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 state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,576 square miles (6,670 km²), of which 2,576 square miles (6,670 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) (0.01%) is water. In area, it is the second largest county in Nebraska, behind only Cherry County, slightly more than twice its size.

Custer County, named in honor of General George Armstrong Custer, was officially organized in 1877, although its settlement commenced earlier. The region was once part of the Sioux territory, but following the Indian Wars, particularly after the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the land was opened for homesteading. The first settlers arrived in the early 1870s, inspired by the promise of land through the Homestead Act of 1862. These early pioneers encountered formidable challenges like extreme weather conditions, isolation, and the task of farming in what was considered the Great American Desert. They constructed sod houses due to the absence of timber, and settlements were strategically placed near water sources.

The Burlington Railroad's extension through the county in the early 1880s significantly boosted settlement by providing a means for transportation and trade. This led to the establishment of towns like Broken Bow, which was designated as the county seat. The railroad not only facilitated the influx of settlers but also allowed for the export of agricultural products, marking the transition from cattle ranching to more diverse farming practices.

Agriculture shifted from cattle ranching to diversified farming, with wheat and corn becoming prominent crops. By the dawn of the 20th century, the community had established schools, churches, and other civic institutions, marking the transition from a frontier settlement to a more organized community.

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 people per square mile (1.9 people/km²). There were 5,585 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77/km²). 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.