Neighborhoods of Omaha, Nebraska
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The neighborhoods of Omaha, Nebraska are a diverse collection of community areas and specific enclaves.[1] They are spread throughout the Omaha metro area, and are all on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River.
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[edit] History
Omaha's original neighborhoods were clustered around the original settlement area near 12th and Jackson Streets. On the southwest corner of that intersection William P. Snowden, the city's first settler, built the St. Nicholas Hotel in 1854, three years before the city was incorporated.[2] Early neighborhoods included the Sporting District and the Burnt District. In the immediate years after settlement the city expanded, building the Near North Side, Little Bohemia, and housing districts throughout what is currently Downtown Omaha. The following waves of neighborhood development occurred around downtown's southern and western edges, including: Bemis Park, Dahlman, Deer Park, Dogtown, Gifford Park, Hanscom Park, and Kountze Place and Sheelytown.
[edit] Former towns
The boundaries of Omaha have changed significantly since its founding, with subdivisions and annexations growing the city throughout its history. The following areas of the city were incorporated towns that have been annexed by the city of Omaha and are now communities within Omaha. Beechwood was located near the now-gone Florence Lake in East Omaha. It had its own school district, and the site is now occupied by several trailer courts. Benson is a neighborhood of north-central Omaha near 60th and Maple Streets; it was annexed in 1917. Dundee is a neighborhood in central Omaha near 50th and Dodge Streets. Originally a separate city, Dundee was annexed by Omaha in 1915, but this annexation was fought until 1917. Elkhorn takes its name from the Elkhorn River and was incorporated by an act of the territorial legislature in 1856. Annexed by Omaha on March 8, 2005 after a two-year court battle[3], and Elkhorn became part of Omaha on March 1, 2007. The original town site is near 204th St. and West Maple Road in West Omaha.
Florence is a neighborhood in far north Omaha. The original Mormon settlement in Florence, called Cutler's Park, predates the city of Omaha with its founding in 1846. Florence was annexed by Omaha in 1917. Hayes was a historic town located two miles from Bennington that evaporated in the 1870s, when the railroad failed to come to the town. Millard is a broad area of southwest Omaha; originally a separate city, Omaha annexed it in 1971. The original town site is near 132nd and Q Streets. Saratoga is a historic neighborhood in North Omaha. The town was founded, boomed and busted within one year (1856-57). Its legacy includes a school, library and businesses still in the area.
[edit] Adjoining cities and towns
There are several cities and towns that surround Omaha that have not been annexed by the City of Omaha, but are suburbs of the city. The largest is Bellevue, which may be the oldest settlement in Nebraska and is the state's third largest city. It is located just south of Omaha in eastern Sarpy County. Bennington was founded in the 1880s, and was originally called "Bunz Town". Located northwest of the city, it was a key stop along the Fremont, Elkhorn, & Missouri Valley Railroad in the early 1900s. Carter Lake, Iowa, which was formerly on the eastern side of the Missouri River, today sits nestled into Nebraska. Irvington was first named Pappio because of its location on Pappio Creek, and the city is increasingly encroaching on this town in its northwestern corner. La Vista is a city south of Omaha in north-central Sarpy County. Papillion is a city south of Omaha and immediately south of La Vista. It is the county seat of Sarpy County. Ralston is a city in south-central Douglas County roughly bounded by 72nd, 84th, L, and Harrison Streets. It is surrounded by Omaha on three sides. The other side borders with La Vista. Valley was established in 1865 and was an important shipping point along the Union Pacific Railroad. Waterloo was established in 1883 along the Elkhorn and Platte rivers, and is south of Omaha.
[edit] Community areas
Omaha is split into several geographically-designated areas, in which occupy several neighborhoods. Midtown is a racially-diverse, historically rich area of Omaha immediately west of Downtown Omaha. North Omaha is a community area north of downtown Omaha with a rich historical social, cultural, economic, architectural, and religious legacy, particularly for the city's African American population. South Omaha is a community area encompassing many neighborhoods south of downtown Omaha which historically has been home to Omaha’s Eastern European immigrant population, and more recently, Central & Northern American immigrants. Formerly a portion of this area was a separate city named South Omaha, it was annexed by Omaha in 1915. West Omaha is the collective term for areas of the city west of 72nd Street. Within that broad area there are several sub-community areas including Northwest Omaha, Southwest Omaha, Millard and Irvington. Also, much further to the west is the newly annexed community area/past city of Elkhorn.
| Community areas in Omaha alphabetical order | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Boundaries | Notes | |||
| Downtown Omaha | 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east, and Leavenworth Street on the south to Cuming Street on the north, including NoDo and the Riverfront | ||||
| East Omaha | The Missouri River on the east, the Carter Lake and Carter Lake, Iowa on the south, and Florence Boulevard from Jaynes Street north to Read Street on the west. | Omaha's first annexation, in 1854.[4] | |||
| Midtown Omaha | Cuming Street on the north, Center Street on the south, 24th Street on the east, and Saddle Creek Road on the west. | ||||
| North Omaha | Cuming Street on the south, Read Street on the north, 72nd Street to the west, and East Omaha and Carter Lake, Iowa to the east | ||||
| South Omaha | Dodge Street on the north, Harrison Street on the south, the Missouri River on the east, and 72nd Street on the west | ||||
| West Omaha | All areas of Omaha west of 72nd Street | ||||
[edit] Neighborhoods
There are countless current and historically specific neighborhoods throughout Omaha. Perhaps prime among them is the Old Market, a mixed-use commercial/residential district in downtown Omaha that historically housed Omaha's fresh food vendors.
The central area of Omaha, immediately west of downtown and extending to 72nd Street, is home to several of historically significant neighborhoods. Gifford Park, Morton Meadows, Gold Coast and Country Club are important to the history of Omaha. Bemis Park is centrally located, and is home to a number of architecturally significant homes and public works.
Located in West Omaha is Boys Town, an incorporated village near 132nd and Dodge Streets and is home to the famous institution of the same name. Also on the fringe of the city is Chalco, an unincorporated area southwest of Omaha in northern Sarpy County that forms its own neighborhood.
South 24th Street, Little Bohemia, Brown Park, Dog Hollow, Sheelytown, Little Italy, and Little Poland are all located in the throughout South Omaha.[5] Spring Lake and Deer Park are also located in the area, as well as Field Club and the Omaha Quartermaster Depot Historic District.
In North Omaha, the area of East Omaha was the first annexation to the city in 1854, and is home to a large park and the city's airport. Miller Park is a neighborhood in far North Omaha primarily developed from 1920 to 1950, bound by 30th Street on the west and Florence Blvd on the east, Miller Park on the north and Sorenson Parkway on the south. The Fort Omaha Historic District borders this neighborhood. Immediately to the north is Minne Lusa, a neighborhood primarily developed from 1900-1950, bound by Miller Park on the south, Florence on the north, Florence Blvd and Pershing Drive on the east and 30th Street on the west.
Near North Omaha is a historical neighborhood close to downtown Omaha. It is bound by downtown Omaha on the south and Kountze Park to the north. Kountze was once a posh Omaha suburb, reachable only via streetcar. It consumed most of the former Saratoga community's land to the north. 30th Street on the west and 16th Avenue on the east border each of these areas. Omaha's Prospect Hill neighborhood is home to the city's pioneer cemetery of the same name, as well as some of the oldest homes in the city.
[edit] List of neighborhoods in Omaha
| Neighborhoods in Omaha alphabetical order | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Boundaries | Notes | |||
| Applewood Heights | |||||
| Bemis Park | Cuming Street on the south to Hawthorne Avenue on the north; Glenwood Avenue on the west to North 33rd Street on the east | Annexed to Omaha in 1887.[6] | |||
| Bennington | Centered on North 156th Street and Bennington Road | Within the Omaha Urban Planning Boundaries. | |||
| Benson | Fontenelle Boulevard to North 72nd Street, Ames to Western Avenue. | ||||
| Bent Creek | |||||
| Blackstone | Named after the Blackstone Hotel. | ||||
| Boys Town | |||||
| Briar Hills | |||||
| Bridlewood | |||||
| Brookhaven | |||||
| Burlington Road | South 42nd Street, L Street, Interstate 80 and Dahlman Avenue | ||||
| Burnt District | |||||
| Cathedral-Duchesne neighborhood | |||||
| Carter Lake, Iowa | The Carter Lake, Carter Lake Drive, Abott Drive, North 11th Street and Avenue H. | ||||
| Carriage Hill | |||||
| Chalco | Centered on South 144th Street and Chandler Road. | ||||
| Conestoga Place | North 22nd to North 23rd, Grace to Clark Streets | ||||
| Country Club | 50th to 56th Streets, from Corby to Seward Streets. | Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.[7] | |||
| Dahlman neighborhood | South of downtown Omaha | ||||
| Deer Park | |||||
| Dundee | |||||
| Eagle Ridge | |||||
| Elkhorn | |||||
| Elmwood Park/Aksarben | |||||
| Fairacres | |||||
| Florence | |||||
| Field Club | |||||
| Fountain Hills | |||||
| Gifford Park | |||||
| Gold Coast | |||||
| Hanscom Park | |||||
| Happy Hollow | |||||
| Hillsborough | |||||
| Howard Street Apartment District | |||||
| Irvington | |||||
| Joslyn Castle | |||||
| Kountze Place | |||||
| La Vista | |||||
| Leavenworth | |||||
| Little Bohemia | |||||
| Little Italy | |||||
| Maple Village | |||||
| Millard | |||||
| Miller Park | |||||
| Minne Lusa | |||||
| Morton Meadows | |||||
| Mockingbird Heights | |||||
| Near North Omaha | |||||
| Oak Heights | |||||
| Old Market | |||||
| Papillion | |||||
| Ralston | |||||
| Pacific Meadows | |||||
| Park Wild | |||||
| Raven Oaks | |||||
| Roanoke | |||||
| Royalwood Estates | |||||
| Regency | |||||
| Saratoga | |||||
| Sheelytown | |||||
| Shinn's Addition | |||||
| South Omaha Main Street Historic District | |||||
| Sporting District | |||||
| Spring Lake | |||||
| Valley | |||||
| Vinton Street Commercial Historic District | |||||
| Walnut Hill | |||||
| Waterloo | |||||
| West Farnam neighborhood | |||||
| Westgate | 72nd to 84th Streets, W. Center Rd to I-80 | ||||
| Westside | 84th to 90th Streets, Pacific St to W. Center Rd | ||||
[edit] See also
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ (2007) Neighborhood Association Directory. City of Omaha. Retrieved 5/20/07.
- ^ "Downtown Omaha walking tour", HistoricOmaha.com. Retrieved 1/31/08.
- ^ City of Elkhorn V. City of Omaha (2007-01-12). Retrieved on 2007-01-12.
- ^ http://www2.ops.org/OOE/annexation.htm Annexation and Growth.]
- ^ (n.d.) Omaha (NE) Photograph Collection University of Minnesota.
- ^ "Annexation-Growth Page," Omaha Public Schools. Retrieved 7/16/07.
- ^ National Register of Historic Places in Douglas County, Nebraska. Retrieved 5/20/07.
[edit] External links
- Neighborhood Center of Greater Omaha
- Neighborhoods - City of Omaha.
- Neighborhoods and Housing - Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.
- Neighborhood Scan - University of Nebraska at Omaha.
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