{{Short description|County in Nebraska, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Hitchcock County | state = Nebraska | founded = 1873 | seat wl = Trenton | largest city wl = Culbertson | city type = village | area_total_sq_mi = 718 | area_land_sq_mi = 710 | area_water_sq_mi = 8.5 | area percentage = 1.2% | census yr = 2020 | pop = 2616 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 2467 {{decrease}} | density_sq_mi = 4.0 | web = http://www.hitchcockcounty.ne.gov/ | ex image = Hitchcock County (Nebraska) courthouse from SW.JPG | ex image cap = Hitchcock County Courthouse in Trenton | district = 3rd | time zone = Central | named for = Phineas Hitchcock }} '''Hitchcock County''' is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 2,616.<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=US Census Bureau|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US31087|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 30, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501035311/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US31087|archive-date=May 1, 2022}}</ref> Its county seat is Trenton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref>
In the Nebraska license plate system, Hitchcock County is represented by the prefix 67 (it had the sixty-seventh-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
==History== Hitchcock County was formed in 1873.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=InM_AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA118|title=History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Vol. 1| publisher=S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.|author=Burr, George L.|year=1921|page=118}}</ref> It was named for US Senator Phineas Warren Hitchcock.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|author=Gannett, Henry|year=1905|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n156 157]}}</ref>
The Massacre Canyon battle between Sioux and Pawnee took place on August 5, 1873, at a spot three miles east of Trenton.
==Geography== The terrain of Hitchcock County consists of rolling low hills. The flattened hilltops are used for agriculture; mostly dry farming with some center pivot irrigation. The Republican River flows eastward through the central part of the county. The county has a total area of {{convert|718|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|710|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|8.5|sqmi}} (1.2%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_31.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024152/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_31.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 8, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>
The eastern two-thirds of the state of Nebraska observes Central Time; the western portion of the state observes Mountain Time. Hitchcock County is the westernmost county to observe Central Time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Map of Central/Mountain Time Zone Division Line |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=mountain+time+zone&hl=en&authuser=0&tbm=isch&ictx=1&fir=a9kamis5nTXGTM%253A%252C8ppDD8mar1XWWM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kSSOih4OwVnVKu_7jaiV6xSgt8E-A&sqi=2#imgrc=a9kamis5nTXGTM |access-date=January 22, 2019}}</ref>
===Lakes=== *Swanson Lake: formed by a dam on the Republican River, between Stratton and Trenton.
===Major highways=== {{div col|colwidth=33em}} * 20px U.S. Highway 6 * 20px U.S. Highway 34 * 20px Nebraska Highway 17 * 20px Nebraska Highway 25 * 20px Nebraska Highway 25A {{div col end}}
===Adjacent counties=== {{div col|colwidth=33em}} * Red Willow County – east * Rawlins County, Kansas – south * Dundy County – west (Mountain Time border) * Hayes County – north * Frontier County –northeast {{div col end}}
==Demographics== {{US Census population |1880= 1012 |1890= 5799 |1900= 4409 |1910= 5415 |1920= 6045 |1930= 7269 |1940= 6404 |1950= 5867 |1960= 4829 |1970= 4051 |1980= 4079 |1990= 3750 |2000= 3111 |2010= 2908 |2020= 2616 |estyear=2025 |estimate=2467 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref> {{decrease}} |align-fn=center |footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 8, 2014}}</ref><br>1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=December 8, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ne190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 8, 2014}}</ref><br>1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 8, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2013<ref name=QF/> | align = right }}
===2020 census===
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 2,616. The median age was 47.4 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.7 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A087&in=state%3A31|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 22, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A087&in=state%3A31|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 22, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>
The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.3% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL"/>
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A087&in=state%3A31|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 22, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>
There were 1,137 households in the county, of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
There were 1,571 housing units, of which 27.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.7% were owner-occupied and 19.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.0%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
===2000 census===
As of the 2000 United States census,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 3,111 people, 1,287 households, and 899 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 1,675 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}.
The racial makeup of the county was 98.36% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 1.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,287 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89.
The county population contained 23.80% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 22.60% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 22.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,287, and the median income for a family was $34,490. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $18,879 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,804. About 10.90% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.90% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over. ==Communities==
===Villages=== * Culbertson * Palisade (partial) * Stratton * Trenton (county seat)
===Former communities=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Beverly * Blackwood * Cornell<ref>[https://roadsidethoughts.com/ne/cornell-xx-hitchcock-profile.htm Cornell (Hitchcock County) NE]</ref><ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cornell+Church/@40.0610344,-100.9950033,12.75z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8775a3a4adc03467:0x9575e8eba5d0c6fe!2sHitchcock+County,+NE!3b1!8m2!3d40.1844599!4d-101.0711758!3m4!1s0x87757312a00b0df3:0xf447c7d2a230155b!8m2!3d40.0136796!4d-100.9471893 ''Cornell Church'' Google Maps (accessed 22 January 2019)]</ref> * Dike * Driftwood * Meeker * Poe * Rill * Rupert {{div col end}}
==Politics== Hitchcock County is strongly Republican in presidential elections. Since 1900, the county has failed to back the Republican candidate in only five presidential elections, most recently in 1936 in the midst of Franklin D. Roosevelt's national landslide victory. Republicans also hold a voter registration advantage of 1,326 registered Republicans compared with just 262 registered Democrats in Hitchcock County as of 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=January 8, 2021|title=2021 Eligible Voter Statistics|url=https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/voter-registration-statistics|access-date=January 18, 2021|website=Nebraska Secretary of State}}</ref> {{PresHead|place=Hitchcock County, Nebraska|whig=no|source1=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS Election Results]</ref>}} <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|1900|Democratic|450|528|14|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1904|Republican|598|166|215|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1908|Republican|633|632|31|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|128|471|458|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|435|733|35|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,127|615|88|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|987|633|535|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,022|698|23|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,168|1,772|43|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,285|1,738|22|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,663|1,188|0|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,556|877|0|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,208|923|0|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,008|669|0|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,570|741|0|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,634|678|0|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,149|946|0|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,173|387|193|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,339|364|0|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1976|Republican|898|786|48|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,474|329|160|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,391|341|7|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,132|480|18|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|824|359|548|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|977|409|183|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,126|312|42|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,171|296|19|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,001|346|32|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,178|274|43|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,232|161|75|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,264|175|31|Nebraska}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,269|152|18|Nebraska}} {{PresFoot}}
==See also== * National Register of Historic Places listings in Hitchcock County, Nebraska
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Hitchcock County, Nebraska}} {{Official website|http://www.hitchcockcounty.ne.gov/}}
{{Geographic Location |Centre = Hitchcock County, Nebraska |North = Hayes County |Northeast = Frontier County |East = Red Willow County |South = Rawlins County, Kansas |West = Dundy County }}
{{Hitchcock County, Nebraska}} {{Nebraska}}
{{coord|40.18|-101.04|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NE_source:UScensus1990}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Hitchcock County, Nebraska Category:Nebraska counties Category:1873 establishments in Nebraska Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1873