Wayne

• Official Name — Wayne, Nebraska • Settlement Type — City • Image Skyline — Wayne, Nebraska 201-203 N Main from W.JPG • Image Caption — Wayne's commercial district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. • Image Map — Wayne_County_Nebraska_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Wayne_Highlighted.svg • Mapsize — 250px • Map Caption — Location of Wayne, Nebraska • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — United States • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — Nebraska • Subdivision Type2 — County • Subdivision Name2 — Wayne • Government Type — Mayor/Council • Established Title — Founded • Established Date — 1881 • Named For — Anthony Wayne • Unit Pref — Imperial • Area Total Km2 — 7.43 • Area Land Km2 — 7.32 • Area Water Km2 — 0.11 • Area Total Sq Mi — 2.87 • Area Land Sq Mi — 2.82 • Area Water Sq Mi — 0.04 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 5973 • Population Density Km2 — 816.51 • Population Density Sq Mi — 2115.08 • Timezone — Central (CST) • Utc Offset — -6 • Timezone Dst — CDT • Utc Offset Dst — -5 • Elevation Ft — 1467 • Postal Code Type — ZIP code • Postal Code — 68787 • Area Code — 402 • Blank Name — FIPS code • Blank Info — 31-51840 • Blank1 Name — GNIS feature ID • Blank1 Info — 2397233 • Website — www.cityofwayne.org Wayne is a city in Wayne County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2020 census, Wayne had a population of 5,973. It is the county seat of Wayne County and the home of Wayne State College.

Wayne was founded in 1881 when the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway was extended to that point. It was named for and with Wayne County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.25 sqmi, of which 2.21 sqmi is land and 0.04 sqmi is water.

As of the 2020 census, Wayne had a population of 5,973 and 978 families. The median age was 23.1 years. 17.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males. 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas. There were 2,063 households in Wayne, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.3% were married-couple households, 24.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% 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. There were 2,325 housing units, of which 11.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.5%. Racial composition as of the 2020 census • Race — Number — Percent • White — 4,599 — 77.0% • Black or African American — 341 — 5.7% • American Indian and Alaska Native — 46 — 0.8% • Asian — 117 — 2.0% • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander — 8 — 0.1% • Some other race — 515 — 8.6% • Two or more races — 347 — 5.8% • Hispanic or Latino (of any race) — 767 — 12.8%

The 2016–2020 5-year American Community Survey 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.

At the 2010 census there were 5,660 people, 1,953 households, and 987 families living in the city. The population density was 2561.1 PD/sqmi. There were 2,082 housing units at an average density of 942.1 /sqmi. 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%. 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.

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 PD/sqmi. There were 1,963 housing units at an average density of 896.9 /sqmi. 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.

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 on July 13, 1995, and July 20, 2006, while the coldest temperature recorded was -27 F on January 2, 2018.

Wayne Community Schools operates public schools. Wayne State College St. Mary's Catholic Private School

• James B. Davis, U.S. Air Force general • Emily Kinney, musician and television actress (The Walking Dead) • Don Meyer, college basketball coach