Antelope County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,295, and was estimated to be 6,352 in 2025. The Ashfall Fossil Beds National Natural Landmark is located within the county.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Antelope County was represented by the prefix "26" (as it had the 26th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).
History
Antelope county was created on March 1, 1871 and organized on June 15, 1871. 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. 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 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.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.17%) is water. It is the 24th-largest county in Nebraska by total area.
Major highways
- 20px U.S. Highway 20
- 25px U.S. Highway 275
- 20px Nebraska Highway 13
- 20px Nebraska Highway 14
- 20px Nebraska Highway 45
- 20px Nebraska Highway 70
Protected areas
- Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park
Adjacent counties
- Pierce County – east
- Madison County – southeast
- Boone County – south
- Wheeler County – southwest
- Holt County – west
- Knox County – north
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 6,295. The median age was 43.7 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.6 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 94.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.5% of the population.
There were 2,670 households in the county, of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Percent
|-
|
| Republican
| 3,270
| 75.91%
|-
|
| Independent
| 529
| 12.28%
|-
|
| Democratic
| 469
| 10.89%
|-
|
| Libertarian
| 26
| 0.60%
|-
|
| Legal Marijuana Now
| 14
| 0.32%
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
! 4,308
! 100.00%
|}
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See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Antelope County, Nebraska
References
External links
- Antelope County government's website