Howard County is a county in the state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 6,475. Its county seat is St. Paul. The county was formed in 1871 and named after Civil War General Oliver Otis Howard.

Howard County is part of the Grand Island, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Howard County is represented by the prefix 49 (it had the 49th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

The terrain of Howard consists of low rolling hills. The leveled hilltops are mostly used for agriculture. The Upper Loup River flows southeastward into the county near its NW corner, turning eastward to flow toward its junction with Middle Loup River. The Middle Loup River flows northeastward into the county near its SW corner, turning north to join with the Upper Loup River near the county midpoint to form the Loup River, flowing eastward into Merrick County. The county has a total area of 576 square miles (1,490 km), of which 569 square miles (1,470 km) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km) (1.1%) is water.

• Loup Junction State Wildlife Management Area

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	4,391		—
1890	9,430		114.8%
1900	10,343		9.7%
1910	10,783		4.3%
1920	10,739		−0.4%
1930	10,020		−6.7%
1940	8,422		−15.9%
1950	7,226		−14.2%
1960	6,541		−9.5%
1970	6,807		4.1%
1980	6,773		−0.5%
1990	6,057		−10.6%
2000	6,567		8.4%
2010	6,274		−4.5%
2020	6,475		3.2%
US Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 6,567 people, 2,546 households, and 1,797 families in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km). There were 2,782 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km). The racial makeup of the county was 98.69% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,546 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.09.

The county population contained 28.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,305, and the median income for a family was $40,259. Males had a median income of $27,270 versus $19,587 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,535. About 8.50% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.30% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.

• St. Paul (county seat)

• St. Libory

• Dannevirke
• Nysted

Howard County voters have usually voted Republican for several decades. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Howard County, Nebraska

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	2,868	80.43%	642	18.00%	56	1.57%
2020	2,786	79.35%	648	18.46%	77	2.19%
2016	2,284	76.29%	544	18.17%	166	5.54%
2012	1,890	65.85%	914	31.85%	66	2.30%
2008	1,847	61.65%	1,083	36.15%	66	2.20%
2004	2,020	67.81%	900	30.21%	59	1.98%
2000	1,760	62.26%	955	33.78%	112	3.96%
1996	1,294	50.10%	853	33.02%	436	16.88%
1992	1,138	39.65%	778	27.11%	954	33.24%
1988	1,526	55.63%	1,186	43.24%	31	1.13%
1984	1,899	67.68%	887	31.61%	20	0.71%
1980	1,971	66.36%	789	26.57%	210	7.07%
1976	1,362	49.78%	1,316	48.10%	58	2.12%
1972	1,691	64.15%	945	35.85%	0	0.00%
1968	1,256	51.37%	1,003	41.02%	186	7.61%
1964	1,019	33.48%	2,025	66.52%	0	0.00%
1960	1,676	52.47%	1,518	47.53%	0	0.00%
1956	1,701	54.00%	1,449	46.00%	0	0.00%
1952	2,115	59.23%	1,456	40.77%	0	0.00%
1948	1,133	37.44%	1,893	62.56%	0	0.00%
1944	1,556	43.25%	2,042	56.75%	0	0.00%
1940	1,696	43.11%	2,238	56.89%	0	0.00%
1936	1,223	27.21%	3,148	70.05%	123	2.74%
1932	734	17.05%	3,409	79.17%	163	3.79%
1928	1,937	46.60%	2,197	52.85%	23	0.55%
1924	1,091	31.58%	1,434	41.51%	930	26.92%
1920	1,508	50.76%	1,311	44.13%	152	5.12%
1916	698	28.08%	1,695	68.18%	93	3.74%
1912	431	19.57%	1,118	50.77%	653	29.65%
1908	977	39.35%	1,435	57.79%	71	2.86%
1904	1,259	56.97%	476	21.54%	475	21.49%
1900	908	40.48%	1,283	57.20%	52	2.32%

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

41°13′N 98°31′W / 41.22°N 98.52°W / 41.22; -98.52