Nebraska

Custer

10,545
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Custer

Custer, Nebraska, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 2,211. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 10,545.

Its recorded population peaked at 26,407 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 60 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Elkhorn Ranch Raid 1864, Cattle War — Olive-Mitchell Feud Nebraska, Print Olive — Homesteaders Burned Alive, Custer County NE, and 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202010,545
201010,939
200011,793
199012,270
198013,877
197014,092
196016,517
195019,170
194022,591
193026,189
192026,407
191025,668
190019,758
189021,677
18802,211
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Custer

Military engagements that took place in Custer, Nebraska.

Elkhorn Ranch Raid 1864
1864
Cattle War — Olive-Mitchell Feud Nebraska
1878
Print Olive — Homesteaders Burned Alive, Custer County NE
1878

Historic places in Custer

National Register of Historic Places listings in Custer, Nebraska.

St. Anselm's Catholic Church, Rectory and Parish Hall
Anselmo
Dowse, William R., House
Comstock
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 Custer County, Nebraska

This page charts the census history of Custer 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 Custer

When does Custer first appear in the US census?
Custer, Nebraska first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 2,211.
What is the population of Custer?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Custer had a recorded population of 10,545.
When did Custer's population peak?
Custer's recorded population peaked at 26,407 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Custer?
3 documented military engagements took place in Custer, including Elkhorn Ranch Raid 1864, Cattle War — Olive-Mitchell Feud Nebraska, Print Olive — Homesteaders Burned Alive, Custer County NE.
How many historic places are in Custer?
14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Custer, Nebraska.
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