Nebraska

Dawes

8,199
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Dawes

Dawes, Nebraska, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 9,722. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 8,199.

Its recorded population peaked at 11,493 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 29 percent.

On the ground today, 16 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Hat Creek Station, Battle of Red Cloud Agency Confrontation, Battle of Warbonnet Creek, and 15 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20208,199
20109,182
20009,060
19909,021
19809,609
19709,693
19609,536
19509,708
194010,128
193011,493
192010,160
19108,254
19006,215
18909,722
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Dawes

Military engagements that took place in Dawes, Nebraska.

Skirmish at Hat Creek Station
1876
Battle of Red Cloud Agency Confrontation
1876
Battle of Warbonnet Creek
1876
Skirmish at Soldier Creek NE
1876
Battle of Warbonnet Creek (Nebraska)
1876
Surrender of Crazy Horse
1877
Crazy Horse Killed at Fort Robinson (September 5, 1877)
1877
Crazy Horse's Surrender — Red Cloud Agency (May 6, 1877)
1877
Crazy Horse's Surrender at Red Cloud Agency May 6 1877
1877
Cheyenne Outbreak – Fort Robinson Breakout
1879
Fort Robinson Campaign — Cheyenne Confinement 1879
1879
Battle of Spring Creek (Cheyenne Outbreak)
1879
Fort Robinson Outbreak
1879
Fort Robinson Breakout 1879
1879
Dull Knife Fight (Fort Robinson Outbreak)
1879
Fort Robinson Outbreak (January 9–22, 1879)
1879

Historic places in Dawes

National Register of Historic Places listings in Dawes, Nebraska.

Co-operative Block Building
Crawford
US Post Office-Crawford
Crawford
Bordeaux Trading Post
Chadron
Fort Robinson and Red Cloud Agency
Crawford
Work, Edna, Hall
Chadron
Chadron Public Library
Chadron
Hotel Chadron
Chadron
Chadron Commercial Historic District
Chadron
Sparks Hall
Chadron
Crites Hall
Chadron
Dawes County Courthouse
Chadron
Wohlers, Henry, Sr., Homestead
Crawford
Library
Chadron
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 Dawes County, Nebraska

This page charts the census history of Dawes 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 Dawes

When does Dawes first appear in the US census?
Dawes, Nebraska first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 9,722.
What is the population of Dawes?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Dawes had a recorded population of 8,199.
When did Dawes's population peak?
Dawes's recorded population peaked at 11,493 in 1930.
Were any battles fought in Dawes?
16 documented military engagements took place in Dawes, including Skirmish at Hat Creek Station, Battle of Red Cloud Agency Confrontation, Battle of Warbonnet Creek.
How many historic places are in Dawes?
15 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dawes, Nebraska.
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