64.04% | 65 | 0.99% |
| 1936 | 3,123 | 44.37% | 3,866 | 54.92% | 50 | 0.71% |
| 1940 | 4,117 | 61.95% | 2,529 | 38.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 3,721 | 64.11% | 2,083 | 35.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 2,916 | 56.18% | 2,274 | 43.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 4,257 | 71.64% | 1,685 | 28.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 3,688 | 65.88% | 1,910 | 34.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,588 | 63.14% | 2,095 | 36.86% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,221 | 39.89% | 3,347 | 60.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,939 | 60.59% | 1,658 | 34.18% | 254 | 5.24% |
| 1972 | 3,707 | 63.98% | 2,087 | 36.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 3,220 | 54.12% | 2,610 | 43.87% | 120 | 2.02% |
| 1980 | 3,527 | 59.13% | 1,803 | 30.23% | 635 | 10.65% |
| 1984 | 3,983 | 67.09% | 1,911 | 32.19% | 43 | 0.72% |
| 1988 | 3,472 | 55.89% | 2,690 | 43.30% | 50 | 0.80% |
| 1992 | 3,060 | 44.12% | 2,121 | 30.58% | 1,755 | 25.30% |
| 1996 | 3,479 | 51.86% | 2,432 | 36.25% | 798 | 11.89% |
| 2000 | 4,457 | 63.53% | 2,250 | 32.07% | 309 | 4.40% |
| 2004 | 5,353 | 70.76% | 2,114 | 27.94% | 98 | 1.30% |
| 2008 | 4,647 | 61.72% | 2,703 | 35.90% | 179 | 2.38% |
| 2012 | 5,003 | 66.06% | 2,386 | 31.51% | 184 | 2.43% |
| 2016 | 5,454 | 68.85% | 1,875 | 23.67% | 593 | 7.49% |
| 2020 | 6,490 | 70.55% | 2,438 | 26.50% | 271 | 2.95% |
| 2024 | 6,667 | 72.15% | 2,388 | 25.84% | 185 | 2.00% |
See also
References
- ^ "Nebraska County Names and Numbers" (PDF). Nebraska Department of Revenue. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ^ "Nebraska County Codes". 15 Q Net. November 17, 2002. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Seward County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ^ "Nebraska: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 132 of 167. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ "Seward County Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey" (PDF). Nebraska State Historical Society. August 2007. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska". The Kansas Collection. Archived from the original on July 29, 2003. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ "2025 County Gazetteer Files – Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Seward County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ^ "Seward County, NE". Google Maps. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ "Bur Oak State Wildlife Management Area, Seward, NE". Google Maps. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ "Freeman Lakes Waterfowl Production Area, Waco, NE". Google Maps. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ "North Lake Basin State Wildlife Management Area, Utica, NE". Google Maps. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ "Oak Glen State Wildlife Management Area, Garland, NE". Google Maps. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ "Tamora Waterfowl Production Area, Alvo Rd, Seward, NE". Google Maps. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ a b Alamdari, Natalia (June 16, 2023). "Using loophole, Seward County seizes millions from motorists without convicting them of crimes". Nebraska Public Media. Flatwater Free Press. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ^ "Policing for Profit".
- ^ Alamdari, Natalia (February 2, 2024). "Lawmakers seek to ban practice allowing Seward County to seize millions from motorists". Flatwater Free Press. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 23, 2026.