Although it has an almost central location within the United States, Nebraska is located on the Midwest plains and has many landmarks that claim to be the gateway to the west. Like many states in the region, Nebraska enjoyed a population explosion in the second half of the 19th century due to the great California Gold Rush. Nebraska's growth rate is now 0.80%, which ranks 25th in the country.
The last nationwide census within the United States of America took place in 2010, and it was confirmed that 1,826,341 citizens were living in the Cornhusker State. Those figures represented a rise of 6.7% on the findings from the 2000 Census, which declared final numbers of 1,711,263. It is now estimated that these figures have climbed even further to a total population of 1,896,190, an increase of 3.8% since the last Census.
Nebraska’s surface area covers approximately 77,354 square miles (200,520 square kilometers) and that makes this the 16th largest state in the US in terms of size. Based on 2011 population estimates, for every square mile of Nebraskan territory, there is an average of 23.8 people. Overall, Nebraska is only the 43rd ranked state in terms of population density.
Approximately one in three Nebraskans live in its two major cities, Omaha and Lincoln. 89% of Nebraska's cities have less than 3,000 people, which is on par with 5 other Midwestern states, but hundreds of towns in Nebraska have less than 1,000 residents. Many rural schools in the state have been forced to consolidate.
With over 530 villages and cities in the state, only one has a population of more than 300,000. Omaha has a population estimated at 443,885, while Lincoln, the capital city, has 277,348 residents. These are the only two cities with a population over 60,000.
53% of the 93 counties in Nebraska reported declining numbers between 1990 and 2000, and this trend has continued as more urban areas have experienced great growth. Between 2000 and 2010, Lincoln saw a 14.5% increase, while Omaha's population grew 6.3% in just 5 years.
The median age in Nebraska is approximately 36.2 years of age. The ratio of females to males is currently at approximately 50.3% females and 49.7% males.
In terms of religious preferences across the state, Nebraska weighs in with 75% Christian based faiths, 4% non-Christian based faiths, 20% are unaffiliated with any religion.
Nebraska was acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and became part of Louisiana (later Missouri) Territory. It was established as a territory in 1854, including extensive areas northwest and west of the present State; it underwent various reductions in area in 1861 and 1863. Nebraska was admitted as a State on March 1, 1867, with nearly its present boundaries. Its last significant boundary change was the transfer of an area from Dakota Territory in 1882.
Census coverage of Nebraska began in 1860 in the eastern part of the present State. The 1860 census of Nebraska Territory also included scattered forts and settlements in present-day Wyoming and the Dakotas west of the Missouri River. Other such settlements in the portion of the Territory included in present-day Montana were reported with Dakota Territory, and those in present-day Colorado were reported with Colorado Territory, although these two territories were not established until 1861. By 1890, census coverage included the entire State.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Nebraska was:
In 2004, data showed that about 4.8% of Nebraska's diverse population was made up of foreign-born residents. The state has the largest Czech American and non-Mormon Danish American population in the entire nation. Thurston County has a significant American Indian majority population.
Between 2000 and 2010, Nebraska also saw an increase of over 77% in its Hispanic and Latino population. According to data from 2011, 31.0% of Nebraska's population under the age of 1 were classified as minorities. Some analysts believe that the Hispanic and Latino population of the state could triple by the year 2050.
The largest ancestry groups in the state are German (38.6%), Irish (12.4%), English (9.6%), Mexican (8.7%) and Czech (5.5%). This makes German-Americans by far the largest group in Nebraska.
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Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 1,603,243 | 81.84% |
Two or more races | 124,088 | 6.33% |
Black or African American | 93,555 | 4.78% |
Other race | 69,315 | 3.54% |
Asian | 48,874 | 2.49% |
Native American | 18,550 | 0.95% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 1,318 | 0.07% |
White
Two or more races
Black or African American
Other race
Asian
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 776,379 | 2.46 | 66.5 | 33.5 |
Married | 382,954 | 3.15 | 84.9 | 15.1 |
Non Family | 285,848 | 1.25 | 47.7 | 52.3 |
Female | 72,173 | 3.29 | 48.7 | 51.3 |
Male | 35,404 | 3.13 | 56.1 | 43.9 |
3.09
Average Family Size
2.46
Average Household Size
66.5%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 56,085 | 4.37% |
Associates Degree | 139,287 | 10.85% |
Bachelors Degree | 280,101 | 21.83% |
Graduate Degree | 149,329 | 11.64% |
High School Graduate | 325,873 | 25.39% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 48,212 | 3.76% |
Some College | 284,398 | 22.16% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 1,050,840 | 1,003,430 | 376,544 |
Hispanic | 111,748 | 73,061 | 16,741 |
Black | 55,394 | 48,130 | 11,609 |
2+ Races | 54,898 | 44,054 | 14,237 |
Other Race | 37,141 | 22,681 | 4,916 |
Asian | 31,236 | 23,250 | 13,608 |
Native American | 9,756 | 7,621 | 1,262 |
Islander | 700 | 525 | 117 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 95.49%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 43.57%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $58,191 | $69,763 | $50,246 |
Graduate Degree | $74,470 | $87,678 | $67,656 |
High School Graduate | $37,196 | $45,045 | $29,158 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $33,716 | $38,096 | $25,852 |
Overall | $47,570 | $55,637 | $40,072 |
Some College | $43,946 | $54,818 | $34,748 |
$47,570
Average Earnings
$55,637
Average Male
$40,072
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
88.15% of Nebraska residents speak only English, while 11.85% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 7.65% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
White | 1,473,160 | 122,289 | 8.3% |
Hispanic | 225,029 | 38,487 | 17.1% |
Black | 89,332 | 20,793 | 23.28% |
Multiple | 121,088 | 17,740 | 14.65% |
Other | 67,071 | 12,046 | 17.96% |
Asian | 47,750 | 4,914 | 10.29% |
Native | 17,508 | 4,024 | 22.98% |
Islander | 1,265 | 276 | 21.82% |
10.4%
Overall Poverty Rate
9.31%
Male Poverty Rate
11.5%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Nebraska is Black, with 23.28% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Nebraska is White, with 8.3% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.28%. Among those working part-time, it was 15.78%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 18.88%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 20.6% |
High School | 12.05% |
Some College | 7.77% |
Bachelors or Greater | 3.6% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 31.95% |
Male Unemployed | 26.81% |
Female Employed | 6.98% |
Male Employed | 4.77% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $92,614 | $116,527 |
Households | $71,722 | $95,547 |
Married Families | $105,989 | $131,763 |
Non Families | $41,249 | $55,476 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
51.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
52.5%
Male Marriage Rate
50.7%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
109,982
Number of Veterans
99,450
Male Veterans
10,532
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 37,362 |
First Gulf War | 27,053 |
Second Gulf War | 26,632 |
Korea | 7,559 |
World War II | 1,763 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
35 to 54 | 28,002 |
65 to 74 | 26,729 |
75+ | 26,714 |
55 to 64 | 19,546 |
18 to 34 | 8,991 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 98,784 | 7.96% |
Black | 4,711 | 7.19% |
Hispanic | 4,234 | 3.02% |
2+ Races | 3,914 | 5.64% |
Asian | 1,130 | 3.06% |
Other Race | 869 | 1.89% |
Native American | 554 | 4.61% |
Islander | 20 | 2.38% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
6.12%
Veteran Poverty Rate
29.1%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
68.8%
Labor Force Participation
66.3%
Employment Rate
3.1%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
64.67%
Born in Nebraska
92.5%
Native Born
7.5%
Foreign Born
4.31%
Non Citizen
3.19%
Naturalized
92.5% of Nebraska residents were born in the United States, with 64.67% having been born in Nebraska. 4.31% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.