Nemaha County, Kansas

Nemaha County, Kansas
Nemaha County (standard abbreviation: NM) is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Seneca. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 10,273. The county was named for the Nemaha River.
History
Early history
For many millennia the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.
19th century
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Nemaha County was established.
The first railroad in Nemaha County was built in 1866.
On May 30, 1879, the "Irving, Kansas Tornado" passed through Nemaha county. This tornado measured F4 on the Fujita scale, and had a damage path wide and long. Eighteen people were killed and sixty were injured in this tornado.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Richardson County, Nebraska (northeast)
Brown County (east)
Jackson County (southeast)
Pottawatomie County (southwest)
Marshall County (west)
Pawnee County, Nebraska (northwest)
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,717 people, 3,959 households, and 2,763 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 4,340 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.35% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,959 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were married couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.50% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 22.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,296, and the median income for a family was $41,838. Males had a median income of $28,879 versus $19,340 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,121. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Presidential elections
Nemaha County is strongly Republican. Lyndon Johnson is the only Democrat to have carried the county since 1936.
Laws
Nemaha County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
Education
Unified school districts
Prairie Hills USD 113
Nemaha Central USD 115
Communities
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
Cities
Bern
Centralia
Corning
Goff
Oneida
Sabetha‡
Seneca (county seat)
Wetmore
Unincorporated communities
Baileyville†
Berwick
Capioma
Kelly†
Neuchatel
St. Benedict†
Woodlawn
Townships
Nemaha County is divided into twenty townships. The cities of Sabetha and Seneca are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Nemaha County, Kansas
References
Notes
Further reading
Atlas of Nemaha County, Kansas; Anderson Publishing Co; 62 pages; 1922.
Plat Book of Nemaha County, Kansas; A.R. Stinson; 53 pages; 1908.
External links
County
Nemaha County – Directory of Public Officials
Other information
The Irving Tornado
Historical Tornadoes
Maps
Nemaha County maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
Kansas Highway maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
Kansas Railroad maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society
Kansas placenames of Native American origin
Kansas counties
1855 establishments in Kansas Territory