Cass County, Nebraska

Cass County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 26,598.^[1] Its county seat and largest city is Plattsmouth.^[2] The county was formed in 1855, and was named for General Lewis Cass, an American military officer, politician, and statesman.^[3][4][5]

Cass County
County
Cass County Courthouse in Plattsmouth
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°55′N 96°08′W
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	1855
Named after	Lewis Cass
Seat	Plattsmouth
Largest city	Plattsmouth
Area
• Total	566 sq mi (1,470 km2)
• Land	557 sq mi (1,440 km2)
• Water	8.4 sq mi (22 km2)  1.5%
Population
• Estimate  (2021)	27,017
• Density	48.5/sq mi (18.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.cassne.org

Cass County is included in the Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area.^[6]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Cass County is represented by the prefix 20 (it had the 20th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography

Cass County lies on the east side of Nebraska. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Iowa, across the Missouri River. According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 566 square miles (1,470 km²), of which 557 square miles (1,440 km²) is land and 8.4 square miles (22 km²) (1.5%) is water.^[7]

Major highways

• Interstate 80
• U.S. Highway 6
• U.S. Highway 34
• U.S. Highway 75
• Nebraska Highway 1
• Nebraska Highway 43
• Nebraska Highway 50
• Nebraska Highway 63
• Nebraska Highway 66
• Nebraska Highway 67

Protected areas

• Beaver Lake
• Louisville State Recreation Area
• Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
• Platte River State Park
• Schilling Wildlife Management Area

Adjacent counties

• Sarpy County – north
• Mills County, Iowa – northeast
• Fremont County, Iowa – southeast
• Otoe County – south
• Lancaster County – west
• Saunders County – northwest

Due to its proximity to Cass County, Iowa, and because both of those counties receive most of their broadcasts from Omaha, Nebraska, references to 'Cass County' must be frequently disambiguated, or result in confusion.^{[citation needed]}

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	3,369		—
1870	8,151		141.9%
1880	16,683		104.7%
1890	24,080		44.3%
1900	21,330		−11.4%
1910	19,786		−7.2%
1920	18,029		−8.9%
1930	17,684		−1.9%
1940	16,992		−3.9%
1950	16,361		−3.7%
1960	17,821		8.9%
1970	18,076		1.4%
1980	20,297		12.3%
1990	21,318		5.0%
2000	24,334		14.1%
2010	25,241		3.7%
2020	26,598		5.4%
2023 (est.)	27,446		3.2%
US Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010[12]

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 26,598 people and 10,073 households. The population density was 48.5 people per square mile (18.7 people/km²). There were 11,761 housing units at an average density of 21 units per square mile (8.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% White, 0.8% Black or Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and 1.9% from two or more races. 3.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 25,241 people, 9,698 households and 7,078 families. The population density was 45 people per square mile (17 people/km²). There were 11,117 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% White, 0.7% Black or Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 2.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[13] there were 24,334 people, 9,161 households, and 6,806 families in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17 people/km²). There were 10,179 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.89% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.4% were of German, 9.6% American, 8.8% Irish and 7.9% English ancestry.

There were 9,161 households, out of which 35.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.30% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 21.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 27.90% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,515, and the median income for a family was $52,196. Males had a median income of $36,639 versus $24,612 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,156. About 4.20% of families and 5.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 4.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Louisville
• Plattsmouth (county seat)
• Weeping Water

Villages

• Alvo
• Avoca
• Cedar Creek
• Eagle
• Elmwood
• Greenwood
• Manley
• Murdock
• Murray
• Nehawka
• South Bend
• Union

Census-designated places

• Beaver Lake
• Buccaneer Bay
• Lake Waconda

Unincorporated communities

• Cullom^[14]
• Factoryville
• Mynard
• Rock Bluff
• Wabash

Census divisions

Cass County is divided into the following divisions, called precincts, except for the cities of Plattsmouth and Weeping Water.

• Avoca
• Center
• East Rock Bluff
• Eight Mile Grove
• Elmwood
• Greenwood
• Liberty
• City of Louisville
• Mount Pleasant
• Nehawka
• City of Plattsmouth
• Plattsmouth
• Salt Creek
• South Bend
• Stove Creek
• Tipton
• Weeping Water (City)
• Weeping Water
• West Rock Bluff

Politics

At the presidential level, Cass County voters have voted predominantly for the Republican candidate. In only one national election since 1936 has the county given a majority to the Democratic Party candidate, that being 1964, which Lyndon B. Johnson won in a landslide nationally.

United States presidential election results for Cass County, Nebraska^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,685	67.50%	4,824	30.47%	321	2.03%
2020	10,121	66.04%	4,737	30.91%	468	3.05%
2016	8,452	65.35%	3,484	26.94%	997	7.71%
2012	7,556	62.04%	4,367	35.85%	257	2.11%
2008	7,120	58.74%	4,753	39.21%	249	2.05%
2004	7,763	67.33%	3,619	31.39%	147	1.28%
2000	6,144	59.77%	3,656	35.56%	480	4.67%
1996	4,878	50.37%	3,477	35.90%	1,330	13.73%
1992	4,314	43.23%	2,949	29.55%	2,716	27.22%
1988	4,664	55.61%	3,677	43.84%	46	0.55%
1984	5,461	68.04%	2,499	31.14%	66	0.82%
1980	5,193	66.42%	2,007	25.67%	618	7.90%
1976	3,807	53.31%	3,205	44.88%	129	1.81%
1972	4,503	71.39%	1,805	28.61%	0	0.00%
1968	3,185	57.61%	1,739	31.45%	605	10.94%
1964	2,947	42.57%	3,975	57.43%	0	0.00%
1960	4,506	61.68%	2,799	38.32%	0	0.00%
1956	4,814	63.87%	2,723	36.13%	0	0.00%
1952	5,088	66.16%	2,602	33.84%	0	0.00%
1948	3,527	53.70%	3,041	46.30%	0	0.00%
1944	4,588	59.34%	3,144	40.66%	0	0.00%
1940	4,704	56.46%	3,627	43.54%	0	0.00%
1936	3,669	42.44%	4,922	56.93%	54	0.62%
1932	2,756	34.14%	5,155	63.86%	161	1.99%
1928	4,970	63.91%	2,739	35.22%	68	0.87%
1924	3,639	49.55%	2,352	32.03%	1,353	18.42%
1920	3,575	58.35%	2,192	35.78%	360	5.88%
1916	1,927	40.79%	2,595	54.93%	202	4.28%
1912	970	22.41%	2,009	46.41%	1,350	31.19%
1908	2,440	49.09%	2,387	48.03%	143	2.88%
1904	2,711	58.76%	1,466	31.77%	437	9.47%
1900	2,922	55.02%	2,259	42.53%	130	2.45%

See also

• Naomi Institute
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cass County, Nebraska
• Eugene T. Mahoney State Park