Rock County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,262, and was estimated to be 1,259 in 2025.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Rock County was represented by the prefix "81" (as it had the 81st-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).
Geography
The Niobrara River flows eastward along the northern boundary line of Rock County. The terrain is composed of rolling hills oriented east–west. The county's central portion is dotted with small lakes. The land sees comparatively little agricultural use. The ground slopes to the northeast.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.34%) is water. It is the 16th-largest county in Nebraska by total area.
Rock County is located in Nebraska's Outback region.
Major highways
- 20px U.S. Highway 20
- 25px U.S. Highway 183
- 20px Nebraska Highway 7
- 20px Nebraska Highway 137
Adjacent counties
- Keya Paha County - north
- Boyd County - northeast
- Holt County - east
- Loup County - south
- Brown County - west
National protected areas
- John and Louise Seier National Wildlife Refuge
- Niobrara National Scenic River (part)
- Twin Lakes Rock County Wildlife Management Area
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,262. The median age was 49.5 years. 19.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 28.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 96.9% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.
There were 583 households in the county, of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Percent
|-
|
| Republican
| 917
| 87.42%
|-
|
| Democratic
| 65
| 6.20%
|-
|
| Independent
| 60
| 5.72%
|-
|
| Libertarian
| 6
| 0.57%
|-
|
| Legal Marijuana Now
| 1
| 0.10%
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
! 1,049
! 100.00%
|}
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Education
Rock County Public Schools operates the public schools in Rock County.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Rock County, Nebraska