Kearney County is part of the Kearney, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area.
In the Nebraska license plate system, Kearney County is represented by the prefix 52 (it had the fifty-second-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
1860 - 474 1870 - 58 1880 - 4,072 1890 - 9,061 1900 - 9,866 1910 - 9,106 1920 - 8,583 1930 - 8,094 1940 - 6,854 1950 - 6,409 1960 - 6,580 1970 - 6,707 1980 - 7,053 1990 - 6,629 2000 - 6,882
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,882 people, 2,643 households, and 1,902 families residing in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 2,846 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.82% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 2.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,643 households out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.90% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,247, and the median income for a family was $44,877. Males had a median income of $29,987 versus $20,081 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,118. About 5.50% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.