History
Wayne was founded in 1881 when the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad was extended to that point.[6][7] It was named for and with Wayne County.[8]
Demographics
Historical population
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|
| 1890 | 1,178 | | — |
|---|
| 1900 | 2,119 | | 79.9% |
|---|
| 1910 | 2,140 | | 1.0% |
|---|
| 1920 | 2,115 | | −1.2% |
|---|
| 1930 | 2,381 | | 12.6% |
|---|
| 1940 | 2,719 | | 14.2% |
|---|
| 1950 | 3,595 | | 32.2% |
|---|
| 1960 | 4,217 | | 17.3% |
|---|
| 1970 | 5,379 | | 27.6% |
|---|
| 1980 | 5,240 | | −2.6% |
|---|
| 1990 | 5,142 | | −1.9% |
|---|
| 2000 | 5,583 | | 8.6% |
|---|
| 2010 | 5,660 | | 1.4% |
|---|
| 2020 | 5,973 | | 5.5% |
|---|
|
2020 census
The 2020 United States census[12] counted 5,973 people, 2,096 households, and 978 families in Wayne. The population density was 2,118.1 per square mile (816.0/km2). There were 2,139 housing units at an average density of 758.5 per square mile (292.2/km2). The racial makeup was 77.0% (4,599) white, 5.71% (341) black or African-American, 0.77% (46) Native American, 1.96% (117) Asian, 0.13% (8) Pacific Islander, 8.62% (515) from other races, and 5.81% (347) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 8.0% (486) of the population.
Of the 2,096 households, 21.3% had children under the age of 18; 42.7% were married couples living together; 27.6% had a female householder with no husband present. 32.1% of households consisted of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.0 and the average family size was 2.8.
16.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 34.2% from 18 to 24, 16.3% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 91.5 males.
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey[13] estimates show that the median household income was $47,054 (with a margin of error of +/- $13,778) and the median family income $73,220 (+/- $4,710). Males had a median income of $14,754 (+/- $8,702) versus $9,385 (+/- $3,841) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $12,150 (+/- $3,152). Approximately, 7.5% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under the age of 18 and 19.3% of those ages 65 or over.
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 5,660 people, 1,953 households, and 987 families living in the city. The population density was 2,561.1 inhabitants per square mile (988.8/km2). There were 2,082 housing units at an average density of 942.1 per square mile (363.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% White, 2.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.0% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.8%.[14]
Of the 1,953 households 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 49.5% were non-families. 33.6% of households were one person and 12.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90.
The median age was 22.9 years. 15.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 39.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.7% were from 25 to 44; 15.6% were from 45 to 64; and 12.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.
2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 5,583 people, 1,850 households, and 989 families living in the city. The population density was 2,550.9 inhabitants per square mile (984.9/km2). There were 1,963 housing units at an average density of 896.9 per square mile (346.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.35% White, 1.59% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.42% of the population.
Of the 1,850 households 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.5% were non-families. 28.6% of households were one person and 11.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90.
The age distribution was 15.7% under the age of 18, 39.6% from 18 to 24, 17.4% from 25 to 44, 13.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% 65 or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.
The median household income was $27,730, and the median family income was $51,033. Males had a median income of $30,560 versus $20,847 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,984. About 7.5% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Wayne has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Wayne was 105 °F (40.6 °C) on July 13, 1995 and July 20, 2006, while the coldest temperature recorded was −27 °F (−32.8 °C) on January 2, 2018.[15]
| Climate data for Wayne, Nebraska, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1989–present
|
| Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
| Record high °F (°C)
|
74
(23)
|
74
(23)
|
90
(32)
|
92
(33)
|
100
(38)
|
103
(39)
|
105
(41)
|
103
(39)
|
101
(38)
|
92
(33)
|
83
(28)
|
69
(21)
|
105
(41)
|
| Mean maximum °F (°C)
|
54.6
(12.6)
|
59.7
(15.4)
|
73.8
(23.2)
|
83.0
(28.3)
|
89.4
(31.9)
|
94.8
(34.9)
|
95.8
(35.4)
|
94.3
(34.6)
|
90.7
(32.6)
|
83.3
(28.5)
|
71.2
(21.8)
|
56.2
(13.4)
|
97.5
(36.4)
|
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C)
|
30.2
(−1.0)
|
35.0
(1.7)
|
47.4
(8.6)
|
60.1
(15.6)
|
71.0
(21.7)
|
81.2
(27.3)
|
85.1
(29.5)
|
82.8
(28.2)
|
75.9
(24.4)
|
62.5
(16.9)
|
47.0
(8.3)
|
34.1
(1.2)
|
59.4
(15.2)
|
| Daily mean °F (°C)
|
20.5
(−6.4)
|
24.8
(−4.0)
|
35.9
(2.2)
|
47.7
(8.7)
|
59.4
(15.2)
|
70.1
(21.2)
|
74.2
(23.4)
|
71.8
(22.1)
|
63.7
(17.6)
|
50.4
(10.2)
|
36.2
(2.3)
|
24.7
(−4.1)
|
48.3
(9.0)
|
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C)
|
10.8
(−11.8)
|
14.5
(−9.7)
|
24.4
(−4.2)
|
35.3
(1.8)
|
47.8
(8.8)
|
59.0
(15.0)
|
63.4
(17.4)
|
60.8
(16.0)
|
51.4
(10.8)
|
38.3
(3.5)
|
25.3
(−3.7)
|
15.3
(−9.3)
|
37.2
(2.9)
|
| Mean minimum °F (°C)
|
−11.3
(−24.1)
|
−6.4
(−21.3)
|
3.6
(−15.8)
|
19.5
(−6.9)
|
33.4
(0.8)
|
46.1
(7.8)
|
51.7
(10.9)
|
49.2
(9.6)
|
35.6
(2.0)
|
21.1
(−6.1)
|
6.7
(−14.1)
|
−5.9
(−21.1)
|
−15.1
(−26.2)
|
| Record low °F (°C)
|
−27
(−33)
|
−25
(−32)
|
−15
(−26)
|
6
(−14)
|
26
(−3)
|
39
(4)
|
45
(7)
|
42
(6)
|
27
(−3)
|
9
(−13)
|
−12
(−24)
|
−26
(−32)
|
−27
(−33)
|
| Average precipitation inches (mm)
|
0.55
(14)
|
0.75
(19)
|
1.42
(36)
|
2.99
(76)
|
4.20
(107)
|
4.40
(112)
|
2.69
(68)
|
3.57
(91)
|
2.58
(66)
|
2.28
(58)
|
1.21
(31)
|
0.83
(21)
|
27.47
(699)
|
| Average snowfall inches (cm)
|
6.8
(17)
|
6.7
(17)
|
5.8
(15)
|
2.7
(6.9)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.5
(1.3)
|
3.5
(8.9)
|
6.2
(16)
|
32.2
(82.1)
|
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm)
|
6.9
(18)
|
7.2
(18)
|
5.0
(13)
|
2.0
(5.1)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.2
(0.51)
|
2.5
(6.4)
|
4.6
(12)
|
10.3
(26)
|
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)
|
4.1
|
4.4
|
5.5
|
8.1
|
10.2
|
9.0
|
6.9
|
7.4
|
6.0
|
5.7
|
4.1
|
4.3
|
75.7
|
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)
|
3.8
|
3.5
|
2.2
|
0.8
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.4
|
1.6
|
3.6
|
15.9
|
| Source 1: NOAA[16]
|
| Source 2: National Weather Service[15]
|
![Wayne's commercial district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[1]](/en/File:Wayne,_Nebraska_201-203_N_Main_from_W.JPG)
