Burt County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska, bordering the west bank of the upper Missouri River. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 6,722. Its county seat is Tekamah. The county was formed in 1854 and named after Francis Burt, the first governor of Nebraska Territory.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Burt County is represented by the prefix 31 (it had the 31st-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 497 square miles (1,290 km), of which 492 square miles (1,270 km) is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km) (1.1%) is water. Its east boundary line is formed by the western border of the state of Iowa, a boundary mostly aligning with the Missouri River. Because of shifts in the river over time, small portions of the county are now located on the eastern bank of the river.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	388		—
1870	2,847		633.8%
1880	6,937		143.7%
1890	11,609		67.3%
1900	13,040		12.3%
1910	12,726		−2.4%
1920	12,559		−1.3%
1930	13,062		4.0%
1940	12,546		−4.0%
1950	11,536		−8.1%
1960	10,192		−11.7%
1970	9,247		−9.3%
1980	8,813		−4.7%
1990	7,868		−10.7%
2000	7,791		−1.0%
2010	6,858		−12.0%
2020	6,722		−2.0%
US Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010

As of the 2020 United States census, The racial makeup of the county was 92.2% non-Hispanic white, .3% African American, 1.1% native American, .5% Asian, and 2.6% Hispanic.

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 7,791 people, 3,155 households, and 2,240 families in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6.2 people/km). There were 3,723 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km). The racial makeup of the county was 97.63% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 1.07% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.7% were of German, 13.9% Swedish, 10.1% Irish, 8.8% American, 7.0% English and 5.4% Danish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 3,155 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.30% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93.

The county population contained 25.70% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,954, and the median income for a family was $40,515. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $20,663 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,654. About 6.60% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.

• Lyons
• Oakland
• Tekamah (county seat)

• Craig
• Decatur

• Arizona
• Bertha

• Argo
• Basford
• Golden

Burt County voters have historically voted Republican. No Democratic Party candidate has carried the county in a national election since 1936.

United States presidential election results for Burt County, Nebraska

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	2,632	71.81%	983	26.82%	50	1.36%
2020	2,580	69.00%	1,063	28.43%	96	2.57%
2016	2,367	66.53%	930	26.14%	261	7.34%
2012	2,029	60.12%	1,291	38.25%	55	1.63%
2008	1,907	56.30%	1,413	41.72%	67	1.98%
2004	2,349	64.04%	1,272	34.68%	47	1.28%
2000	2,056	60.61%	1,223	36.06%	113	3.33%
1996	1,707	48.83%	1,237	35.38%	552	15.79%
1992	1,667	42.61%	1,224	31.29%	1,021	26.10%
1988	2,050	58.06%	1,458	41.29%	23	0.65%
1984	2,645	71.08%	1,054	28.33%	22	0.59%
1980	2,806	72.08%	814	20.91%	273	7.01%
1976	2,510	63.27%	1,375	34.66%	82	2.07%
1972	2,937	76.54%	900	23.46%	0	0.00%
1968	2,615	68.55%	937	24.56%	263	6.89%
1964	2,459	54.25%	2,074	45.75%	0	0.00%
1960	3,613	72.56%	1,366	27.44%	0	0.00%
1956	3,459	69.49%	1,519	30.51%	0	0.00%
1952	4,154	76.97%	1,243	23.03%	0	0.00%
1948	2,656	58.30%	1,900	41.70%	0	0.00%
1944	3,189	59.60%	2,162	40.40%	0	0.00%
1940	3,443	57.08%	2,589	42.92%	0	0.00%
1936	2,710	45.92%	3,120	52.87%	71	1.20%
1932	1,857	32.83%	3,734	66.02%	65	1.15%
1928	3,551	66.34%	1,783	33.31%	19	0.35%
1924	2,813	54.32%	1,870	36.11%	496	9.58%
1920	2,969	70.22%	1,194	28.24%	65	1.54%
1916	1,508	50.33%	1,425	47.56%	63	2.10%
1912	865	29.13%	1,040	35.03%	1,064	35.84%
1908	1,880	59.53%	1,215	38.47%	63	1.99%
1904	2,081	72.23%	528	18.33%	272	9.44%
1900	1,929	61.30%	1,174	37.31%	44	1.40%

School districts include:

• Bancroft-Rosalie Community Schools
• Logan View Public Schools
• Lyons-Decatur Northeast Schools
• Oakland Craig Public Schools
• Tekamah-Herman Community Schools

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Burt County, Nebraska

41°51′N 96°19′W / 41.85°N 96.32°W / 41.85; -96.32