Boyd County, Nebraska

Boyd County
Boyd County
County
	Boyd County Courthouse in Butte
	Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
	Nebraska's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 42°54′N 98°46′W / 42.9°N 98.77°W
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	March 20, 1891
Named for	James E. Boyd
Seat	Butte
Largest village	Spencer
Area
• Total	545 sq mi (1,410 km2)
• Land	540 sq mi (1,400 km2)
• Water	4.6 sq mi (12 km2) 0.8%
Population (2020)
• Total	1,810
• Density	3.3/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.boydcounty.ne.gov

Boyd County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 1,810.^[1] Its county seat is Butte.^[2] The county was formed in 1891^[3] and named after James E. Boyd, the governor of Nebraska at the time.^[4]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Boyd County is represented by the prefix 63, as it had the 63rd-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922.

In the 2010 United States Census, three incorporated villages had populations of fewer than 10 people: Anoka, population 6, Gross, population 2, and Monowi, population 1. Monowi was the only incorporated city in the United States with only one resident at the 2010 census.^[5]

All land north of the Keya Paha River (which includes most of Boyd County and a smaller portion of neighboring Keya Paha County) was not originally part of Nebraska at the time of statehood, but was transferred from Dakota Territory in 1882.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 545 square miles (1,410 km²), of which 540 square miles (1,400 km²) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km²) (0.8%) is water.^[6]

Boyd County is in Nebraska's Outback region.^[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Charles Mix County, South Dakota - northeast
Knox County - southeast
Holt County - south
Rock County - southwest
Keya Paha County - west
Gregory County, South Dakota - northwest

National protected areas

Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Missouri National Recreational River (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	695	—
1900	7,332	955.0%
1910	8,826	20.4%
1920	8,243	−6.6%
1930	7,169	−13.0%
1940	6,060	−15.5%
1950	4,911	−19.0%
1960	4,513	−8.1%
1970	3,752	−16.9%
1980	3,331	−11.2%
1990	2,835	−14.9%
2000	2,438	−14.0%
2010	2,099	−13.9%
2020	1,810	−13.8%
2022 (est.)	1,741	−3.8%
US Decennial Census^[8] 1790-1960^[9] 1900-1990^[10] 1990-2000^[11] 2010^[12] 2020-2022^[13]

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 2,438 people, 1,014 households, and 670 families in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km²). There were 1,406 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.89% White, 0.57% Native American, 0.16% Asian, and 0.37% from two or more races. 0.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.2% were of German, 10.0% American, 9.3% Czech, 7.8% Irish, 6.9% English and 5.9% Swedish ancestry.

There were 1,014 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 3.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 32.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.

The county population contained 25.00% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 21.20% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 24.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,075, and the median income for a family was $32,000. Males had a median income of $20,859 versus $17,688 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,840. About 12.90% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Villages

Townships

Ghost towns

Politics

United States presidential election results for Boyd County, Nebraska^[14]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	1,010	87.45%	135	11.69%	10	0.87%
2016	983	85.03%	128	11.07%	45	3.89%
2012	873	81.51%	188	17.55%	10	0.93%
2008	839	75.59%	250	22.52%	21	1.89%
2004	911	79.36%	228	19.86%	9	0.78%
2000	931	74.96%	265	21.34%	46	3.70%
1996	778	57.97%	372	27.72%	192	14.31%
1992	744	47.36%	353	22.47%	474	30.17%
1988	967	65.92%	480	32.72%	20	1.36%
1984	1,175	78.54%	308	20.59%	13	0.87%
1980	1,261	72.76%	376	21.70%	96	5.54%
1976	1,004	55.13%	792	43.49%	25	1.37%
1972	1,419	73.71%	506	26.29%	0	0.00%
1968	1,250	64.63%	437	22.60%	247	12.77%
1964	1,100	54.78%	908	45.22%	0	0.00%
1960	1,393	64.46%	768	35.54%	0	0.00%
1956	1,414	62.51%	848	37.49%	0	0.00%
1952	1,656	68.63%	757	31.37%	0	0.00%
1948	1,060	50.60%	1,035	49.40%	0	0.00%
1944	1,456	61.93%	895	38.07%	0	0.00%
1940	1,734	62.13%	1,057	37.87%	0	0.00%
1936	1,290	44.48%	1,555	53.62%	55	1.90%
1932	808	27.32%	2,098	70.95%	51	1.72%
1928	1,653	58.72%	1,143	40.60%	19	0.67%
1924	991	37.57%	522	19.79%	1,125	42.65%
1920	1,482	70.04%	527	24.91%	107	5.06%
1916	809	46.98%	852	49.48%	61	3.54%
1912	281	16.90%	651	39.15%	731	43.96%
1908	954	50.05%	891	46.75%	61	3.20%
1904	1,233	64.35%	328	17.12%	355	18.53%
1900	771	47.45%	795	48.92%	59	3.63%
1896	500	41.53%	657	54.57%	47	3.90%
1892	528	44.44%	184	15.49%	476	40.07%