Platte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,296, and was estimated to be 35,499 in 2024, making it the nineth-most populous county in Nebraska. The county seat and the largest city is Columbus.
Platte County comprises the Columbus, NE Micropolitan area.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Platte County was represented by the prefix "10" (as it had the 10th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).
Platte County was created on January 26, 1856. The board of commissioners had its first meeting the following year.
Platte County had its first presumptive case of COVID-19 in late March 2020. As of October 3, 2021, one in seven residents of the county have tested positive for COVID-19 and 40% of all residents are vaccinated.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.38%) is water. It is the 42nd-largest county in Nebraska by total area.
The Platte River flows eastward along the south line of Platte County. The Loup River also flows eastward and east-southeastward through the lower section of the county, discharging into the Platte River near Columbus. The Platte County terrain consists of low rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture, sloping to the east-southeast.
As of the third quarter of 2025, the median home value in Platte County was $231,832.
As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 13,658 estimated households in Platte County with an average of 2.51 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $71,552. Approximately 9.8% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Platte County has an estimated 67.7% employment rate, with 23.0% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 90.3% holding a high school diploma. There were 14,325 housing units at an average density of .
The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (80.7%), Spanish (18.5%), Indo-European (0.5%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.2%), and Other (0.1%).
The median age in the county was 37.7 years.
As of the 2024 estimate, there were 35,499 people, 13,658 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 14,325 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% White (70.3% NH White), 1.9% African American, 2.5% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 26.8% of the population.
As of the 2020 census, there were 34,296 people, 13,313 households, and 9,063 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 14,094 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 78.53% White, 1.09% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 10.73% from some other races and 8.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 21.15% of the population.
The median age was 38.3 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.5 males age 18 and over.
72.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 27.6% lived in rural areas.
There were 13,313 households in the county, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 14,094 housing units, of which 5.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.0% were owner-occupied and 28.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%.
As of the 2010 census, there were 32,236 people, 12,658 households, and 9,213 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 13,378 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 90.03% White, 0.45% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.86% from some other races and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 13.81% of the population.
As of the 2000 census, there were 31,662 people, 12,076 households, and 8,465 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 12,916 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.29% White, 0.35% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.49% from some other races and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.54% of the population.
There were 12,076 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.14.
The county population contained 29.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,359, and the median income for a family was $47,776. Males had a median income of $30,672 versus $21,842 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,064. About 5.40% of families and 7.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.
Platte County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only one election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
School districts include: