Saunders County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 22,278.^[2] Its county seat is Wahoo.^[3]

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Saunders County
County
County of Saunders
Saunders County Courthouse in Wahoo
Interactive map of Saunders County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Established	January 26, 1856
Organized	October 8, 1867
Named for	Alvin Saunders
County seat	Wahoo
Largest city	Wahoo
Area
• Total	760 sq mi (2,000 km2)
• Land	750 sq mi (1,900 km2)
• Water	9.6 sq mi (25 km2)  1.3%
Highest elevation	1,365 ft (416 m)
Lowest elevation	866 ft (264 m)
Population
• Estimate  (2022)	23,118[1]
• Density	30.8/sq mi (11.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	402/531
FIPS code	31155
GNIS feature ID	835899
Website	saunderscounty.ne.gov

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Saunders County is included in the Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area.^[4]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Saunders County is represented by the prefix 6 (the county had the sixth-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Saunders County was established by an 1856 act of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature, and was organized in 1866;^[5][6] its boundaries were redefined in 1858.^[7] It was originally named Calhoun County after John Calhoun, surveyor general of Kansas and Nebraska.^[8] Other sources contend that it was named for John C. Calhoun of South Carolina.^[9] In 1862, during the American Civil War, it was renamed after Nebraska territorial governor Alvin Saunders.^[10]

Saunders County is bordered on the north and east by the Platte River. Several local drainages move runoff water from the county eastward into the Platte. The county terrain is composed of low rolling hills,^[11] which slope eastward and northeastward to the river valley. The county has an area of 760 square miles (2,000 km²), of which 750 square miles (1,900 km²) is land and 9.6 square miles (25 km²) (1.3%) is water.^[12]

As of the 2010 United States Census,^[23] there were 20,778 people and 8,040 households. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11 people/km²). There were 9,221 housing units at an average density of 12.3 units per square mile (4.7 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.2% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. []

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[23] there were 19,830 people, 7,498 households, and 5,443 families in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10 people/km²). There were 8,266 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.49% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,498 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.60% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.11.

The county population contained 27.90% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,173, and the median income for a family was $49,443. Males had a median income of $33,309 versus $22,922 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,392. About 5.30% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.30% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.

Saunders County voters tend to vote Republican. In only two national elections since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020)

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