Buffalo County, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buffalo County
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Buffalo County Courthouse in Kearney
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Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
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 Nebraska's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nebraska |
| Founded | 1855 (authorized) 1870 (organized) |
| Named for | American bison |
| Seat | Kearney |
| Largest city | Kearney |
| Area | |
| • Total | 975 sq mi (2,530 km2) |
| • Land | 968 sq mi (2,510 km2) |
| • Water | 7.3 sq mi (19 km2) 0.7%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 50,084 |
| • Density | 51.368/sq mi (19.833/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Buffalo County is a place in the state of Nebraska, located in the central United States. In 2020, about 50,084 people lived here. This makes it the fifth-largest county in Nebraska by population. The main city and county seat is Kearney.
Buffalo County was officially created in 1855 and started its government in 1870. It got its name from the large herds of American bison (often called buffalo) that used to roam the Great Plains. Buffalo County is also part of the Kearney Micropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's connected to Kearney for economic and social reasons.
If you look at Nebraska license plates, Buffalo County is shown by the number 9. This system started in 1922. At that time, Buffalo County had the ninth-highest number of registered vehicles.
Contents
History of Buffalo County
The Union Pacific Railroad came to this area in 1866. As more people settled here, they realized they needed a local government. In 1869, three men named Patrick Walsh, Martin Slattery, and Sergeant Cody asked the governor to officially organize Buffalo County.
The first county seat was chosen by election as Wood River Centre, which is now called Shelton. But within a year, the county seat moved to Gibbon. Then, in 1874, voters decided to move the county seat again, this time to Kearney, where it remains today.
Geography and Nature
Buffalo County covers about 975 square miles. Most of this area, about 968 square miles, is land. The remaining 7.3 square miles (less than 1%) is water.
Main Roads in Buffalo County
Interstate 80
U.S. Highway 30
U.S. Highway 183
Nebraska Highway 2
Nebraska Highway 10
Nebraska Highway 40
Nebraska Highway 44
Nebraska Highway 68
Public Transportation
You can find bus services in Buffalo County, including:
- Burlington Trailways
- Express Arrow
Special Natural Areas
- Fort Kearny State Historical Park is a protected area in the county. It's a great place to learn about history and enjoy nature.
Neighboring Counties
Buffalo County shares borders with these other counties:
- Hall County – to the east
- Adams County – to the southeast
- Kearney County – to the south
- Phelps County – to the southwest
- Dawson County – to the west
- Custer County – to the northwest
- Sherman County – to the north
- Howard County – to the northeast
People of Buffalo County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 114 | — | |
| 1870 | 193 | 69.3% | |
| 1880 | 7,531 | 3,802.1% | |
| 1890 | 22,162 | 194.3% | |
| 1900 | 20,254 | −8.6% | |
| 1910 | 21,907 | 8.2% | |
| 1920 | 23,787 | 8.6% | |
| 1930 | 24,338 | 2.3% | |
| 1940 | 23,655 | −2.8% | |
| 1950 | 25,134 | 6.3% | |
| 1960 | 26,236 | 4.4% | |
| 1970 | 31,222 | 19.0% | |
| 1980 | 34,797 | 11.5% | |
| 1990 | 37,447 | 7.6% | |
| 2000 | 42,259 | 12.9% | |
| 2010 | 46,102 | 9.1% | |
| 2020 | 50,084 | 8.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 50,697 | 10.0% | |
| US Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 |
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Population in 2020
In 2020, the United States Census counted 50,084 people living in Buffalo County. This means there were about 51 people per square mile. Most of the people living here were White (85.5%). Other groups included Black or African American (1.3%), Native American (0.8%), and Asian (1.5%). About 10.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Towns and Villages
Buffalo County has several communities, from larger cities to smaller villages and other settlements.
Cities in Buffalo County
Villages in Buffalo County
- Amherst
- Elm Creek
- Miller
- Pleasanton
- Riverdale
- Shelton
Other Communities
Some areas are called "Census-designated places" because they are recognized by the census but are not officially cities or villages:
There are also smaller, unincorporated communities that don't have their own local government:
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Buffalo (Nebraska) para niños
