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Nebraska Counties
There is ninety-three counties in state of Nebraska. Despite the fact that Sarpy County contained the oldest settlement in the state, it was one of the last lands along the river to be recognized by law. Finally, on February 1, 1857, the land "where the cities meet the country" was officially created.Knox County, Nebraska
Knox County Education, Geography, and History
Knox County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 8,701. Its county seat is Center.
Etymology - Origin of Knox County Name
When the county's boundaries were established by the Territorial Legislature in 1857, this French influence resulted in the area being named L'eau Qui Court, a French and Indian name meaning "running water," a reference to the Niobrara River. The county's name would be changed to Knox in 1873, in honor of Civil War Gen. Henry Knox.
Demographics:
County Quick Facts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Knox County History
The history of the area that today
comprises Knox County can be traced back to the French explorers that passed
through the area along the Missouri River in the late 1700s. When the county's
boundaries were established by the Territorial Legislature in 1857, this French
influence resulted in the area being named L'eau Qui Court, a French and Indian
name meaning "running water," a reference to the Niobrara River. The county's
name would be changed to Knox in 1873, in honor of Civil War Gen. Henry Knox.
When the county was first created, the settlement of Niobrara was designated as
the county seat. Located on the far north boundary of the county, where the
Niobrara River enters the Missouri River, the settlement was frequently flooded.
But it would remain the county seat until 1902, after Center was platted.
This change of was met with considerable controversy. Between 1887 and 1900,
five elections were held to determine if the county should be divided into two
separate counties, and an additional five elections were held to select a county
seat. Three of these elections came in 1900 alone.
Center was platted in the geographic center of the county in 1901 for the sole
purpose of serving as the county seat. It was located on the site of two corn
fields, with the fence that separated them becoming the settlement's main
street. Within a year, the county's first courthouse was built.
Twenty-two years later, the County Board took steps to improve county
facilities. A special tax levy was approved and within seven years nearly
$50,000 had accumulated. In February 1934 construction began on a new courthouse
and by October it was completed.
In addition to county funds, the courthouse construction project was the first
in the state to utilize Civil Works Administration and Federal Emergency Relief
Administration funds. The make-work project for men on relief received
considerable attention from the press, which said that the courthouse would
remind the generations living long after the Great Depression of difficult times
of that era.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,140 square miles (3,000 km2), of which 1,108 square miles (2,870 km2)
is land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (2.8%) is water.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Bon Homme County, South Dakota - north
- Yankton County, South Dakota - northeast
- Cedar County, Nebraska - east
- Pierce County, Nebraska - southeast
- Antelope County, Nebraska - south
- Holt County, Nebraska - west
- Charles Mix County, South Dakota - northwest
- Boyd County, Nebraska - northwest
Education
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