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Holt County, Nebraska

Coordinates: 42°27′33″N 98°47′05″W / 42.459287°N 98.784766°W / 42.459287; -98.784766
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Holt County, Nebraska
County
The Holt County Courthouse in O'Neill
The Holt County Courthouse in O'Neill
Holt County, Nebraska
Holt County, Nebraska
Map of Nebraska highlighting Holt County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Coordinates: 42°27′33″N 98°47′05″W / 42.459287°N 98.784766°W / 42.459287; -98.784766
Country United States
State Nebraska
FoundedJanuary 9, 1862 (created)
December 27, 1876 (organized)
Named afterJoseph Holt
SeatO'Neill
Largest cityO'Neill
Area
 • Total
2,417.496 sq mi (6,261.29 km2)
 • Land2,411.851 sq mi (6,246.67 km2)
 • Water5.645 sq mi (14.62 km2)  0.23%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
10,127
 • Estimate 
(2025)
10,067 Decrease
 • Density4.1988/sq mi (1.6212/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code402 and 531
Congressional district3rd
Websiteholtcounty.nebraska.gov
• Nebraska county number 45[1]
• Nebraska license plate prefix 36[2]

Holt County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,127,[3] and was estimated to be 10,067 in 2025.[4] The county seat and the largest city is O'Neill.[5]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Holt County was represented by the prefix "36" (as it had the 36th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

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Holt County was created by an act of the Nebraska Territory Legislature on January 9, 1862, and was organized on December 27, 1876.[6][7][8][9] It is named for Joseph Holt of Kentucky, who was postmaster general and secretary of war under President James Buchanan. It shares its name with Holt County, Missouri, though it is named for a different Holt.

Holt County is in the Outback area of Nebraska.[10]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,417.496 square miles (6,261.29 km2), of which 2,411.851 square miles (6,246.67 km2) is land and 5.645 square miles (14.62 km2) (0.23%) is water.[11] It is the 5th-largest county in Nebraska by total area.[12]

The terrain of Holt County consists of low, rolling hills, with the flattened areas used for agriculture. The Niobrara River flows eastward along the north line of the county, and the Elkhorn River flows southeastward through the upper central portion of the county.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18803,287—
189013,672315.9%
190012,224−10.6%
191015,54527.2%
192017,15110.3%
193016,509−3.7%
194016,5520.3%
195014,489−12.5%
196013,722−5.3%
197012,933−5.7%
198013,5524.8%
199012,599−7.0%
200011,551−8.3%
201010,435−9.7%
202010,127−3.0%
2025 (est.)10,067[13] Decrease−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16]
1990–2000[17] 2010–2020[4]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,127. The median age was 43.1 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.7 males age 18 and over.[18][19]

The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.4% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.1% of the population.[19]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[20]

There were 4,257 households in the county, of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]

There were 4,893 housing units, of which 13.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.1% were owner-occupied and 27.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%.[18]

2000 census

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As of the 2000 census, there were 11,551 people, 4,608 households, and 3,170 families were residing in the county. The population density was 5 people/mi2 (1.9 people/km2). The 5,281 housing units averaged 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.86% White, 0.03% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. About 0.71% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. By ancestry, 46.0% were German, 12.5% Irish, 8.6% American, 7.5% English, and 5.4% Czech.

Of the 4,608 households, 31.6% had children under 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were not families. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46, and the average family size was 3.06.

The county's age distribution was 27.30% under 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,738, and for a family was $37,463. Males had a median income of $24,681 versus $17,593 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,256. About 9.8% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Villages

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Politics

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Holt County voters have historically tended to vote Republican. In only two elections since 1916 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Holt County, Nebraska[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1900 1,320 45.05% 1,492 50.92% 118 4.03%
1904 1,740 52.92% 646 19.65% 902 27.43%
1908 1,541 44.28% 1,777 51.06% 162 4.66%
1912 778 21.62% 1,456 40.47% 1,364 37.91%
1916 1,568 40.19% 2,213 56.73% 120 3.08%
1920 3,163 64.58% 1,577 32.20% 158 3.23%
1924 2,207 37.14% 1,529 25.73% 2,207 37.14%
1928 3,746 54.43% 3,126 45.42% 10 0.15%
1932 2,375 32.99% 4,761 66.13% 64 0.89%
1936 3,714 47.84% 3,902 50.26% 148 1.91%
1940 4,840 61.61% 3,016 38.39% 0 0.00%
1944 4,198 62.07% 2,565 37.93% 0 0.00%
1948 3,147 54.55% 2,622 45.45% 0 0.00%
1952 5,088 74.67% 1,726 25.33% 0 0.00%
1956 4,237 69.33% 1,874 30.67% 0 0.00%
1960 4,150 62.99% 2,438 37.01% 0 0.00%
1964 3,194 53.83% 2,739 46.17% 0 0.00%
1968 3,319 66.02% 1,278 25.42% 430 8.55%
1972 4,147 79.75% 1,053 20.25% 0 0.00%
1976 3,389 64.21% 1,751 33.18% 138 2.61%
1980 4,495 77.00% 1,016 17.40% 327 5.60%
1984 4,613 83.19% 893 16.10% 39 0.70%
1988 4,081 74.66% 1,327 24.28% 58 1.06%
1992 3,131 54.90% 835 14.64% 1,737 30.46%
1996 3,436 65.27% 1,107 21.03% 721 13.70%
2000 3,954 79.73% 846 17.06% 159 3.21%
2004 4,217 81.50% 894 17.28% 63 1.22%
2008 3,746 75.31% 1,089 21.89% 139 2.79%
2012 3,922 79.41% 882 17.86% 135 2.73%
2016 4,354 85.07% 531 10.38% 233 4.55%
2020 4,769 85.93% 686 12.36% 95 1.71%
2024 4,708 86.26% 681 12.48% 69 1.26%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Nebraska County Names and Numbers" (PDF). Nebraska Department of Revenue. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  2. ^ "Nebraska County Codes". 15 Q Net. November 17, 2002. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  3. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Holt County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  6. ^ "Nebraska: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  7. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (January 1, 1925). "Nebraska Place-Names". University of Nebraska Department of English. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  8. ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska". The Kansas Collection. Archived from the original on November 13, 2003. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  9. ^ "Holt County". nebraskacounties.org. Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  10. ^ "About", North Central RC&D.
  11. ^ "2025 County Gazetteer Files – Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Holt County, Nebraska". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  13. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  14. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  15. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  19. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  20. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  21. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
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