Central Omaha

Omaha began near the Missouri River, then grew slowly north, south and west. Still standing in the area of Omaha west of downtown, once called "the Gold Coast," are magnificent older homes and mansions, many beautifully restored.

Happy Hollow, Dundee, Blackstone, Cathedral and Fairacres are a few of the other cherished neighborhoods where many Omahans prefer to live in lovely old residences in the shelter of towering trees. Many smaller, older homes in Omaha neighborhoods are being renovated by enthusiastic and creative home buyers.


West, Southwest, Northwest

Not much more than 30 years ago, somewhere in the vicinity of 80th street was considered the western edge of the city. Today it's 180th street. Many of the Omaha's finest newer homes are in "new Omaha." In these suburbs are homes for medium-to high-budget buyers. Again, the word is "diverse" for both budget and style.

Regency was one of the first planned communities in Omaha, combining upscale single-family housing with apartments, shops, office complexes and a lake. A newer example, now under development, is First National Business Park/Linden Estates II near 144th Street and W. Dodge Road.

New neighborhoods springing up near the man-made Zorinsky Lake are examples of developments in Omaha that combine upscale living with recreation. Candlewood Lake has been the centerpiece for its neighborhood for a number of years. Other communities surround Cunningham Lake and Standing Bear Lake in north Omaha and Wehrspann Lake near Millard. A growing number of neighborhoods include golf courses, tennis courts, bicycle trails and country clubs.


South Omaha

One long-time resident said she experiences the thrill of traveling in another country when she visits South Omaha. Immigrants settling here in the last century were attracted by jobs at the stockyards and packing plants. Although the packing houses are not the same economic force as before, ethnic pride continues to prosper.

Second, third and fourth generation Irish, Polish, Mexican, Italian, Czech, German, Greek, Lithuanian and Asian live side by side with newer immigrants such as Cubans, Guatemalans, Vietnamese, Laotian and Hmongs in small, but well-kept older homes and apartments. South Omahans enjoy the distinction of having in their neighborhood Omaha's world-renowned Henry Doorly Zoo and Rosenblatt Stadium, home of the Omaha Royals triple-A baseball team and NCAA College World Series.


North Omaha

Approaching Omaha from the north, drivers see some of the most beautiful scenery in eastern Nebraska. Rolling hills and lush vegetation surround farms and estates where numerous types of animals, from horses to llamas, are raised. Here's where Omaha's fox hunt is held in full dress each week from October through March.

Many interesting neighborhoods can be found in north Omaha; some are newer such as Raven Oaks, and others are older such as Miller Park. Of special interest is the large and historical community of Florence, founded in 1853 by Mormon settlers.

Continuing south, you pass through an area rich in history for Omaha's African Americans. In the 1920s, a neighborhood around north 24th street was the heart of the black community, with homes, businesses, shops and jazz clubs. Although many African Americans have since moved to homes throughout Omaha, others have remained in the old neighborhood. To combat the physical and economic deterioration that began in the 1960s, redevelopment efforts have been undertaken over recent years.

Parts of north and south Omaha recently have been designated "Enterprise Zones" by the state of Nebraska. Employers are being given tax credit incentives to create jobs in those neighborhoods, another positive step toward rejuvenating these older areas of Omaha.


Neighboring Communities

Bellevue, established in 1824, is Nebraska's oldest community. Sitting south of Omaha, the city is a mix of history and high-tech. Offutt Air Force Base, military headquarters for the Strategic Command and the metropolitan area's largest employer, is nearby. The Missouri River nudges the east side and the 1,300-acre Fontenelle Forest and its treeshaded neighborhoods edge the north of Bellevue. Both new and old neighborhoods grace the city.

Between L street and Highway 370, south of Omaha, are three communities with a variety of newer neighborhoods - Ralston, LaVista and Papillion. West are the small bedroom communities of Elkhorn and Waterloo, where many homes have a view of the Elkhorn River valley. Just over the Missouri River sits Council Bluffs, Iowa, a city of 54,315 people.

Other nearby communities, where many people find homes, are Bennington, Fremont, Gretna, Fort Calhoun, Blair, Plattsmouth, Springfield, and Carter Lake, Iowa.

Ask any resident and they'll tell you that it doesn't take long to get anywhere in the metropolitan area of Omaha. Ease of getting around is part of the charm of the city by the Missouri River.