Hall County, Nebraska

Hall County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 62,895, and was estimated to be 63,633 in 2025,

Hall County is part of the Grand Island metropolitan area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Hall County was represented by the prefix "8" (as it had the eighth-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Hall County was created on November 4, 1858; it was named for Augustus Hall, an early judge of this territory.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.02%) is water. It is the 70th-largest county in Nebraska by total area.

The Platte River flows northeastward across the lower portion of Hall County; the South Loup River flows northeastward across the NW corner of the county; both flowing to their eventual drainage into the Missouri River.

Hall County has the highest density of tornado activity in Nebraska, with 121 tornadoes per , about 4 times the state average.

Major highways

20px Interstate 80
20px U.S. Route 30
20px U.S. Route 34
22px U.S. Route 281
20px Nebraska Highway 2
20px Nebraska Highway 11

Transit

Burlington Trailways
Express Arrow

Adjacent counties

Merrick County – northeast
Hamilton County – east
Adams County – south
Kearney County – southwest
Howard County – north
Buffalo County – west

Protected areas

Cheyenne State Recreation Area
Cornhusker State Wildlife Management Area
Denman Island State Wildlife Management Area (part)
Hannon Federal Waterfowl Production Area
Loch Linda State Wildlife Management Area
Martins Reach State Wildlife Management Area
Mormon Island State Recreation Area
Wood River West State Wildlife Management Area

Demographics

As of the third quarter of 2025, the median home value in Hall County was $231,944.

As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 24,587 estimated households in Hall County with an average of 2.51 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $69,251. Approximately 14.1% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Hall County has an estimated 65.5% employment rate, with 21.5% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 85.2% holding a high school diploma. !! Pop. 1990 !! Pop. 2000 !! Pop. 2010 !!

| White alone (NH)

| 45,978 (96.41%) || 45,986 (93.99%) || 44,818 (83.72%) || 42,537 (72.58%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |39,420 (62.68%)

| Black or African American alone (NH)

| 120 (0.25%) || 134 (0.27%) || 159 (0.30%) || 906 (1.55%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |1,815 (2.89%)

| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

| 114 (0.24%) || 139 (0.28%) || 132 (0.25%) || 231 (0.39%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |215 (0.34%)

| Asian alone (NH)

| 103 (0.22%) || 521 (1.06%) || 574 (1.07%) || 579 (0.99%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |688 (1.09%)

| Pacific Islander alone (NH)

| — || — || 17 (0.03%) || 34 (0.06%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |25 (0.04%)

| Other race alone (NH)

| 20 (0.04%) || 29 (0.06%) || 28 (0.05%) || 95 (0.16%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |187 (0.30%)

| Mixed race or multiracial (NH)

| — || — || 309 (0.58%) || 572 (0.98%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |1,364 (2.17%)

| Hispanic or Latino (any race)

| 1,355 (2.84%) || 2,116 (4.32%) || 7,497 (14.00%) || 13,653 (23.30%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |19,181 (30.50%)

| Total

| 47,690 (100.00%) || 48,925 (100.00%) || 53,534 (100.00%) || 58,607 (100.00%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |62,895 (100.00%)

2024 estimate

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 62,869 people, 24,587 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 25,569 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 88.3% White (59.3% NH White), 4.2% African American, 3.7% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 34.7% of the population.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 62,895 people, 23,805 households, and 15,655 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 25,159 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 69.48% White, 3.05% African American, 1.45% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 15.42% from some other races and 9.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 30.50% of the population.

The median age was 36.0 years. 27.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.9 males age 18 and over.

87.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 12.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 23,805 households in the county, of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 25,159 housing units, of which 5.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 60.7% were owner-occupied and 39.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 58,607 people, 22,196 households, and 14,329 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 23,549 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 82.61% White, 1.75% African American, 0.90% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 11.43% from some other races and 2.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 23.30% of the population.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 53,534 people, 20,356 households, and 14,086 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 21,574 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 88.67% White, 0.36% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 8.19% from some other races and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 14.00% of the population.

There were 20,356 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.

The county population contained 27.20% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,972, and the median income for a family was $43,963. Males had a median income of $29,158 versus $20,576 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,386. 12.00% of the population and 9.20% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.50% of those under the age of 18 and 8.30% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Communities

Cities

Grand Island
Wood River

Villages

Alda
Cairo
Doniphan
Shelton (part)

Unincorporated communities

Abbott
Cameron
Hansen

Politics

Hall County has been a Republican Party stronghold for most of its history at the presidential level. In only four presidential elections in its history has a Democratic Party candidate carried the county, the most recent being Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Additionally, no Democrat has ever received more than 60% of the vote in Hall County.

{| class="wikitable"

! colspan="2" |Political Party

! Number of registered voters (April 1, 2026)

! Percent

| Republican

| 17,705

| 53.95%

| Independent

| 7,238

| 22.05%

| Democratic

| 7,181

| 21.88%

| Libertarian

| 453

| 1.38%

| Legal Marijuana Now

| 243

| 0.74%

! colspan="2" |Total

! 32,820

! 100.00%

Education

School districts include:

Adams Central Public Schools #90, Hastings
Aurora Public Schools #504, Aurora
Centura Public Schools #100, Cairo
Doniphan-Trumbull Public Schools #126, Doniphan
Grand Island Public Schools #, Grand Island
Kenesaw Public Schools #3, Kenesaw
Northwest Public Schools #82, Grand Island
Shelton Public Schools #19, Shelton
Wood River Rural Schools #83, Wood River

References

External links

Hall County government's website
Nebraska Tornado Density