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Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska facts for kids

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Scotts Bluff County
Scotts Bluff County Courthouse in Gering
Scotts Bluff County Courthouse in Gering
Map of Nebraska highlighting Scotts Bluff County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Map of the United States highlighting Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Nebraska
Founded 1888
Named for Scotts Bluff
Seat Gering
Largest city Scottsbluff
Area
 • Total 745 sq mi (1,930 km2)
 • Land 739 sq mi (1,910 km2)
 • Water 6.0 sq mi (16 km2)  0.8%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 36,084
 • Density 49.2/sq mi (19.0/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 3rd

Scotts Bluff County is a county located in the western part of Nebraska, a state in the United States. It sits right on the border with the state of Wyoming. In 2020, about 36,084 people lived here.

The main town where the county government is located, called the county seat, is Gering. The biggest city in the county is Scottsbluff. These two cities are close together and form an important urban area in Nebraska.

Scotts Bluff County is part of the Scottsbluff, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's a smaller urban area that includes Scottsbluff and nearby communities.

If you look at Nebraska license plates, cars from Scotts Bluff County have the number 21. This is because when the state started its license plate system in 1922, Scotts Bluff County had the twenty-first highest number of registered vehicles.

History

Scotts Bluff County gets its name from a very famous natural landmark called Scotts Bluff. This tall bluff was a super important guide for pioneers traveling west in the 1800s on the Oregon Trail. Imagine trying to find your way across a huge country without GPS! Landmarks like Scotts Bluff were essential.

The bluff was named after a fur trapper named Hiram Scott. He was part of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company and sadly died near the bluff around 1828. A writer named Washington Irving wrote that Scott was injured and left behind by his group. He supposedly crawled for sixty miles but still didn't make it, dying near the bluff that now carries his name. Today, Scotts Bluff National Monument is a protected area managed by the National Park Service.

The town of Gering was started in 1887 right at the base of Scotts Bluff. A bit later, in 1900, the city of Scottsbluff was founded across the North Platte River. The river used to be a major travel route. Now, Gering and Scottsbluff are connected and together they form the 7th largest urban area in Nebraska.

Transportation

Scotts Bluff County has an airport called Scotts Bluff County Airport (BFF). It's the third busiest airport in Nebraska when you count how many passengers fly from there.

Geography

Scotts Bluff County is located on the far western side of Nebraska. Its western edge touches the eastern border of Wyoming. The North Platte River flows through the upper middle part of the county, heading towards the east-southeast.

The land in the county has rolling hills and is quite dry. About half of the land is used for farming. The land generally slopes downwards towards the east-southeast.

The county covers a total area of about 745 square miles (1,930 square kilometers). Out of this, 739 square miles (1,910 square kilometers) is land, and about 6.0 square miles (16 square kilometers) is water.

Scotts Bluff County Road Map
Road map of Scotts Bluff County

Major highways

  • US 26.svg U.S. Highway 26
  • N-29.svg Nebraska Highway 29
  • N-71.svg Nebraska Highway 71
  • N-92.svg Nebraska Highway 92

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

  • Kiowa State Wildlife Management Area
  • Lake Minatare State Recreation Area
  • North Platte National Wildlife Refuge
  • Scotts Bluff National Monument
  • Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area

Population Information

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 1,888
1900 2,552 35.2%
1910 8,355 227.4%
1920 20,710 147.9%
1930 28,644 38.3%
1940 33,917 18.4%
1950 33,939 0.1%
1960 33,809 −0.4%
1970 36,432 7.8%
1980 38,344 5.2%
1990 36,025 −6.0%
2000 36,951 2.6%
2010 36,970 0.1%
2020 36,084 −2.4%
2022 (est.) 35,603 −3.7%
US Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013 2020-2022

In 2000, there were about 36,951 people living in Scotts Bluff County. The population density was about 50 people per square mile. Many different groups of people live in the county, making it a diverse place.

Economy

The economy of Scotts Bluff County is mostly based on agriculture. This means that farming is a very important part of how people make a living there. The main crops grown in the area are sugar beets, corn, and beans.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Scotts Bluff para niños

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