De Witt is a village in Saline County,

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...

, United States. The population was 520 at the 2020 census.

History

De Witt was established in 1872 when the railroad was extended to that point.

Geography

De Witt is located at (40.394982, -96.920790). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the village has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2010, there were 513 people, 222 households, and 154 families residing in the village. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was . There were 245 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 96.3%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 1.0%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 1.0% Native American, 1.0% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 0.8% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 2.9% of the population. There were 222 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age in the village was 43.6 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 33.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 51.7% male and 48.3% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 572 people, 243 households, and 164 families residing in the village. The

was 1,370.3 people per square mile (525.8/km²). There were 254 housing units at an average density of 608.5 per square mile (233.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.60%

, 0.17%

, 0.35% Asian, 0.17% from

, and 0.70% from two or more races.

of any race were 1.05% of the population. There were 243 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87. In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in the village was $38,056, and the median income for a family was $48,021. Males had a median income of $26,583 versus $22,778 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the village was $17,684. About 3.6% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

A popular tool, called the Vise-Grip, was first manufactured in De Witt. The Vise-Grip was originally manufactured in De Witt by Petersen Manufacturing, founded by Danish immigrant William Petersen. Petersen, a blacksmith by trade, invented the first

locking pliers Locking pliers (also called Vise-Grips, a vice grip, Mole wrench or mole grips) are pliers that can be locked into position, using an "over-center" cam action. Locking pliers are available with many different jaw styles, such as needle-nose pli ...

and began selling them from the trunk of his car to farmers and people in surrounding towns. In 1985 American Tool Companies Inc. was formed by the Petersen family, and it in turn acquired Petersen Manufacturing. In 1993 American Tool acquired Irwin Industrial. The company operated under the Irwin Industrial name beginning in 2002 when it was purchased by

Newell Rubbermaid Newell Brands is an American manufacturer, marketer and distributor of consumer and commercial products. The company's brands and products include Rubbermaid storage and trash containers; home organization and reusable container products; Conti ...

br>
On October 31, 2008 the plant was closed and 330 jobs were lost when manufacturing of Vise-Grips and other tools moved to China. In 2018 the building was sold to Malco Products, and as of 2021 has resumed producing pliers of the same style under the name Eagle Grip

In 2009 Gerry Durnell writing in '' Automobile Quarterly'' said: "The original Vise-Grip manufacturing plant now sits vacant. One auction has already taken place, another is contemplated, and the building is for sale.

Education

DeWitt is served by Tri County Public Schools, which was established in 1966 as a consolidation of various school districts.About Tri County
" Tri County Public Schools. Retrieved on October 20, 2017.

References

External links

Village website

Tri County Public Schools

{{authority control Villages in Saline County, Nebraska Villages in Nebraska