Omaha, Nebraska

"Omaha" redirects here. For other uses, see Omaha (disambiguation).

Omaha
City
Downtown Omaha
Henry Doorly Zoo
Omaha Union Station
Fort Omaha
Union Stockyards
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge
Old Market
Flag of Omaha
Flag
Official seal of Omaha
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Gate-city of the West,[1] The Big O
Motto(s): 
Fortiter in Re  (Latin)
(English: "Courageously in every enterprise")
Map
Interactive map of Omaha
Omaha is located in Nebraska
Omaha
Omaha
Location within Nebraska
Omaha is located in the United States
Omaha
Omaha
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 41°15′31″N 95°56′15″W / 41.25861°N 95.93750°W / 41.25861; -95.93750
Country United States
State Nebraska
CountyDouglas
Founded1854; 170 years ago (1854)
Incorporated1857; 167 years ago (1857)
Named forOmaha people
Government
 • TypeStrong mayor–council
 • MayorJean Stothert (R)
 • City ClerkElizabeth Butler
 • City Council
Members list
Area
[2]
 • City
146.28 sq mi (378.85 km2)
 • Land142.67 sq mi (369.51 km2)
 • Water3.61 sq mi (9.35 km2)
Elevation
[3]
1,060 ft (320 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • City
486,051
 • Estimate 
(2023)[4]
483,335 Decrease
 • Rank40th in the United States
1st in Nebraska
 • Density3,658.41/sq mi (1,315.40/km2)
 • Urban
819,508 (US: 55th)
 • Urban density3,026.1/sq mi (1,168.4/km2)
 • Metro
[5]
967,604 (US: 58th)
DemonymOmahan
Time zoneUTC−06:00 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−05:00 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
68101-68114, 68116-68119, 68122, 68124, 68127, 68130-68132, 68134-68139, 68142, 68144-68145, 68147, 68152, 68154, 68157, 68164, 68172, 68175-68176, 68178-68180, 68182-68183, 68197-68198
Area code402 and 531
FIPS code31-37000
GNIS feature ID0835483[3]
Websitecityofomaha.org

Omaha (/ˈoʊməhɑː/ OH-mə-hah) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County.[6] 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.[7] 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.[5] Furthermore, the greater Omaha–Council Bluffs–Fremont combined statistical area had 1,004,771 residents in 2020.[8]

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.[9] 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).[10] 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;[11] cake mix, developed by Duncan Hines; center-pivot irrigation;[12] Raisin Bran; the first ski lift in the U.S.;[13] the Top 40 radio format as first used in the U.S. at Omaha's KOWH Radio; and the TV dinner.[14]

  1. ^ Mullens, P.A. (1901) Biographical Sketches of Edward Creighton and John A. Creighton. Creighton University. p. 24.
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Omaha, Nebraska
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference QF2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  6. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  7. ^ "QuickFacts: Omaha city, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Ar/s: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2017 (CBSA-EST2012-02)" (CSV). 2017 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1, 2017. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  9. ^ Boettcher, Ross. "Mutual returns to Fortune 500". Omaha World-Herald. April 16, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference BDC 2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "The Reuben sandwich Reuben himself would love". Omaha.com. January 27, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  12. ^ "Robert Daugherty and Valmont Center Pivot Irrigation". Livinghistoryfarm.org. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  13. ^ "Union Pacific Invented First Ski Lift In Omaha". Wowt.com. November 29, 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  14. ^ "Omaha Innovators Swanson". Omahahistory.org. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.