Nebraska

Butler

8,369
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Butler

Butler, Nebraska, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 27. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 8,369.

Its recorded population peaked at 15,703 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 47 percent.

On the ground today, 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20208,369
20108,395
20008,767
19908,601
19809,330
19709,461
196010,312
195011,432
194013,106
193014,410
192014,606
191015,403
190015,703
189015,454
18809,194
18701,290
186027
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Butler

National Register of Historic Places listings in Butler, Nebraska.

Big Blue River Bridge
Surprise
Upper Oak Creek Descent Ruts of the Woodbury Cutoff, Ox Bow Trail of the California Road
Brainard
Taylor, Chauncey S., House
David City
Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad Depot
Dwight
St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, School and Grottoes
Dwight
Clear Creek Bridge
Bellwood
Browse all Nebraskahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Nebraska

Explore census history and historic records for more Nebraska counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Butler County, Nebraska

This page charts the census history of Butler County, Nebraska. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Butler

When does Butler first appear in the US census?
Butler, Nebraska first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 27.
What is the population of Butler?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Butler had a recorded population of 8,369.
When did Butler's population peak?
Butler's recorded population peaked at 15,703 in 1900.
How many historic places are in Butler?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Butler, Nebraska.
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