Nebraska

Scotts Bluff

36,084
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Scotts Bluff

Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 1,888. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 36,084.

Its recorded population peaked at 38,344 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 6 percent.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Rush Creek Fight (February 8, 1865), Battle of Rush Creek, Battle of Mud Springs (Cheyenne-Sioux 1865), and 21 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202036,084
201036,970
200036,951
199036,025
198038,344
197036,432
196033,809
195033,939
194033,917
193028,644
192020,710
19108,355
19002,552
18901,888
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Scotts Bluff

Military engagements that took place in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska.

Rush Creek Fight (February 8, 1865)
1865
Battle of Rush Creek
1865
Battle of Mud Springs (Cheyenne-Sioux 1865)
1865
Mud Springs and Rush Creek Fight 1865
1865

Historic places in Scotts Bluff

National Register of Historic Places listings in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska.

Sandford Hall
Mitchell
Quivey, M. B., House
Mitchell
Lincoln Hotel
Scottsbluff
Scotts Bluff National Monument
Gering
Robidoux Pass
Gering
Gering Courier Building
Gering
Fort Mitchell Site
Scottsbluff
Signal Butte
Gering
Scottsbluff Carnegie Library
Scottsbluff
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 Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska

This page charts the census history of Scotts Bluff 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 Scotts Bluff

When does Scotts Bluff first appear in the US census?
Scotts Bluff, Nebraska first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 1,888.
What is the population of Scotts Bluff?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Scotts Bluff had a recorded population of 36,084.
When did Scotts Bluff's population peak?
Scotts Bluff's recorded population peaked at 38,344 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Scotts Bluff?
4 documented military engagements took place in Scotts Bluff, including Rush Creek Fight (February 8, 1865), Battle of Rush Creek, Battle of Mud Springs (Cheyenne-Sioux 1865).
How many historic places are in Scotts Bluff?
21 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska.
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