Lancaster County, Nebraska

Lancaster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 322,608, and was estimated to be 334,049 in 2025, the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the state capital. It is 72nd-most populous city in the United States.

Lancaster County is part of the Lincoln, Nebraska metropolitan area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Lancaster County was represented by the prefix "2" (as it had the second-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922). In 2002, the state discontinued the 1922 system in the three most populous counties: Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy Counties.

History

Lancaster County was created on March 16, 1855 and organized on October 10, 1859.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.04%) is water. It is the 26th-largest county in Nebraska by total area.

Major highways

20px Interstate 80
25px Interstate 180
20px U.S. Highway 6
20px U.S. Highway 34
20px U.S. Highway 77
20px Nebraska Highway 2
20px Nebraska Highway 33
20px Nebraska Highway 43
20px Nebraska Highway 79

Transit

Amtrak California Zephyr (Lincoln station)
Burlington Trailways
Express Arrow
StarTran

Climate

In 2004, Lancaster County was named a StormReady county by the National Weather Service.

Adjacent counties

Saunders County – north
Cass County – northeast
Otoe County – southeast
Johnson County – southeast
Gage County – south
Saline County – southwest
Seward County – northwest
Butler County – northwest

Protected areas

Bluestem Lake State Recreation Area
Branched Oak State Recreation Area
Conestoga Lake State Recreation Area
Frank Shoemaker Marsh (part of Lincoln Parks & Recreation System)
Holmes Lake Recreation Area
Olive Creek Lake State Recreation Area
Pawnee State Recreation Area
Pioneers Park Nature Center
Stagecoach Lake State Recreation Area
Wagon Train Lake State Recreation Area
Wildwood Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Yankee Hill State Wildlife Management Area

Demographics

As of the third quarter of 2025, the median home value in Lancaster County was $302,196.

As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 138,747 estimated households in Lancaster County with an average of 2.29 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $75,165. Approximately 12.6% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Lancaster County has an estimated 67.0% employment rate, with 44.4% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.9% holding a high school diploma. !! Pop. 1990 !! Pop. 2000 !! Pop. 2010 !!

| White alone (NH)

| 183,254 (95.01%) || 200,521 (93.86%) || 222,067 (88.72%) || 240,702 (84.34%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |251,962 (78.10%)

| Black or African American alone (NH)

| 3,472 (1.80%) || 4,583 (2.15%) || 6,892 (2.75%) || 9,636 (3.38%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |13,369 (4.14%)

| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

| 952 (0.49%) || 1,090 (0.51%) || 1,411 (0.56%) || 1,674 (0.59%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |1,707 (0.53%)

| Asian alone (NH)

| 1,723 (0.89%) || 3,335 (1.56%) || 7,118 (2.84%) || 9,895 (3.47%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |13,975 (4.33%)

| Pacific Islander alone (NH)

| — || — || 134 (0.05%) || 131 (0.05%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |170 (0.05%)

| Other race alone (NH)

| 604 (0.31%) || 174 (0.08%) || 352 (0.14%) || 379 (0.13%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |1,351 (0.42%)

| Mixed race or multiracial (NH)

| — || — || 3,880 (1.55%) || 6,305 (2.21%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |14,230 (4.41%)

| Hispanic or Latino (any race)

| 2,879 (1.49%) || 3,938 (1.84%) || 8,437 (3.37%) || 16,685 (5.85%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |25,844 (8.01%)

| Total

| 192,884 (100.00%) || 213,641 (100.00%) || 250,291 (100.00%) || 285,407 (100.00%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |322,608 (100.00%)

2024 estimate

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 332,857 people, 138,747 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 144,949 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 85.2% White (77.7% NH White), 4.8% African American, 1.1% Native American, 5.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 9.0% of the population.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 322,608 people, 127,884 households, and 76,042 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 135,484 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 80.11% White, 4.26% African American, 0.83% Native American, 4.37% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.24% from some other races and 7.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 8.01% of the population.

The median age was 34.7 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.3 males age 18 and over.

90.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 9.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 127,884 households in the county, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 120,875 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 87.11% White, 3.48% African American, 0.75% Native American, 3.49% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.36% from some other races and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.85% of the population.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 250,291 people, 99,187 households, and 60,702 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 104,217 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 90.07% White, 2.82% African American, 0.64% Native American, 2.86% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from some other races and 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.37% of the population. 39.1% were of German, 7.9% English and 7.8% Irish ancestry.

There were 99,187 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 23.50% under the age of 18, 15.40% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,850, and the median income for a family was $53,676. Males had a median income of $34,720 versus $25,614 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,265. About 5.50% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Bennet
Hickman
Lincoln (county seat)
Waverly

Villages

Davey
Denton
Firth
Hallam
Malcolm
Panama
Raymond
Roca
Sprague

Census-designated places

Agnew
Cheney
Emerald
Kramer
Martell
Prairie Home
Princeton
Walton
Yankee Hill

Other unincorporated communities

Arbor
Berks
Holland
Rokeby
Saltillo

Census divisions

Lancaster County is divided into the following census divisions called precincts, defined by the boundaries of the original townships,

Buda
Centerville
Denton
Elk
Garfield
Grant
Highlands
Lancaster
Little Salt
Middle Creek
Mill
Nemaha
North Bluff
Oak
Olive Branch
Panama
Rock Creek
Saltillo
South Pass
Stevens Creek
Stockton
Waverly
West Lincoln
West Oak
Yankee Hill

Politics

Lancaster County has historically been somewhat conservative for an urban county. In the last 30 national elections, Lancaster County selected the Republican Party candidate 78% of the time. However, it has become more competitive in recent years, largely due to the influence of Lincoln and the University of Nebraska. Since 1988, the margin in the county has been 10 points or less all but once. In 2008, Barack Obama won a narrow majority in Lancaster County, becoming the first Democrat to carry the county since 1964, and only the second since 1936. Republican Donald Trump never won the county in any of his three runs.

{| class="wikitable"

! colspan="2" |Political Party

! Number of registered voters (April 1, 2026)

! Percent

| Republican

| 83,119

| 40.10%

| Democratic

| 68,251

| 32.93%

| Independent

| 50,845

| 24.53%

| Libertarian

| 3,208

| 1.55%

| Legal Marijuana Now

| 1,858

| 0.90%

! colspan="2" |Total

! 207,281

! 100.00%

Representatives

Roma Amundson, District 4 Commissioner, retired U.S. Brigadier General

Education

School districts include:

Crete Public Schools #2, Crete
Freeman Public Schools #34, Adams
Lincoln Public Schools #1, Lincoln
Malcolm Public Schools #148, Malcolm
Milford Public Schools #5, Milford
Norris School District #160, Firth
Palmyra District OR-1 #501, Palmyra
Raymond Central Public Schools #161, Raymond
Waverly School District #145, Waverly
Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools #82, Wilber

Notable native

Leon Riley (1906–1970), American minor league baseball player/manager (born in Princeton, Nebraska).

References

External links

Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln