Boyd County, Nebraska

Boyd County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,810. and was estimated to be 1,674 in 2025.

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

History

Boyd County was created on August 1, 1891 and named after James E. Boyd, the governor of Nebraska at the time.

In the 2010 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.

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 United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.95%) is water. It is the 73rd-largest county in Nebraska by total area.

Boyd County is in Nebraska's Outback region.

Major highways

25px U.S. Highway 281
20px Nebraska Highway 11
20px Nebraska Highway 12

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,810. The median age was 55.1 years. 19.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 31.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.8 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 95.2% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.

There were 833 households in the county, of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.