The Kearney Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Nebraska, anchored by the city of Kearney. As of the 2010 census, the area had a population of 52,591 (though a July 1, 2011 estimate placed the population at 53,278). Counties Buffalo Kearney Communities Places with 25,000 or more inhabitants Kearney (Principal City) Places with 1,000 to 5,000 inhabitants Gibbon Holdrege Minden Ravenna Shelton Places with 500 to 1,000 inhabitants Bertrand Elm Creek Places with less than 500 inhabitants Amherst Atlanta Axtell Funk Heartwell Loomis Miller Norman Pleasanton Riverdale Wilcox Unincorporated places Buda Keene Lowell Newark Townships Anderson Armada Beaver Blaine Cedar Center (Buffalo County) Center (Phelps County) Cherry Creek Collins Cosmo Cottonwood Divide (Buffalo County) Divide (Phelps County) Eaton Elm Creek Gardner Garfield (Buffalo County) Garfield (Phelps County) Gibbon Grant (Buffalo County) Grant (Kearney County) Harrison Hayes Industry-Rock Falls Laird Lake Liberty Lincoln Logan (Buffalo County) Logan (Kearney County) Loup Lowell May Mirage Newark Odessa Oneida Platte Prairie Riverdale Rusco Sartoria Schneider Scott Sharon Shelton Sheridan Sherman Thornton Union Valley Westmark Westside Williamsburg Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 49,141 people, 18,573 households, and 12,129 families residing within the μSA. The racial makeup of the μSA was 95.55% White, 0.49% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.03% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.34% of the population. The median income for a household in the μSA was $38,015, and the median income for a family was $45,562. Males had a median income of $30,085 versus $21,029 for females. The per capita income for the μSA was $17,814. Future development Today, some area officials are proposing to upgrade to a metropolitan area with the addition of Phelps County in the future. See also Nebraska census statistical areas References Buffalo County, Nebraska Kearney County, Nebraska