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Omaha, located in the eastern part of Nebraska on the west bank of the Missouri River, is the largest city in the state. Named for the Omaha Indians inhabiting in the area, the city was founded in 1854 and grew as a supply center for settlers heading west. The arrival of the Union Pacific transcontinental railroad in 1869 made the city a major transportation hub. The region is one of America's centers for grains, livestock and food processing. Today, Omaha has a population of around 400,000, with a diverse economy that has retained its core agricultural products but expanded to include banking, insurance, telecommunications and other high-technology industries. Top corporations headquartered in Omaha include Ameritrade, Berkshire Hathaway, ConAgra Foods, Mutual of Omaha, Union Pacific Railroad, Sitel Corporation and West Teleservices. Nearby Offutt Air Force Base, home of the US Strategic Command, is a major employer.
Omaha's arts and cultural attractions include the Omaha Symphony, Opera Omaha, and dozens of theaters. The Joslyn Art Museum specializes in western and Native American art. The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts is America's only major international urban artist colony. Other Omaha museums include the Great Plains Black History Museum, Durham Western Heritage Museum and El Museo Latino.
For spectator sports, Rosenblatt Stadium is home to the NCAA's college baseball world series and minor league baseball's Omaha Royals, an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. For big league action, the parent club is a 3-hour trip away. The Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League play at the MidAmerica Center just across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In the fall, Omaha's college football fans flock to Lincoln for Nebraska Cornhuskers action.
Lovers of the outdoors love the 80 miles of paved trails connecting the city's neighborhoods. The Keystone Trail/Bellevue Loop Trail, the longest at 26 miles, is popular among walkers, joggers, bicyclists and rollerbladers. Lovers of nature love Desoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge just north of the city. Its nearly 8,000 acres offer fishing, boating, ducks, geese and bald eagles. Just minutes away, the Missouri River, Lake Manawa and Carter Lake are also popular for fishing and water sports.
Omaha has a vibrant nightlife, centered around the Historic Old Market district, a renovated downtown area loaded with restaurants, bars and clubs. Clean air and water, affordable housing and a safe environment make Omaha is a great place to live, with publications such as Forbes, Ladies Home Journal, Redbook and Parenting Magazine naming it on their "best of" lists.
Omaha strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Nebraska):
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Public Transportation Use (vs. State) | Top 1% |  |
| Racial Diversity (vs. State) | Top 1% | |
| Well-Paid Single Women (vs. State) | Top 2% | |
| Well-Paid Single Men (vs. State) | Top 4% | |
| College Educated Adults (vs. State) | Top 4% | |
| Short Commute Times (vs. Peers) | Top 7% | |
| Median Family Income (vs. State) | Top 12% | |
Comparing Omaha to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Nebraska (State):
Ratings range from 
(lowest) to 
(highest).
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Well-Paid Single Women |  | |
| Well-Paid Single Men |  | |
| Senior Citizens | |  |
| Age of the Population | | |
| Children Under 5 Years Old |  |  |
| Female Share of the Population | |  |
| Male Share of the Population |  | |
| Racial Diversity |  | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Portion of People Married | | |
| Average Household Size | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| People in Middle Class or Better | | |
| People Above Poverty | | |
| Median Family Income | | |
| College Educated Adults | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Short Commute Times | | |
| Working at Home | | |
| Public Transportation Use | | |
| Walking and Biking to Work | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability of Rents | | |
| People Living Alone | | |
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | | |
| Housing Recently Built | | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes | | |
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
Detailed pages on related topics: Omaha colleges • Omaha travel • Omaha mortgages and property.
 | Omaha Careers Omaha career and employment information. |
 | Omaha Colleges Omaha colleges and trade schools. |
 | Omaha Hotels & Travel Omaha hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
 | Omaha Mortgage Omaha property, mortgage, and real estate. |
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