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Omaha, NE

Frequently asked questions

Omaha, NE

Omaha is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about 10 mi (15 km) north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 40th-most populous city, Omaha had a population of 486,051 as of the 2020 census. It is the anchor of the eight-county Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area, which extends into Iowa and is the 58th-largest metro area in the United States, with a population of 967,604. Furthermore, the greater Omaha–Council Bluffs–Fremont combined statistical area had 1,004,771 residents in 2020.

Omaha's pioneer period began in 1854, when the city was founded by speculators from neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa. The city was founded along the Missouri River, and a crossing called Lone Tree Ferry earned the city its nickname, the "Gateway to the West". Omaha introduced this new West to the world in 1898, when it played host to the World's Fair, dubbed the Trans-Mississippi Exposition. During the 19th century, Omaha's central location in the United States spurred the city to become an important national transportation hub. Throughout the rest of the 19th century, the transportation and jobbing sectors were important in the city, along with its railroads and breweries. In the 20th century, the Omaha Stockyards, once the world's largest, and its meatpacking plants gained international prominence.

Omaha is the home to the headquarters of four Fortune 500 companies: Berkshire Hathaway, Kiewit Corporation, Mutual of Omaha, and Union Pacific Corporation. Other companies headquartered in the city include First National Bank of Omaha, Gallup, Inc., Green Plains, Intrado, Valmont Industries, Werner Enterprises, and three of the nation's ten largest architecture and engineering firms (DLR Group, HDR, Inc., and Leo A Daly). Notable cultural institutions include the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Old Market, Durham Museum, Lauritzen Gardens, and annual College World Series. Modern Omaha inventions include the Reuben sandwich; cake mix, developed by Duncan Hines; center-pivot irrigation; Raisin Bran; the first ski lift in the U.S.; the Top 40 radio format as first used in the U.S. at Omaha's KOWH Radio; and the TV dinner.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 130.58 sq mi (338.20 km²), of which 127.09 sq mi (329.16 km²) is land and 3.49 sq mi (9.04 km²) is water. Situated in the Midwestern United States on the bank of the Missouri River in eastern Nebraska, much of Omaha is built in the Missouri River Valley. Other significant bodies of water in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area include Lake Manawa, Papillion Creek, Carter Lake, Platte River and the Glenn Cunningham Lake. The city's land has been altered considerably with substantial land grading throughout Downtown Omaha and scattered across the city. East Omaha sits on a flood plain west of the Missouri River. The area is the location of Carter Lake, an oxbow lake. The lake was once the site of East Omaha Island and Florence Lake, which dried up in the 1920s.

The Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area consists of eight counties; five in Nebraska and three in Iowa. The metropolitan area now includes Harrison, Pottawattamie, and Mills Counties in Iowa and Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, and Saunders Counties in Nebraska. This area was formerly referred to only as the Omaha Metropolitan Statistical Area and consisted of only five counties: Pottawattamie in Iowa, and Washington, Douglas, Cass, and Sarpy in Nebraska. The Omaha-Council Bluffs combined statistical area comprises the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan statistical area and the Fremont Micropolitan statistical area; the CSA has a population of 858,720 (2005 Census Bureau estimate). Omaha ranks as the 42nd-largest city in the United States, and is the core city of its 60th-largest metropolitan area. There are no consolidated city-counties in the area; the City of Omaha studied the possibility extensively through 2003 and concluded, "The City of Omaha and Douglas County should merge into a municipal county, work to commence immediately, and that functional consolidations begin immediately in as many departments as possible, including but not limited to parks, fleet management, facilities management, local planning, purchasing and personnel."

Geographically, Omaha is considered as being in the "Heartland" of the United States. Important environmental impacts on the natural habitat in the area include the spread of invasive plant species, restoring prairies and bur oak savanna habitats, and managing the whitetail deer population. Omaha is home to several hospitals, mostly along Dodge Street (US6). Being the county seat, it is also the location of the county courthouse.

Health and wellness are paramount in Omaha, with the city offering various amenities and services to support the well-being of its residents. The Urgent Care Omaha Clinic stands as a cornerstone in providing comprehensive healthcare services to the community. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Big O Fitness, Blue Moon Fitness and West O Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Omaha, such as the Wehrspann Lake Full Loop and Standing Bear Lake Loop. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Omaha, NE are Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, The Durham Museum, and Joslyn Art Museum.

Population: 111,077 (2023). ZIP code: 68101. Area codes: 402, 531. Area: 146.28 sq mi (378.85 km²). Elevation: 1,090 feet (330 m).

FAQs

What is Omaha, NE best known for?

Hands down, steak tops the list of things that Omaha is most famous for. It’s hailed as one of the best cities for steak in the United States. Omaha has been the center of the country’s meatpacking industry since the 1950s. If you’ve been researching “things to do in Omaha”, it’s a guarantee that the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium are going to be one of the top recommendations that you see on every list. The zoo features an impressive collection of exhibits and programs, as well as thousands of species of animals from all corners of the planet that call this 160-acre zoo home.

Is Omaha, NE a good city to live in?

With trendy neighborhoods and a killer live music scene, Omaha, NE is an excellent place to live. Whether you’re a young professional, a growing family or a retiree, you’ll love the low cost of living, the authentic community vibe, the ease of getting around and the abundant outdoor and entertainment options. Plus, Omaha has an innovative food scene, lots of craft breweries and top-notch museums like the Joslyn Art Museum and The Durham Museum.

Is Omaha, NE an expensive place to live in?

Omaha, NE housing is 15% cheaper than the U.S. average, while utilities are about 5% less pricey. When it comes to necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 3% less in Omaha, NE than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 3% less. Overall, these cost savings contribute to a more financially manageable lifestyle for residents of Omaha.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Omaha

Urgent Care Omaha Clinic 

Omaha Parks and Recreation Department 

Big O Fitness

Blue Moon Fitness 

West O Fitness

Wehrspann Lake Full Loop 

Standing Bear Lake Loop

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

The Durham Museum

Joslyn Art Museum

Retro Shirtz

Livability

RentCafe

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