Wausa is a village in Knox County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 634 at the 2010 census.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 634 people, 257 households, and 172 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 290 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 97.6% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.
There were 257 households, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.1% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age in the village was 48.3 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.6% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 30.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 636 people, 276 households, and 171 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 301 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 98.90% White, 0.47% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% Asian, and 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 276 households, out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 26.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 34.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the village was $28,929, and the median income for a family was $36,477. Males had a median income of $27,000 versus $15,313 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,487. About 4.8% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
In 1882 Theodore T. Thorson was the first resident. He named it Thorson, Nebraska. He was also the first postmaster. He was returning from a five-month travel over the west coast, Montana and Wyoming, in search of a good location for stock raising.
Mr. Thorson returned to Minnesota and in the following spring married and returned to Nebraska with his bride. He leased land built a sod house and started a sheep ranch consisting of 115 sheep. Families immigrating from Sweden began coming and Thorson was appointed land agent. At this time Creighton, Nebraska had the nearest railroad station. A pony express was started by a man with the name Campbell. He made three trips a week between Creighton. The post office was also Thorson's home.
By 1885 12 new families had moved into the settlement and it was decided that they would change the name to "Vasa" in honor of the Swedish king Gustav Wasa. The railroad came through Vasa on November 27, 1890. At this time the name was changed to Wausa, a combination of the king's dynasty name and the letters USA. In the fall of 1891 a community water well was put down. It was deep and cost $40. In 1903 the first water system was installed. A complete sewer system was built in 1916. The Waste Water Treatment Facility was built in 1985.
Notable people
Doug Cunningham, former Nebraska state senator for the 40th legislative district. George E. Danielson, California congressman Norbert T. Tiemann was both a banker and mayor of Wausa who served as governor of Nebraska from 1967 to 1971.