The Platte River flows northeastward across the lower portion of Hall County; the South Loup River flows northeastward across the NW corner of the county; both flowing to their eventual drainage into the Missouri River. According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. Hall County has the highest density of tornado activity in Nebraska, with 121 tornadoes per, about 4 times the state average.
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 53,534 people, 20,356 households, and 14,086 families in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile. There were 21,574 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 88.67% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 8.19% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 14.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 20,356 households out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couplesliving together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08. The county population contained 27.20% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $36,972, and the median income for a family was $43,963. Males had a median income of $29,158 versus $20,576 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,386. 12.00% of the population and 9.20% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.50% of those under the age of 18 and 8.30% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Hall County has been a Republican Party stronghold for most of its history at the presidential level. In only four presidential elections from 1900 to the present has a Democratic Party candidate carried the county, the most recent being Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
