Fillmore County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 5,551. Its county seat is Geneva. The county was named for President Millard Fillmore.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Fillmore County is represented by the prefix 34 (it had the thirty-fourth largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Fillmore County was established, and its boundaries defined, by the Nebraska Territorial Legislature in 1856. It was named for Millard Fillmore, the thirteenth president of the United States, who had left office in 1853.

The first homesteaders arrived in the county in 1866. Ohio natives William O. Bussard and William C. Whitaker filed claims on the West Fork of the Big Blue River in the county's northeastern portion. up to this time, it had been administered from, and taxed by, Saline County, its neighbor to the east. In April, an election was held to choose officers to organize the county; at this time, it was decided to place the county seat in the county's center. The town site was surveyed and platted, and given the name "Henry". It could not be occupied, since it was on school land owned by the state; an act of the legislature was necessary before the land could be sold.

The county lies within the watershed of the Big Blue River. Water in the county drains via the West Fork of the Big Blue; via Turkey Creek, which runs into the Big Blue near De Witt, Nebraska; and via the Little Blue, which joins the Big Blue in Kansas.

  • Marsh Hawk State Wildlife Management Area
  • Morphy Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area
  • Rauscher Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area
  • Redhead Wildlife Management Area
  • Rolland Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area
  • Sandpiper State Wildlife Management Area
  • Sora Wildlife Management Area

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,551. The median age was 45.5 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.2% of the population.

There were 2,386 households in the county, of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. there were 6,634 people, 2,689 households, and 1,801 families in the county. The population density was . There were 2,990 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.75% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 1.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 48.6% were of German, 10.4% Czech, 7.1% Irish and 7.0% English ancestry.

There were 2,689 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 5.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.95.

The county population contained 26.30% under the age of 18, 5.10% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 21.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,162, and the median income for a family was $41,725. Males had a median income of $29,813 versus $18,507 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,465. About 4.80% of families and 7.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.20% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

  • U.S. Route 81 – enters from Thayer County; runs northward into York County.
  • U.S. Route 6 runs east–west across the northern part of the county.
  • Nebraska Highway 41 runs east–west across the central portion of the county.
  • Nebraska Highway 74 runs east–west through the southern part of the county.
  • Sawyer
  • Buxton
  • Turkey Creek
  • Martland
  • Lyman
  • Bryant

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Notable residents

  • Margaret E. Haughawout (1874–1964), Fillmore County superintendent of schools, 1919–1923; taught at Pittsburg State Teachers College from 1923 to 1934

See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Fillmore County, Nebraska

Notes

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References

  • Gaffney, Wilbur G., ed. (1968). The Fillmore County Story. Copyrighted by Geneva Community Grange No. 403.
  • Keech, C. F. and V. H. Dreeszen (1968). "Geology and Ground-Water Resources of Fillmore County, Nebraska". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  • Perkey, Elton A. (2003). Perkey's Nebraska Place Names. Nebraska State Historical Society; revised edition.
  • Fillmore County Official Web Site