Cass

County
Pop. 25,577
Demographic and Economic Profile
Cass County, Nebraska
Population

Estimates from the Bureau of the Census placed Cass County’s population at 25,577 in 2007,
making it the state’s 12th largest county. This represented an increase of 5.1% (+1,243 residents)
since the 2000 Census and an increase of 26% since 1980.

Cass County’s population is currently at its historical peak. The county has been growing
steadily since 1950, largely as a result of its proximity to the Omaha and Lincoln metropolitan
areas.

Cass County’s largest community is Plattsmouth, with an estimated 2007 population of 6,928
(27.1% of the county population), making it Nebraska’s 24th largest community. Three other
Cass County communities (Eagle, Louisville and Weeping Water) have populations of over
1,000.

Plattsmouth is estimated to have seen its population grow by 0.6% (+41 residents) since the 2000
Census. Eagle is also estimated to have grown (by 2.9% or +32 residents), while Louisville and
Weeping Water both declined in size. Much of Cass County’s growth has occurred outside of
incorporated communities.

Population growth in Cass County since 2000 has resulted from a combination of in-migration
(+495 residents), and natural increase. Between 2000 and 2007 Cass County experienced 852
more births than deaths.

The current county population includes 6,491 residents under the age of 18-years (25.4% of the
total population compared to 25.1% for the state) and 3,119 residents over the age of 65-years
(12.2% of the total population compared to 13.3% for the state).

The age distribution of the Cass County population is as follows:

<20 years 7,388 (30.4%) in 2000 7,095 (27.7%) in 2007
20 to 29 years 2,420 ( 9.9%) in 2000 3,482 (13.6%) in 2007
30 to 49 years 7,620 (31.3%) in 2000 6,900 (27.0%) in 2007
50 to 64 years 3,906 (16.1%) in 2000 4,981 (19.5%) in 2007
>65 years 3,000 (12.3%) in 2000 3,119 (12.2%) in 2007
>85 years 419 ( 1.7%) in 2000 428 ( 1.7%) in 2007

Most Cass County residents (95.5%) are non-Latino whites. Minority residents number 1,144,
including 159 Asian or Pacific Islanders, 181 African Americans, 191 persons of mixed race and
545 Latinos.

While the majority (white) population grew by 3.4% between 2000 and 2007, the much smaller
minority population grew by 60%, as a result of both in-migration and higher birth rates among
the younger minority residents of the county. During that time, the Latino population grew by
53.5%.

Population forecasts developed by the University of Nebraska Bureau of Business Research

suggest that the Cass County population is likely to grow by another 4.7% over the next 20
years, based on the current strength of the local economy. However, as of 2007, the county was
in fact performing well above the rate of change predicted by that model, and the likelihood is
that the county population will grow faster than projected.

Employment

The Bureau of Economic Analysis identified 10,299 full and part time jobs in Cass County in
2006. This represents an increase in total jobs of 11.3% (+1,036 jobs) between 2001 and 2006.

Measured in terms of jobs (for which data are available), Cass County’s largest employing
industries in 2006 were:

Retail Trade 1,380 jobs (13.5% of total)

*Local Government 1,103 jobs (10.8% of total)
Construction 997 jobs ( 9.7% of total)
Other Services (Except Public Administration) 894 jobs ( 8.7% of total)
Farming (proprietors and labor) 722 jobs ( 7.1% of total)
Real Estate and Rental Leasing 540 jobs ( 5.3% of total)
Accommodation and Food Services 531 jobs ( 5.2% of total)
Finance and Insurance 472 jobs ( 4.6% of total)
Transportation and Warehousing 450 jobs ( 4.4% of total)
Manufacturing 423 jobs ( 4.1% of total)
Professional and Technical Services 366 jobs ( 3.6% of total)
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation 334 jobs ( 3.3% of total)
*Government jobs often appear as a major component of the employment mix, even in
very rural areas, and may vary dramatically from year to year. These jobs do include full-
time agency and departmental personnel (such as public school or public safety
employees), but also include part-time, seasonal and contract activities performed by
workers. Because the data are calculated from tax filings, they will include any job for
which a statement of taxable earnings (IRS W2 or 1099) has been issued by a
government entity. Thus, a farmer paid to mow ditches or plow snow on an occasional
basis would be credited with having a government job. Also included would be a Title
XX day care provider, or a contract worker such as a driver associated with a state foster
care program. Moreover, unless the employing governmental unit withheld payroll taxes,
individuals with such jobs would be counted as nonfarm proprietors, a category that
includes all jobs subject to self employment tax. Taken in total, these and similar jobs can
exist in significant numbers.

Measured in terms of jobs in 2001 and 2006, the fastest growing industries were:

Real Estate and Rental Leasing +36.0% (+ 143 jobs)

Other Services (Except Public Administration) +31.3% (+ 213 jobs)
Finance and Insurance +18.9% (+ 75 jobs)
Construction +17.8% (+ 151 jobs)
Professional and Technical Services +15.8% (+ 50 jobs)
Accommodation and Food Services +15.4% (+ 71 jobs)
Retail Trade +12.3% (+ 151 jobs)

Declining industries were led by:

Information -56.9% (- 66 jobs)

Manufacturing -11.5% (- 55 jobs)
Farming (proprietors and labor) - 6.0% (- 46 jobs)

Income and Earnings

In 2006, Cass County had a total personal income (TPI) of $854,887,000. This TPI ranked 12th in
the state and accounted for 1.4% of the state total. The 2006 TPI reflected an increase of 4.5%
from 2005. The 2005–2006 state change was 5.3% and the national change was 6.7%. In 1996,
the TPI of Cass County was $526,170,000 and ranked 12th in the state. The average annual
growth rate of TPI over the past 10 years was 5.0%. The average annual growth rate for the state
was 4.4% and for the nation was 5.4%.

In 2006, Cass County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $33,537. This PCPI ranked 7th
in the state, and was 97% of the state average, $34,440, and 91% of the national average,
$36,714. The 2006 PCPI reflected an increase of 4.1% from 2005. The 2005–2006 state change
was 4.7% and the national change was 5.6%. In 1996, the PCPI of Cass County was $22,836 and
ranked 18th in the state. The average annual growth rate of PCPI over the past 10 years was
3.9%. The average annual growth rate for the state was 3.9% and for the nation was 4.3%.

Total personal income (TPI) includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and
rent; and current transfer receipts received by the residents of Cass County. In 2006, net earnings
accounted for 74.2% of TPI (compared with 71.7% in 1996); dividends, interest, and rent were
12.2% (compared with 16.1% in 1996); and transfer receipts were 13.6% (compared with 12.2%
in 1996). From 2005 to 2006, net earnings increased 3.7%; dividends, interest, and rent increased
6.3%; and transfer receipts increased 7.6%. From 1996 to 2006, net earnings increased on
average 5.3%; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 2.1%; and transfer receipts
increased on average 6.1%.

Total resident income in Cass County in 2006 included:

$ 634,429,000 in earnings
$ 104,166,000 in interest, dividends and rent
$ 116,292,000 in personal transfer payments (public and private)

Earned income generated by the Cass County economy in 2006 included:

$ 146,713,000 in wage and salary disbursements

$ 31,789,000 in nonfarm proprietor’s income
$ 3,408,000 in farm proprietor’s income

Over the last decade, nonfarm proprietors have grown as a percentage of the Cass County labor
force, but earnings per proprietorship have declined, especially when measured as a percentage
of wage and salary earnings.

Nonfarm Proprietors Wage and Salary workers

Jobs 1996 2,336 4,684
Jobs 2006 4,019 5,595

% of All Jobs 1996 30.2% 60.5%

% of All Jobs 2006 39.3% 54.7%

Earnings Per Job 1996 $ 9,941 $19,296

Earnings Per Job 2006 $ 7,910 $26,222

In 1996, average nonfarm proprietor earnings were equal to 51.5% of average wage and salary
earnings. By 2006, average nonfarm proprietor earnings were equal to 30.2% of average wage
and salary earnings.

In 2006, Cass County earnings were increased by about $415,173,000 by workers who
commuted to other locations, an amount equal to 189% of all income generated by jobs located
within the county. This reflects the availability of jobs within the metropolitan Omaha and
Lincoln areas.

NOTES:
Economic data were obtained from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Economic
Information System, 2006 and from BEAR Facts, a publication of the Bureau of Economic
Analysis. The full data set is available for downloading at http://www.bea.gov/

Earnings and income are not reported in constant dollars.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis derives their primary data from both employer and
employee Federal tax filings, allowing them to distinguish between the counties in which
jobs are located and the counties in which employees reside.

Transfer payments, as measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis include both public
and private transfers to individuals. The largest of these payments are inevitably social
security and medical benefits. The complete list of measured transfer payments is
extensive and includes railroad retirement, workers compensation, Medicare, military
medical insurance, supplemental security income, family assistance, food stamps,
unemployment benefits, veterans’ benefits and private retirement benefits.

Net migration and natural increase do not sum to precisely the estimated population
change for a given county. This is because the Bureau of the Census adds a small residual
to each total population estimate as a correction for statistical error.