Kearney County Demographics
A map of Kearney County's Population by Race
Kearney County, Nebraska has an estimated population of 6,713, a less than 1% change from the 6,688 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 90.8% White, 6.8% Hispanic, 1.5% Multiracial, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% Native American/Other, and 0.0% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kearney County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.
Kearney is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Nebraska overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Kearney County, that probability was 17.4% in 2020 and 17.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.
Kearney County is ranked the 43rd most populous county in Nebraska, out of 93 counties. Kearney County was ranked the 44th most populous county in the 2020 Census.
Kearney County's White Population
6,094 residents of Kearney County, or 90.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kearney County is significantly higher than in Nebraska overall, where 75.3% of the population is White. Kearney County ranks 51st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Kearney County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Kearney County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 90.8%.
Kearney County is more White than neighboring Buffalo County (83.8% White), Adams County (82.3% White), Phelps County (89.5% White), and Webster County (88.2% White). Kearney County is less White than neighboring Franklin County (92.7% White).
Kearney County's Black Population
1 residents of Kearney County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kearney County is slightly lower than in Nebraska overall, where 4.6% of the population is Black. Kearney County ranks 79th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Kearney County's Black population has declined by an estimated 66.7%. Black residents' share of Kearney County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.
Kearney County is less Black than neighboring Franklin County (0.1% Black), Buffalo County (0.8% Black), Adams County (1.4% Black), Phelps County (0.9% Black), and Webster County (0.2% Black).
Kearney County's Asian Population
36 residents of Kearney County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kearney County is slightly lower than in Nebraska overall, where 2.6% of the population is Asian. Kearney County ranks 63rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Kearney County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 200.0%. Asian residents' share of Kearney County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.
Kearney County is more Asian than neighboring Franklin County (0% Asian), and Phelps County (0% Asian). Kearney County is less Asian than neighboring Buffalo County (1.6% Asian), Adams County (1% Asian), and Webster County (0.8% Asian).
Kearney County's Hispanic Population
459 residents of Kearney County, or 6.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kearney County is lower than in Nebraska overall, where 12.7% of the population is Hispanic. Kearney County ranks 37th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Kearney County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 19.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Kearney County's population has increased from 5.8% to 6.8%.
Kearney County is more Hispanic than neighboring Franklin County (3.5% Hispanic), and Webster County (5.8% Hispanic). Kearney County is less Hispanic than neighboring Buffalo County (10.6% Hispanic), Adams County (12.5% Hispanic), and Phelps County (6.9% Hispanic).
Kearney County's Native American/Other Population
20 residents of Kearney County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Kearney County is comparable to the share in Nebraska overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Kearney County ranks 68th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Kearney County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 25.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kearney County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.
Kearney County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Franklin County (0.6% Native American/Other), Buffalo County (0.8% Native American/Other), Adams County (0.5% Native American/Other), Phelps County (0.4% Native American/Other), and Webster County (1% Native American/Other).
Kearney County's Multiracial Population
103 residents of Kearney County, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kearney County is slightly lower than in Nebraska overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. Kearney County ranks 32nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Kearney County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 47.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Kearney County's population has decreased from 2.9% to 1.5%.
Kearney County is less Multiracial than neighboring Franklin County (3.1% Multiracial), Buffalo County (2.4% Multiracial), Adams County (2.4% Multiracial), Phelps County (2.3% Multiracial), and Webster County (3.9% Multiracial).
Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.