Morrill County, Nebraska facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Morrill County
U.S. county
Morrill County Courthouse in Bridgeport
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1908
Named for	Charles Henry Morrill
Seat	Bridgeport
Largest city	Bridgeport
Area
• Total	1,430 sq mi (3,700 km2)
• Land	1,424 sq mi (3,690 km2)
• Water	6.0 sq mi (16 km2)  0.4%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,555
• Density	3.185/sq mi (1.230/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Morrill County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 4,555. Its county seat is Bridgeport.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Morrill County is represented by the prefix 64 (it had the 64th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

The Battle of Mud Springs and the Battle of Rush Creek between the US Army and Cheyenne, Lakota Sioux, and Arapaho occurred in 1865 within what would become Morrill County.

On November 3, 1908, voters in Cheyenne County passed a measure calling for the division of that county. Accordingly, the Nebraska State Legislature passed an act providing for the division of Cheyenne County, the line of division running east–west, south of the town of Bridgeport. The northern portion so divided was to be called Morrill County. In December of that year, another election determined Bridgeport to be the seat of the new county, and the new county's officials were determined. The county was named for Charles Henry Morrill, a president of the Lincoln Land Company.

Geography

The terrain of Morrill County consists of low rolling hills. A portion of the area is used for agriculture, including some center pivot irrigation. The North Platte River flows east-southeastward through the south-central part of the county, passing Bridgeport before exiting the county some 4 mi (6.4 km) above the southeast county corner. The county has a total area of 1,430 square miles (3,700 km²), of which 1,424 square miles (3,690 km²) are land and 6.0 square miles (16 km²) (0.4%) are covered by water.

Chimney Rock, a rock formation 325 feet (99 m) tall with a 120-foot (37 m) spire, lies about 4 mi (6.4 km) south of Bayard, in western Morrill County. The rock was a prominent landmark on the Oregon Trail, and has become a symbol of Nebraska, appearing on the state's license plates and on its commemorative quarter.

Adjacent counties

Main highways

Demographics

As of the 2000 United States Census, 5,440 people, 2,138 households, and 1,494 families resided in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km²). The2,460 housing units averaged 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.68% White, 0.07% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 4.12% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. About 10.09% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. The people were about 40.5% were of 40.5% German, 9.2% English, 7.3% Irish, and 6.7% American ancestry.

Of the 2,138 households, 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were not families. About 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.03.

The county population was distributed as 27.20% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,235, and for a family was $36,673. Males had a median income of $27,107 versus $19,271 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,725. About 10.00% of families and 14.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.00% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Bayard
• Bridgeport

Village

• Broadwater

Unincorporated communities

• Angora
• Atkins
• Bonner
• Lynn
• Moomaw Corner
• Northport
• Redington
• Vance

Former Communities

Law enforcement

Morrill County Sheriff's Office
Patch of Morrill County Sheriff's Office
Abbreviation	MCSO
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Morrill County, Nebraska, United States
Legal jurisdiction	Morrill County, Nebraska
Operational structure
Headquarters	6th & L St., Bridgeport, Nebraska 69336
Agency executive	Milo Cardenas (since 2010), Sheriff

In 2008 the sheriff's office employed four officers and five civilians.

The Humane Society of the United States awarded Sheriff Johyn D. Edens the 2009 Humane Law Enforcement Award for his investigation of mistreatment of 200 mustangs on an animal sanctuary. The owner of the Three Strikes Ranch, Jason Meduna, was sentenced to two consecutive 20-60 month terms, by Judge Leo Dobrovolny at the Morrill County Courthouse.

In the May 13, 2010, Republican primary, Milo Cardenas and Travis Petersen, polled 379 votes each (there being no Democratic candidate), and the decision was due to be made between then by a game of chance such as a coin flip, subject only to a recount. After two recounts, Morrill County Clerk, Kathy Brandt offered the candidates the choice to "either cut a card or have their names pulled out of a hat", cards were selected and the election board shuffled the deck seven times before spreading the cards on the table for a simultaneous draw. Brandt said "Cardenas and Petersen both drew at the same time. Milo, drew a nine of hearts and Petersen drew a six of spades." Thus Cardenas went forward to the final ballot, scheduled for November 2010, with no other registered candidates.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Morrill para niños