De Witt (also spelled DeWitt) is a village in Saline County,

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

, 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

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

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

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

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

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing 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 geog ...

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 chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.0%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 1.0% Native American, 1.0% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino 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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

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 population density was . There were 254 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 98.60%

, 0.17%

, 0.35% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races.

or Latino 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

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 average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

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 ...

, 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, 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 pliers, wrenches ...

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 Inc. is an American manufacturer, marketer and distributor of consumer and commercial products. The company's brands and products include Rubbermaid storage/or waste disposal containers; home organization and reusable container ...

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 ''Automobile Quarterly'' was a hardbound, advertising-free periodical publication focused on collectible cars. The publication was known for its quality writing and photography of automobiles, personalities and related subjects. History and prof ...

'' 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

*
Tri County Public Schools
{{authority control Villages in Saline County, Nebraska Villages in Nebraska