Douglas County, Nebraska


Douglas County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 517,110. It is the state's most populous county, home to over one-fourth of Nebraska's residents. Its county seat is Omaha, the state's largest city. The county was established in 1854 and named after Stephen A. Douglas, Senator from Illinois.
Douglas County is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Douglas County was represented by the prefix "1". In 2002, the state discontinued the 1922 system in the three most populous counties: Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy counties.

Geography

Douglas County is on the east side of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Iowa, across the Missouri River. The Elkhorn River runs southward through the west-central part of Douglas County, and it is bordered on east and west by rivers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Major highways

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 517,110 people and 206,522 households in the county. The population density was 1,574 people per square mile. There were 219,580 housing units at an average density of 669 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 76.4% White, 11.6% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.7% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. 11.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30% were of German, 15% Irish, 8.0% English, and 4.9% Italian ancestry.
The median income for a household in the county was $51,878, and the median income for a family was $67,666. Males had a median income of $44,542 versus $35,801 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,092. About 9.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile. There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 80.96% White, 11.50% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.71% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.40% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 6.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.3% were of German, 11.5% Irish and 6.2% English ancestry.
There were 182,194 households out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.12.
The county population contained 26.60% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,209, and the median income for a family was $54,651. Males had a median income of $36,577 versus $27,265 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,879. About 6.70% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Douglas County is governed by a board of seven county commissioners, elected to staggered four–year terms. County courthouse positions are also elected on a partisan basis. Most of the county's offices are located at the Douglas County Courthouse.
DistrictCommissioner
1Mike Boyle
2James Cavanaugh
3Chris Rodgers '
4P.J. Morgan
5Marc Kraft
6Mary Ann Borgeson '
7Clare Duda

OfficeOfficeholder
Assessor/Register of DeedsDiane Battiato
County AttorneyDonald Kleine
County Clerk/ComptrollerDan Esch
Clerk of the District CourtJohn Friend
County EngineerTom Doyle
County SheriffTim Dunning
County TreasurerJohn W. Ewing
Public DefenderTom Riley

Being the most urban county in Nebraska, Douglas County has become a far more competitive county in national elections compared to the vast majority of other counties statewide in the last ten years. While it backed the Republican candidate for president in ten straight elections from 1968 to 2004, elections from 2008 on have been far closer. Barack Obama won a majority of the county's votes in 2008, narrowly winning its congressional district as well along with one electoral vote statewide. It swung back to the Republican column in 2012 with Mitt Romney winning the county by an even closer majority. The county swung back to Democratic hands in 2016 with Hillary Clinton winning a plurality of its votes, but unlike Obama eight years prior she failed to carry the 2nd congressional district.

Communities

Cities