Wheeler County, Nebraska
Wheeler County, Nebraska | |
|---|---|
The Wheeler County Courthouse in Bartlett | |
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska | |
| Coordinates: 41°55′21″N 98°31′15″W / 41.922575°N 98.520853°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| Founded | February 17, 1877 (created) April 11, 1881 (organized) |
| Named after | Daniel H. Wheeler |
| Seat | Bartlett |
| Largest village | Bartlett |
| Area | |
• Total | 575.592 sq mi (1,490.78 km2) |
| • Land | 575.183 sq mi (1,489.72 km2) |
| • Water | 0.409 sq mi (1.06 km2) 0.07% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 774 |
• Estimate (2024) | 808 |
| • Density | 1.35/sq mi (0.520/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 308 |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | wheelercounty.ne.gov |
| • Nebraska county number 92[1] • Nebraska license plate prefix 84[2] | |
Wheeler County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 774,[3] and was estimated to be 808 in 2024.[4] The county seat and the largest village is Bartlett.[5]
In the Nebraska license plate system, Wheeler County was represented by the prefix "84" (as it had the 84th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).
History
Wheeler County was created on February 17, 1877 and organized on April 11, 1881,[6][7][8] The county was named for Major Daniel H. Wheeler, longtime secretary of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture.[9]
Following the establishment and rapid growth of the town of Cumminsville, in anticipation of a Union Pacific Railroad line through that town. Cedar City (now disbanded) was the site of the first seat of government for the county, which covered an area of 48 miles west to east and 25 miles north to south. On November 25, 1884, this area was halved, with the western portion becoming Garfield County, leaving the remainder as Wheeler County with its present boundaries.
The county's government was overseen by three commissioners, two from two districts in the more heavily populated southern half of the county, the third from the North. In 1885, the government was deemed to be outgrowing its small courthouse in Cedar City[10] and two men, Cumminsville school superintendent Begelow and Ezra Bartlett Mitchell offered land options outside of Cedar City to build a new courthouse. In a heated election, Mitchell's site was chosen over Begelow's by a vote of 193 to 90, and the new courthouse led to the establishment of a surrounding town, named Bartlett (Mitchell's middle name), to serve as the seat of government. Cedar City collapsed shortly after the government offices there were abandoned.
In 1886, a spur line of the C.B.& Q. railroad was built into the county, ending at a point where the town of Ericson was established.
In 1895, while attempting to construct a ditchway to irrigate farmland between Ericson and Spalding, a dam was built across Clear Creek. Though the ditch construction was ultimately not successful, the dam created present-day Pibel Lake.
Wheeler County's population began to wane after the turn of the 20th century, but in 1904, with the enactment of the Kinkaid Act, a new round of settlers reinvigorated the population.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575.592 square miles (1,490.78 km2), of which 575.183 square miles (1,489.72 km2) is land and 0.409 square miles (1.06 km2) (0.07%) is water.[11] It is the 47th-largest county in Nebraska by total area.[12]
The terrain of Wheeler County consists of low rolling hills, sloping to the east. A local drainage, Beaver Creek, flows to the SE and east through the upper part of the county, exiting near the midpoint of the county's east boundary line.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Antelope County – northeast
- Boone County – southeast
- Greeley County – south
- Valley County – southwest
- Garfield County – west
- Holt County – north
Protected areas
- Pibel Lake State Recreation Area[13]
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 644 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,683 | 161.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,362 | −19.1% | |
| 1910 | 2,292 | 68.3% | |
| 1920 | 2,531 | 10.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,335 | −7.7% | |
| 1940 | 2,170 | −7.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,526 | −29.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,297 | −15.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,051 | −19.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,060 | 0.9% | |
| 1990 | 948 | −10.6% | |
| 2000 | 886 | −6.5% | |
| 2010 | 818 | −7.7% | |
| 2020 | 774 | −5.4% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 808 | [14] | 4.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] 1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17] 1990–2000[18] 2010–2020[4] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 774. The median age was 49.5 years. 21.4% 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 110.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.1 males age 18 and over.[19][20]
The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.[20]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[21]
There were 343 households in the county, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 16.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[19]
There were 503 housing units, of which 31.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.2% were owner-occupied and 26.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.2%.[19]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 886 people, 352 households, and 243 families in the county. The population density was 1.5 people per square mile (0.58 people/km2). There were 561 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.10% White, 0.23% Native American, 0.56% from other races, and 0.11% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 47.4% were of German, 9.4% Irish, 7.8% English, 7.2% Swedish and 7.0% American ancestry.
There were 352 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.80% were married couples living together, 3.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.10.
The county population contained 29.10% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,771, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $21,563 versus $17,083 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,355. About 15.40% of families and 20.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.80% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Villages
Former communities
- Cumminsville
- Cedar City
- Wheeler
Politics
Wheeler County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In no national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).[22]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1900 | 138 | 42.86% | 180 | 55.90% | 4 | 1.24% |
| 1904 | 187 | 52.97% | 56 | 15.86% | 110 | 31.16% |
| 1908 | 236 | 45.65% | 252 | 48.74% | 29 | 5.61% |
| 1912 | 70 | 14.49% | 194 | 40.17% | 219 | 45.34% |
| 1916 | 163 | 33.00% | 270 | 54.66% | 61 | 12.35% |
| 1920 | 352 | 57.52% | 165 | 26.96% | 95 | 15.52% |
| 1924 | 205 | 27.01% | 145 | 19.10% | 409 | 53.89% |
| 1928 | 534 | 64.18% | 293 | 35.22% | 5 | 0.60% |
| 1932 | 219 | 24.17% | 658 | 72.63% | 29 | 3.20% |
| 1936 | 358 | 38.91% | 484 | 52.61% | 78 | 8.48% |
| 1940 | 495 | 53.69% | 427 | 46.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 392 | 55.84% | 310 | 44.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 264 | 44.67% | 327 | 55.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 455 | 66.33% | 231 | 33.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 391 | 64.20% | 218 | 35.80% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 424 | 63.95% | 239 | 36.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 317 | 56.11% | 248 | 43.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 323 | 64.21% | 131 | 26.04% | 49 | 9.74% |
| 1972 | 361 | 81.12% | 84 | 18.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 274 | 62.84% | 146 | 33.49% | 16 | 3.67% |
| 1980 | 374 | 74.65% | 93 | 18.56% | 34 | 6.79% |
| 1984 | 365 | 78.49% | 97 | 20.86% | 3 | 0.65% |
| 1988 | 309 | 67.91% | 141 | 30.99% | 5 | 1.10% |
| 1992 | 246 | 53.02% | 88 | 18.97% | 130 | 28.02% |
| 1996 | 241 | 57.66% | 106 | 25.36% | 71 | 16.99% |
| 2000 | 351 | 77.48% | 85 | 18.76% | 17 | 3.75% |
| 2004 | 366 | 80.79% | 81 | 17.88% | 6 | 1.32% |
| 2008 | 334 | 75.91% | 96 | 21.82% | 10 | 2.27% |
| 2012 | 345 | 77.01% | 93 | 20.76% | 10 | 2.23% |
| 2016 | 377 | 81.08% | 62 | 13.33% | 26 | 5.59% |
| 2020 | 438 | 87.08% | 59 | 11.73% | 6 | 1.19% |
| 2024 | 424 | 87.24% | 57 | 11.73% | 5 | 1.03% |
See also
References
- ^ "Nebraska County Names and Numbers" (PDF). Nebraska Department of Revenue. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ "Nebraska County Codes". 15 Q Net. November 17, 2002. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Wheeler County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ "Nebraska: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 145. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska". The Kansas Collection. Archived from the original on May 10, 2003. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ^ "Wheeler County". nebraskacounties.org. Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ "Cedar City plat, showing "Court Square" as the central focus of the development's layout". Historic Map Works. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ "2025 County Gazetteer Files – Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Wheeler County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ "Pibel Lake, Wheeler County, NE". Google Maps. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved March 19, 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.
- ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 179 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 37 votes and Prohibition Eugene Chafin received 3 votes.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 19, 2026.