Dawes County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 8,199.^[1] Its county seat is Chadron.^[2] The county was formed in 1885; it was named for James W. Dawes, the Nebraska Governor at the time.^[3]

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Dawes County
County
Dawes County Courthouse in Chadron
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°43′N 103°08′W
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Founded	19 February 1885
Named for	James W. Dawes
Seat	Chadron
Largest city	Chadron
Area
• Total	1,401 sq mi (3,630 km2)
• Land	1,396 sq mi (3,620 km2)
• Water	4.6 sq mi (12 km2)  0.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,199
• Density	5.9/sq mi (2.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.dawes-county.com

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In the Nebraska license-plate system, Dawes County is represented by the prefix 69 (it had the 69th-largest number of vehicles registered when the license-plate system was established in 1922).

Dawes County was a part of the unorganized area of northwestern Nebraska until February 19, 1877, when it became a part of Sioux County from which it was separated February 19, 1885 and was given its present name.^[4]

Dawes County lies on the north border of Nebraska. Its north boundary line abuts the south boundary line of the state of South Dakota. According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,401 square miles (3,630 km²), of which 1,396 square miles (3,620 km²) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km²) (0.3%) is water.^[5]

Since it lies in the western part of Nebraska, Dawes County residents observe Mountain Time. The eastern two-thirds of the state observes Central Time.

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[12] there were 9,060 people, 3,512 households, and 2,086 families in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km²). There were 4,004 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.34% White, 0.81% Black or African American, 2.88% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 2.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.0% were of German, 9.9% English, 9.2% Irish and 7.4% American ancestry.

There were 3,512 households, out of which 26.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.50% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.60% were non-families. 31.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.87.

The county population contained 21.20% under the age of 18, 23.40% from 18 to 24, 20.40% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,476, and the median income for a family was $41,092. Males had a median income of $29,162 versus $17,404 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,353. About 9.80% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Dawes County voters have been reliably Republican for decades; in no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dawes County, Nebraska

• Brown, Franz Karl. "The farmers of Dawes County, Nebraska" (MS thesis. California State University, Northridge, 1987) online.
• Pinney, Patricia M. (1985). Dawes County Nebraska: The First 100 Years. Dallas TX: Curtis Media Corp. ISBN 978-1-881070-35-1.
• Sandstrom, Michael. "Travails Of The 'Magic City' The Great Depression In Dawes County." Nebraska History Fall2021, Vol. 102 Issue 3, pp 132–151.
• The Louis Berger Group, Inc. (2005). Dawes County Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey (PDF). Lincoln NE: Nebraska State Historical Society. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)