Sarpy County, Nebraska

Sarpy County is a located in the  of. As of 2000, the population was 122,595, making it the third most populated county in Nebraska. It is also one of the state's fastest-growing counties, with the census estimate placing its population at 139,371. Its is. It is one of five Nebraska counties in the eight-county.

In the Nebraska system, Sarpy County was represented by the  59 (it had the fifty-ninth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in ). In, the state discontinued the 1922 system in Sarpy, and  counties.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 640 (247 ). 623 km² (241 sq mi) of it is land and 18 km² (7 sq mi) of it (2.73%) is water. Sarpy County has the smallest area of any county in Nebraska.

Adjacent Counties

 * - north
 * - northeast
 * - southeast
 * - south
 * - west

Demographics
As of the of 2000, there were 122,595 people, 43,426 households, and 33,220 families residing in the county. The was 197/km² (510/sq mi). There were 44,981 housing units at an average density of 72/km² (187/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 89.18%, 4.36% or , 0.42% , 1.90% , 0.09% , 1.86% from , and 2.20% from two or more races. 4.37% of the population were or  of any race.

There were 43,426 households out of which 43.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.80% were living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.50% were non-families. 18.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the county the population was spread out with 30.50% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 33.80% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 6.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,804, and the median income for a family was $59,723. Males had a median income of $37,230 versus $26,816 for females. The for the county was $21,985. About 3.10% of families and 4.20% of the population were below the, including 5.30% of those under age 18 and 3.30% of those age 65 or over.

History
Explored in 1805 by and settled by fur traders, adventurers, farmers, and finally entrepreneurs, Sarpy County has served as the springboard for Nebraska’s settlement and expansion.

Sarpy County is named after, an early fur trader at located in the  area in the 1840's. Sarpy died in  in 1865.

Despite the fact that Sarpy County contained the oldest settlement in the state, it was one of the last lands along the river to be recognized by law. Finally, on February 1, 1857, the land “where the cities meet the country” was officially created.

Law enforcement
The 's Department is responsible for enforcing the law within the unincorporated areas of the county. By contract, the department is also responsible for enforcing the law within the city limits of Gretna and Springfield. The cities of, , and have their own City  Departments which are primarily responsible for law enforcement within their respective city limits. The Sheriff's Department has secondary responsibility for law enforcement within these three cities, providing essentials such as backup support.

The Sarpy County Center, built in 1989, is located within the campus of the Sarpy County  in Papillion. It functions as a Sheriff's office and a jail facility. The Bellevue and LaVista City Police Departments also have their own holding cells. The county jail can hold 148 people, but is currently holding its capacity. To solve for this, the county is planning on expanding the jail to provide room for an additional 125 inmates. The Law Enforcement Center does not provide for detoxification services. Instead, detoxification detainees are transferred to St. Gabriel's Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center in.

Cities and census-designated places

 * (census-designated place)
 * (census-designated place)
 * (census-designated place)
 * (census-designated place)
 * (census-designated place)

Census Divisions
Sarpy County is divided into the following divisions, called precincts, except for the City of Bellevue.
 * Bellevue Second I
 * Bellevue Second II
 * Bellevue Second III
 * Bellevue Second IV
 * Fairview
 * Forest City No. 1
 * Forest City No. 2
 * Gilmore I
 * Gilmore II
 * Highland I
 * Highland II
 * LaPlatte I
 * LaPlatte II
 * La Vista
 * Melia-Forest City
 * Papillion
 * Papillion Second I
 * Papillion Second II
 * Platford-Springfield I
 * Platford-Springfield II
 * Richland I
 * Richland II
 * Richland III
 * Richland IV
 * Richland V
 * Richland VI
 * Richland VII
 * Richland VIII
 * Springfield
 * Springfield