Thomas County, Nebraska

Thomas County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska, formed in 1887, named for General George H. Thomas.^[1] At the 2020 United States census the population was 669.^[2] Its county seat is Thedford.^[3]

In the Nebraska vehicle license plate system, Thomas County is represented by the prefix 89 (it had the eighty-ninth-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

The terrain of Thomas County consists of rolling hills, sloping to the east. The Middle Loup River flows east-southeastward through the middle of the county, and the Dismal River flows in the same direction through the lower part of the county. The two streams converge east of Thomas County. The county has an area of 714 square miles (1,850 km²), of which 713 square miles (1,850 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (0.1%) is water.^[4]

• U.S. Highway 83
• Nebraska Highway 2

• Nebraska National Forest (part)

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 669. The median age was 47.8 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 29.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 107.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.3 males age 18 and over.^[12][13]

The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.3% of the population.^[13]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[14]

There were 305 households in the county, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 17.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[12]

There were 379 housing units, of which 19.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.4% were owner-occupied and 25.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 0.0%.^[12]

As of the 2000 United States census,^[15] there were 729 people, 325 households, and 216 families in the county. The population density was 1 person per square mile (0.39 person/km²). There were 446 housing units at an average density of 0.6 units per square mile (0.23/km²).

The racial makeup of the county was 99.45% White, 0.27% Native American, and 0.27% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 325 households, out of which 26.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 4.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.84.

The county population contained 23.60% under the age of 18, 4.40% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 27.80% from 45 to 64, and 20.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,292, and the median income for a family was $36,618. Males had a median income of $25,662 versus $20,577 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,335. About 13.60% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.

• Halsey (partial)
• Thedford (county seat)

• Seneca

• Natick
• Norway

Thomas County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

Thomas county is the only county outside of the confederacy and border south to vote for both Democrat John Davis is in his landslide loss as well as Republican Barry Goldwater in his, 40 years later.^[16]

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

41°55′N 100°35′W / 41.92°N 100.58°W / 41.92; -100.58