# Antelope County, Nebraska

Antelope County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 6,295. Its county seat is Neligh. The county was formed in 1871. It received its name after a group of early settlers killed and ate several pronghorn. Although these are not true antelope, they are colloquially known by that name.
The Ashfall Fossil Beds National Natural Landmark is located within the county.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Antelope County is represented by the prefix 26 (it had the 26th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

## Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 859 square miles (2,220 km$^2$), of which 857 square miles (2,220 km$^2$) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km$^2$) (0.2%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Pierce County – east
* Madison County – southeast
* Boone County – south
* Wheeler County – southwest
* Holt County – west
* Knox County – north

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 20
* U.S. Highway 275
* Nebraska Highway 13
* Nebraska Highway 14
* Nebraska Highway 45
* Nebraska Highway 70

### Protected areas

* Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park

## History

Antelope County was officially established on March 1, 1871, and named for the pronghorn antelopes that roamed the region. The first known settler in the area was George St. Clair, known as "Ponca George," who made a claim in 1868. The county's initial settlement was slow due in part to popular views of Great American Desert as unsuitable for farming without significant effort in land reclamation.
The growth of Antelope County was significantly influenced by the construction of railroads through the area. The Sioux City and Nebraska Railroad reached Neligh in 1879, which was then designated as the county seat. This connection to broader markets spurred agricultural development. Wheat, oats, and later corn became staple crops, and the county saw an influx of settlers after the railroad's arrival.

## Demographics

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 7,452 people, 2,953 households, and 2,073 families in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (3.5 people/km$^2$). There were 3,346 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 98.82% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 57.9% were of German, 6.6% English, 6.6% American and 5.9% Irish ancestry.
There were 2,953 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.
The county population contained 27.50% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,114, and the median income for a family was $36,240. Males had a median income of $26,288 versus $16,926 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,601. About 10.30% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Elgin
* Neligh (county seat)
* Tilden (part)

### Villages

* Brunswick
* Clearwater
* Oakdale
* Orchard
* Royal

### Townships

* Bazile
* Blaine
* Burnett
* Cedar
* Clearwater
* Crawford
* Custer
* Eden
* Elgin
* Ellsworth
* Elm
* Frenchtown
* Garfield
* Grant
* Lincoln
* Logan
* Neligh
* Oakdale
* Ord
* Royal
* Sherman
* Stanton
* Verdigris
* Willow

## Politics

Antelope County voters are strongly Republican. In only one national election since 1916 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
United States presidential election results for Antelope County, Nebraska :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 3,032 | 87.68% | 396 | 11.45% | 30 | 0.87% |
| 2020 | 3,093 | 86.23% | 452 | 12.60% | 42 | 1.17% |
| 2016 | 2,732 | 83.27% | 383 | 11.67% | 166 | 5.06% |
| 2012 | 2,596 | 80.32% | 571 | 17.67% | 65 | 2.01% |
| 2008 | 2,383 | 74.82% | 757 | 23.77% | 45 | 1.41% |
| 2004 | 2,761 | 80.64% | 613 | 17.90% | 50 | 1.46% |
| 2000 | 2,562 | 76.07% | 678 | 20.13% | 128 | 3.80% |
| 1996 | 2,005 | 59.50% | 884 | 26.23% | 481 | 14.27% |
| 1992 | 1,979 | 52.41% | 650 | 17.21% | 1,147 | 30.38% |
| 1988 | 2,626 | 73.78% | 933 | 26.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1984 | 3,222 | 81.80% | 697 | 17.69% | 20 | 0.51% |
| 1980 | 3,192 | 78.68% | 659 | 16.24% | 206 | 5.08% |
| 1976 | 2,488 | 64.01% | 1,325 | 34.09% | 74 | 1.90% |
| 1972 | 3,228 | 79.14% | 851 | 20.86% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,805 | 68.13% | 952 | 23.12% | 360 | 8.74% |
| 1964 | 2,566 | 56.15% | 2,004 | 43.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,617 | 71.10% | 1,470 | 28.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 3,607 | 73.00% | 1,334 | 27.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 4,377 | 80.39% | 1,068 | 19.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 2,868 | 60.49% | 1,873 | 39.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 3,888 | 70.61% | 1,618 | 29.39% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 4,331 | 66.77% | 2,155 | 33.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 3,304 | 49.52% | 3,165 | 47.44% | 203 | 3.04% |
| 1932 | 2,270 | 35.38% | 4,053 | 63.17% | 93 | 1.45% |
| 1928 | 4,277 | 67.80% | 2,016 | 31.96% | 15 | 0.24% |
| 1924 | 2,598 | 47.12% | 1,150 | 20.86% | 1,765 | 32.02% |
| 1920 | 3,322 | 70.91% | 1,154 | 24.63% | 209 | 4.46% |
| 1916 | 1,495 | 43.33% | 1,881 | 54.52% | 74 | 2.14% |
| 1912 | 877 | 27.90% | 1,238 | 39.39% | 1,028 | 32.71% |
| 1908 | 1,658 | 51.68% | 1,455 | 45.36% | 95 | 2.96% |
| 1904 | 1,813 | 64.73% | 353 | 12.60% | 635 | 22.67% |
| 1900 | 1,342 | 48.75% | 1,356 | 49.26% | 55 | 2.00% |