RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 33 SHOWN OF 33

Most sparsely populated, Nebraska cities · 1990

Nebraska cities with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 33 cities in Nebraska that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Gretna, NENE9,207334−1%

02Sidney, NENE6,432796−5%

03Papillion, NENE25,127860−37%

04Norfolk, NENE26,6771,184−9%

05York, NENE8,2841,208−2%

06Crete, NENE7,7471,229−20%

07Blair, NENE7,9971,245−9%

08Wahoo, NENE5,0231,256−7%

09Seward, NENE7,8921,282−11%

10Lexington, NENE11,1761,300−34%

11Beatrice, NENE12,3181,305−1%

12Grand Island, NENE53,9431,308−8%

13Nebraska City, NENE7,5121,317−9%

14Holdrege, NENE5,5551,340+1%

15Bellevue, NENE64,8631,399−30%

16Gering, NENE8,5351,431+3%

17Schuyler, NENE6,8001,482−25%

18McCook, NENE7,1571,486+1%

19Hastings, NENE25,1211,535−5%

20South Sioux City, NENE14,1581,536−19%

21Kearney, NENE34,7821,629−11%

22North Platte, NENE22,5241,654−5%

23La Vista, NENE16,5431,746−16%

24Wayne, NENE6,3381,769−8%

25Columbus, NENE25,2481,837−7%

26Lincoln, NENE301,5221,920−15%

27Plattsmouth, NENE6,9551,934−7%

28Alliance, NENE7,9141,995+9%

29Scottsbluff, NENE14,2592,068−7%

30Fremont, NENE28,3502,155−6%

31Omaha, NENE488,7972,349−14%

32Chalco, NENE10,5952,730−32%

33Ralston, NENE6,3823,816−1%

SHOWING 1–33 OF 33

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES