Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. 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. At the 2020 census, Omaha had a population of 486,051, making it the 41st-most populous U.S. city. The Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area, which extends into Iowa, has about 1 million residents, making it the 55th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. Omaha is also the county seat of Douglas County.

The city was founded in 1854 along the Missouri River by speculators from neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa. It earned the nickname "Gateway to the West" because of a crossing called Lone Tree Ferry. In 1898, Omaha hosted the World's Fair, known as the Trans-Mississippi Exposition. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Omaha grew as an important transportation hub, with major railroads and, later, the world’s largest Omaha Stockyards and famous meatpacking plants.

Today, Omaha is home to the headquarters of four Fortune 500 companies: Berkshire Hathaway, Kiewit Corporation, Mutual of Omaha, and Union Pacific Corporation. The city also boasts many cultural spots, such as the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and the Old Market area. Omaha has been the place of origin for several modern inventions, including the Reuben sandwich, cake mix developed by Duncan Hines, and the TV dinner.

History

Main article: History of Omaha, Nebraska

See also: History of North Omaha, Nebraska

Many Native American tribes lived in the land that became Omaha since the 1600s. These included the Omaha and Ponca people, as well as the Pawnee, Otoe, Missouria, and Iowa tribes. The word "Omaha" means "Upstream People" or "Against the Current" in the Omaha language.

In 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed by where Omaha would later be built. They met with tribal leaders about 20 miles north of today’s Omaha. In the years that followed, Americans built several trading posts, including Fort Lisa in 1812 and Fort Atkinson in 1819.

Pioneer Omaha

Before it was legal to settle there, William D. Brown operated a ferry that brought settlers to the area that became Omaha. He is often credited as having the first vision for a city where Omaha now stands. In 1854, the Kansas–Nebraska Act was passed, and settlers began claiming land around the future city. Omaha was informally established on July 4, 1854, at a picnic on Capital Hill. Soon after, the Omaha Claim Club was formed to protect settlers’ claims.

Many of Omaha’s early leaders stayed at the Douglas House or the Cozzens House Hotel. Dodge Street became an important commercial area, and North 24th and South 24th Streets also grew as business districts. Early settlers were buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery and Cedar Hill Cemetery.

19th century

Omaha’s economy grew and changed over the years. The Omaha Daily Republican, Nebraska’s first regional newspaper, was founded in 1858. Omaha was a stop for settlers heading west, and later became a center for railroads and meatpacking. The First transcontinental railroad’s construction began in 1863, boosting the city’s growth.

The Union Stockyards, founded in 1883, helped Omaha become a major meatpacking center. By the 1950s, half the city’s workers were employed in meatpacking and processing.

Immigrants created neighborhoods throughout the city, including Irish, German, and Jewish communities. The city’s upper class lived in areas like the Gold Coast neighborhoods and Bemis Park.

20th century

To the 1960s

With population growth came competition and labor struggles. In 1900, Omaha was involved in a national uproar over the kidnapping of Edward Cudahy, Jr., the son of a local meatpacking magnate. The city saw racial tension and ethnic strife, including a riot in 1909 that destroyed the city’s Greek Town.

The civil rights movement in Omaha began in 1912 with the first chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People west of the Mississippi River. The Omaha Easter Sunday Tornado of 1913 caused widespread damage, including to the city’s African-American community.

After World War II, Offutt Air Force Base was developed south of the city, and the Glenn L. Martin Company built B-29 Superfortress bombers there. Insurance companies also grew in Omaha during the 1950s and 1960s.

1970s and onwards

Since the 1970s, Omaha has expanded mostly to the west. West Omaha has become home to most of the city’s population, while North and South Omaha remain centers of new immigrants.

Downtown Omaha has been renewed with developments like Gene Leahy Mall and the Old Market area. Historic preservation efforts have protected many of the city’s important buildings.

21st century

At the start of the 21st century, several new skyscrapers and cultural centers were built downtown. The First National Bank Tower, completed in 2002, became the tallest building in Omaha. New developments like the CenturyLink Center and TD Ameritrade Park have helped revitalize the area.

In the 2020s, projects to revitalize downtown include redeveloping Gene Leahy Mall and building a new streetcar system. A new skyscraper, the Mutual of Omaha Headquarters Tower, is set to become the tallest building in the city when it is completed in 2026.

Douglas County treasurer John Ewing was elected mayor in 2025, becoming Omaha’s first Black mayor.

Geography

See also: Geography of Omaha and Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area

Omaha is a big city in the Midwestern United States, sitting along the Missouri River in eastern Nebraska. The city covers a total area of 130.58 square miles, with most of it being land and a smaller part being water. It is part of the Missouri River Valley, and there are several lakes and rivers nearby, like Lake Manawa and the Platte River.

The Omaha-Council Bluffs area includes eight counties in Nebraska and Iowa. It is the 60th-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Omaha is divided into six main areas: Downtown, Midtown, North Omaha, South Omaha, West Omaha, and East Omaha. The city has many different neighborhoods, some with histories of different cultures, like Little Italy and Greek Town. Over time, the city has grown by including nearby areas.

Omaha has a humid continental climate, meaning it has hot summers and cold winters. Summer temperatures can reach into the 90s°F, while winter temperatures can drop below freezing. The city gets about 30 inches of rain each year and around 29 inches of snow in the winter.

Demographics

The 2020 United States census counted 486,051 people living in Omaha. The city has people from many different backgrounds. About 65% of the people are white, 12% are Black or African American, and 4% are Asian. Many families live in the city, with about 28% of households having children under 18 years old. The average family size is about 3 people.

In 2010, there were about 409,000 people in Omaha. Like today, many people came from different places around the world. Over time, groups such as Irish, Polish, German, Jewish, Italian, Scandinavian, Czech, Mexican, and many African countries have made Omaha their home. These groups have helped shape the city's culture and history.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha has a strong economy with many different kinds of jobs. Since the early 1990s, the city has grown in areas like banking, insurance, phone services, building design, and transportation. Six big internet networks all meet in Omaha.

One famous person from Omaha is Warren Buffett, known as the "Oracle of Omaha". He is one of the richest people in the world. Several big companies are based in Omaha, including Berkshire Hathaway, Union Pacific Railroad, Mutual of Omaha, and Kiewit Corporation.

Omaha is also home to many other large companies, such as the Gallup Organization, Werner Enterprises, First National Bank of Omaha, and WoodmenLife. Big national firms like Bank of the West, PayPal, and LinkedIn also have important offices in the city. Omaha has three of the largest design firms in the United States.

Top employers

According to the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the largest regional employers are:

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha has many things for tourists to see and do, including history, sports, nature, and culture. Popular spots include the Henry Doorly Zoo and the College World Series. The Old Market in Downtown Omaha is a busy shopping area. Famous visitors in the past include writer Rudyard Kipling and General George Crook. In 1883, Omaha hosted the first show of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show for 8,000 people. In 1898, the city welcomed over a million visitors from all over the United States at the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition, a big fair that lasted many months.

Arts and culture

Main articles: Culture of Omaha, Nebraska and Culture in North Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha has many interesting places to see and things to do. Newspapers have praised Omaha for its history and culture.

The city has a big community theater called the Omaha Community Playhouse. There are also orchestras, opera, ballet, and many other performance groups. The Joslyn Art Museum has lots of art, and the Omaha Children's Museum is fun for kids to learn and play. The Durham Museum has traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution. There is also a big mural called "Fertile Ground" painted by Meg Saligman. The city hosts music festivals like the Omaha Blues, Jazz, & Gospel Festival.

Henry Doorly Zoo

Main article: Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

The Henry Doorly Zoo is one of the best zoos in the world. It has a very big indoor rainforest, a large indoor desert, and the biggest dome in the world that is 13 stories tall. The zoo is very popular and has had millions of visitors.

Old Market

Main article: Old Market (Omaha, Nebraska)

The Old Market is a historic area in downtown Omaha with many shops, restaurants, and art places. There are also gardens, parks, and many places to learn about the city's history.

Religion

Omaha has many different places of worship. There are many Christian churches, a temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a large Jewish community, and many Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox groups.

Lauritzen Gardens

Lauritzen Gardens is a beautiful botanical garden with many plants and flowers. It is very popular and welcomes many visitors each year.

Music

Main article: Music of Omaha

Omaha has a rich history of music, especially jazz and rhythm and blues. Many famous musicians came from Omaha, and today the city has many different kinds of music groups. There are also music venues and museums that celebrate Omaha's musical past.

Landmark preservation

Main articles: Landmarks in Omaha, Nebraska and List of Registered Historic Places in Douglas County, Nebraska

Omaha has many important historic places. The city has many historic districts and over a hundred buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are also special landmarks that the city works to protect.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Omaha, Nebraska

Sports have been a big part of Omaha for over 100 years, and the city is home to three minor-league professional sports teams.

Omaha has hosted the yearly NCAA College World Series men's baseball tournament since 1950. It is played at the downtown Charles Schwab Field since 2011.

The Omaha Storm Chasers play at Werner Park. They have won seven championships in different years. Omaha is also home to the Omaha Diamond Spirit, a summer baseball team.

The Omaha Supernovas are a professional indoor volleyball team. They began playing in 2024 and won the first championship that same year. Many fans watched their games, breaking attendance records.

Union Omaha is a professional soccer team that started in 2020. They won the league championship in 2021 and plan to build a new stadium.

The Creighton University Bluejays and the Omaha Mavericks both play many sports, including basketball and baseball.

Ice hockey is also popular in Omaha, with teams like the Omaha Lancers playing at Ralston Arena.

Parks and recreation

Main articles: Parks in Omaha and Trails in Omaha

Omaha has many miles of paths for running and biking, and people love to use them. Every September, the city holds a race called the Omaha Marathon with a half-marathon and a shorter 10 km run. The city also has a history of a special sport called curling, with many young champions. Omaha has over 80 miles of paths for walking, biking, and hiking. These include the American Discovery Trail, which goes across the whole United States, and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which passes through Omaha on its journey from Illinois to Oregon. The city has a special park called 'Pacific Preserve' meant to help bees and other insects.

Government

Main article: Government of Omaha

Omaha has a strong mayor form of government, with a city council elected from seven districts. The current mayor is John Ewing Jr., who was elected in May 2025. The city has twelve departments, including police, human rights, libraries, and planning. The city council makes laws and approves the city budget. Omaha is one of only three cities in Nebraska that can operate under its own rules.

Education

Main article: Education in Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha has many schools, both public and private. The largest public school system is Omaha Public Schools, which helps more than 47,750 students in over 75 schools. There are also other school districts like Westside Community Schools, Millard Public Schools, and Elkhorn Public Schools. Some private schools are run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha.

Omaha is also home to eleven colleges and universities. The biggest public school is the University of Nebraska Omaha, founded in 1908, with over 15,000 students. The largest private university is Creighton University, a well-known school with around 6,700 students. Other schools include Clarkson College, Nebraska Methodist College, The College of Saint Mary, Bellevue University, and Doane University.

Media

Main article: Media in Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is an important place for media in the United States. It is the center of its own media area and is the 76th largest in the country.

Magazines

Omaha Magazine

Newspapers

The main daily newspaper in Nebraska is the Omaha World-Herald. Other weeklies in the city include the Midlands Business Journal, American Classifieds, The Reader, and The Omaha Star. The Star is Nebraska's only African-American newspaper and was founded in 1938.

Television stations and cable TV

Omaha has three television news stations: KETV 7 (ABC), KMTV-TV 3 (CBS), and WOWT 6 (NBC). Other stations like KPTM 42 (FOX) and KXVO 15 do not air local news. Cable television services are provided by Cox Communications. Prism TV, offered through CenturyLink, is also available. Satellite providers such as DirecTV and Dish Network serve the area as well.

Infrastructure

Further information: List of tallest buildings in Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha has grown a lot, so it needs strong city services to support all its people. The city gets natural gas and water from the Metropolitan Utilities District. Nebraska is special because all its electric power comes from customer-owned, non-profit companies, like the Omaha Public Power District. The city also has public housing, buses, and modern sewage treatment plants.

Omaha is very important for travel. It helped build the first railroad across the United States. Today, many trains still pass through, and Amtrak stops there daily. Buses and many highways, like I-80, make it easy to get around. The city also has many walking and biking trails. Eppley Airfield is the main airport, with flights to many places across the country.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is home to many famous people who have made their mark in different fields. Some of them grew up in the city, while others lived there for a part of their lives. These individuals have contributed to music, sports, entertainment, and more, showing the diverse talents that come from this city.

In popular culture

Omaha has been featured in many popular movies and books. In 1938, the movie Boys Town starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney was filmed there. In 1939, Omaha hosted a big celebration for the premiere of the film Union Pacific, which drew a huge crowd of 250,000 people.

The city has also appeared in films by director Alexander Payne, who grew up in Omaha. Some of his movies include Citizen Ruth, Election, and About Schmidt. A popular young adult novel called Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is also set in Omaha. In the TV show Better Call Saul, the character Saul Goodman moves to Omaha and lives under a new name.

Sister cities

Omaha has nine sister cities around the world. These include Shizuoka in Japan, Braunschweig in Germany, Šiauliai in Lithuania, Naas in Ireland, Xalapa in Mexico, Yantai in China, Isigny-Omaha in France, Carlentini in Italy, and Jamestown in Ghana. These partnerships help build friendships and share culture between different places.