Custer County, Nebraska

Custer County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 10,545. Its county seat is Broken Bow. The county was formed in 1877 and named after General George Armstrong Custer, who was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Custer County is represented by the prefix 4 (it had the fourth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2576 sqmi, of which 2576 sqmi is land and 0.4 sqmi (0.01%) is water. In area, it is the second largest county in Nebraska, behind only Cherry County.

Major highways

 * US 183.svg U.S. Highway 183
 * N-2.svg Nebraska Highway 2
 * N-21.svg Nebraska Highway 21
 * N-40.svg Nebraska Highway 40
 * N-47.svg Nebraska Highway 47
 * N-70.svg Nebraska Highway 70
 * N-92.svg Nebraska Highway 92

Adjacent counties

 * Valley County – northeast
 * Sherman County – southeast
 * Buffalo County – southeast
 * Dawson County – south
 * Lincoln County – southwest
 * Logan County – west
 * Blaine County – northwest
 * Loup County – northeast

Demographics
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 11,793 people, 4,826 households, and 3,320 families in the county. The population density was 5 /mi2. There were 5,585 housing units at an average density of 2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.63% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.3% were of German, 11.9% English, 10.6% Irish and 8.9% American ancestry.

There were 4,826 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.90% were married couples living together, 5.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

The county population contained 26.30% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,677, and the median income for a family was $37,063. Males had a median income of $24,609 versus $19,732 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,171. About 9.10% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.20% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Broken Bow (county seat)
 * Sargent

Villages

 * Anselmo
 * Ansley
 * Arnold
 * Berwyn
 * Callaway
 * Comstock
 * Mason City
 * Merna
 * Oconto

Census-designated place

 * Westerville

Unincorporated communities

 * Cumro
 * Etna
 * Finchville
 * Gates
 * Lillian
 * Lodi
 * Milburn
 * New Helena
 * Round Valley
 * Walworth
 * Weissert
 * Wescott

Townships

 * Algernon
 * Ansley
 * Arnold
 * Berwyn
 * Broken Bow
 * Cliff
 * Comstock
 * Corner
 * Custer
 * Delight
 * Douglas Grove
 * East Custer
 * Elim
 * Elk Creek
 * Garfield
 * Grant
 * Hayes
 * Kilfoil
 * Lillian
 * Loup
 * Milburn
 * Myrtle
 * Ryno
 * Sargent
 * Spring Creek
 * Triumph
 * Victoria
 * Wayne
 * Westerville
 * West Union
 * Wood River

Politics
Custer County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.