Saunders County was established by an 1856 act of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature, and was organized in 1866; its boundaries were redefined in 1858. The county was originally named after John C. Calhoun; in 1862, during the American Civil War, it was renamed after Nebraska territorial governor Alvin Saunders.
Geography
Saunders County is bordered on the north and east by the Platte River. Several local drainages move runoff water from the county eastward into the Platte. The county terrain is composed of low rolling hills, which slope eastward and northeastward to the river valley. The county has an area of, of which is land and is water.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,778 people and 8,040 households. The population density was 28 people per square mile. There were 9,221 housing units at an average density of 12.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 98.2% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 19,830 people, 7,498 households, and 5,443 families in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile. There were 8,266 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 98.49% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 7,498 households out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.60% were married couplesliving together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.11. The county population contained 27.90% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males. The median income for a household in the county was $42,173, and the median income for a family was $49,443. Males had a median income of $33,309 versus $22,922 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,392. About 5.30% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.30% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.
