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Gosper County, Nebraska

Coordinates: 40°30′N 99°49′W / 40.50°N 99.82°W / 40.50; -99.82
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gosper County
Gosper County Courthouse in Elwood
Map of Nebraska highlighting Gosper County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Map of the United States highlighting Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°30′N 99°49′W / 40.5°N 99.82°W / 40.5; -99.82
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1873 (authorized)
1881 (organized)
Named forJohn J. Gosper
SeatElwood
Largest villageElwood
Area
 • Total
462.73 sq mi (1,198.5 km2)
 • Land458.16 sq mi (1,186.6 km2)
 • Water4.57 sq mi (11.8 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,893
 • Density4.13/sq mi (1.59/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.gosper.ne.us

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).

Geography

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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]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18801,673
18904,816187.9%
19005,30110.1%
19104,933−6.9%
19204,669−5.4%
19304,287−8.2%
19403,687−14.0%
19502,734−25.8%
19602,489−9.0%
19702,178−12.5%
19802,140−1.7%
19901,928−9.9%
20002,14311.2%
20102,044−4.6%
20201,893−7.4%
US Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[1]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[15] 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 county population contained 23.80% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 20.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.40 males.

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.

Communities

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Gosper County, NE

Villages

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Unincorporated community

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Politics

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

United States presidential election results for Gosper County, Nebraska[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 907 80.77% 203 18.08% 13 1.16%
2020 893 79.66% 215 19.18% 13 1.16%
2016 794 78.61% 166 16.44% 50 4.95%
2012 734 75.05% 230 23.52% 14 1.43%
2008 776 74.05% 260 24.81% 12 1.15%
2004 890 79.54% 222 19.84% 7 0.63%
2000 757 74.65% 228 22.49% 29 2.86%
1996 609 58.78% 275 26.54% 152 14.67%
1992 492 46.95% 254 24.24% 302 28.82%
1988 694 67.12% 331 32.01% 9 0.87%
1984 802 79.33% 201 19.88% 8 0.79%
1980 783 76.09% 181 17.59% 65 6.32%
1976 654 64.82% 332 32.90% 23 2.28%
1972 829 77.40% 242 22.60% 0 0.00%
1968 701 71.02% 229 23.20% 57 5.78%
1964 547 51.65% 512 48.35% 0 0.00%
1960 854 71.58% 339 28.42% 0 0.00%
1956 814 71.47% 325 28.53% 0 0.00%
1952 1,017 77.63% 293 22.37% 0 0.00%
1948 621 52.05% 572 47.95% 0 0.00%
1944 935 65.89% 484 34.11% 0 0.00%
1940 1,001 61.45% 628 38.55% 0 0.00%
1936 647 36.29% 1,118 62.70% 18 1.01%
1932 477 27.13% 1,263 71.84% 18 1.02%
1928 975 66.55% 480 32.76% 10 0.68%
1924 540 36.31% 394 26.50% 553 37.19%
1920 794 58.04% 486 35.53% 88 6.43%
1916 434 40.00% 617 56.87% 34 3.13%
1912 129 13.44% 524 54.58% 307 31.98%
1908 499 42.72% 634 54.28% 35 3.00%
1904 548 57.87% 154 16.26% 245 25.87%
1900 494 45.24% 570 52.20% 28 2.56%

References

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  1. ^ a b "QuickFacts: Gosper County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 67. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  4. ^ "Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Gosper County, Nebraska" (PDF). Nebraska State Historical Society. March 1, 1991. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006. Retrieved December 14, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "Gosper County". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 140.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  8. ^ Gosper National Wildlife Management Area, Bertrand NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  9. ^ Johnson Lake State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  10. ^ Phillips Lake State Recreation Area, Smithfield NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  11. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ^ Johnson Lake, Gosper County NE Google Maps (accessed 21 January 2019)
  17. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".

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