East Omaha, Nebraska facts for kids

East Omaha is a community in Omaha, Nebraska. It's about three miles (5 km) from downtown Omaha. This area is home to Eppley Airfield, which is Omaha's main airport, and Carter Lake. East Omaha was the first area to become part of the city of Omaha, joining in 1854.

Long ago, the Missouri River separated East Omaha from the rest of Omaha. But a big flood changed the river's path. Because of this, a part of East Omaha became linked to Iowa after a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1892. Today, many of the original homes, schools, and stores are gone. Instead, you'll find government buildings, the airport, and other facilities.

Where is East Omaha?

East Omaha is generally bordered by the Missouri River to the east. Carter Lake and Carter Lake, Iowa are to the south. North Omaha is to the west and north. There's a cliff that forms the western edge of East Omaha, running from Jaynes Street to Reed Street. Nearby neighborhoods include Miller Park, Saratoga, and Kountze Place.

The exact borders of East Omaha have changed over the years. Early on, it was seen as close to the Union Pacific Railroad yards. Now, its boundaries are roughly along Florence Boulevard to the west, the Missouri River to the east, the Omaha Public Power District Plant to the north, and Carter Lake, Iowa, to the south. The Omaha Chamber of Commerce sometimes calls any area east of 72nd Street "east Omaha."

East Omaha's Past

In 1853, a person named Edmond Jefferies claimed about 30 acres (120,000 m²) of land in what became East Omaha. This area was the first to be officially added to the city of Omaha in 1854.

The CB&Q railroad created the East Omaha Land Company in 1887. Their goal was to build homes and industrial areas. The company spent a lot of money to clear the land and build streets before selling lots. By 1903, the East Omaha Land Company advertised the area as "the manufacturing center of Omaha."

Before Carter Lake, Iowa existed, the East Omaha community was located around a bend in the Missouri River. In 1877, a flood caused the river to change its path. This left the old bend as an oxbow lake, which is a U-shaped lake formed when a river cuts off a meander. People living on both sides of the river suddenly found themselves on the same side, connected to Nebraska. This area was home to "East Omaha Island" and "Florence Lake."

After the river changed course, there was a long court case. The Supreme Court of the United States decided that even though the river moved, the original border between states did not. They ruled that the community, which became Carter Lake, was still part of Iowa. Today, all roads into Carter Lake go through East Omaha and downtown Omaha.

One of the biggest land deals in Nebraska before 1890 happened here. An unknown property in East Omaha was sold for almost $700,000. The southern part of East Omaha was home to the Union Pacific Rail Yards.

In 1897, East Omaha was considered as a location for the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, a big fair. The area had lots of space, flat ground, trees, and water. It was also close to downtown Omaha. However, the fair ended up being held in North Omaha instead.

At the start of the 1900s, East Omaha had many important businesses, like a hominy mill and a plaster mill. The Carter White Lead Company also built a large factory here.

On its northern edge, East Omaha was home to the Beechwood community. In 1948, the Beechwood School District joined Omaha Public Schools. This made most traces of the Beechwood community disappear, but it's still shown on some maps.

Important Dates in East Omaha's History

• Before 1853: The Omaha Native American nation lived in the area.
• 1853: The first European-American claimed land in East Omaha.
• 1854: East Omaha officially became part of the City of Omaha.
• 1877: A flood created the oxbow lake that became known as Carter Lake.
• 1887: The East Omaha Land Company was started, and the area was prepared for sale.
• 1890: The most expensive land deal in Nebraska at that time happened in East Omaha.
• 1892: Omaha lost the Carter Lake area to Iowa after a U.S. Supreme Court case.
• 1893: The East Omaha Bridge first opened.
• 1908: Edward and Selena Carter Cornish gave 260 acres (1.05 km²) to Omaha to create Levi Carter Park.
• 1913: The Easter Sunday tornado destroyed much of East Omaha.
• 1925: The Omaha Municipal Airport opened. It was later renamed Eppley Airfield.
• 1930: Carter Lake, Iowa became its own town.
• 1947: Floods damaged many homes in the area.
• 1952: East Omaha was evacuated due to a major flood. President Harry S. Truman visited.
• 1956: East Omaha was officially added to Omaha again.
• 1976: Pershing School closed permanently.
• 2024: Most residential houses are gone from East Omaha. Today, the area has facilities like prisons, homeless shelters, rental car places, and light industries.

Economy

East Omaha is a busy place for business. It's home to Eppley Airfield, Omaha's main airport. It's also a big area for factories and warehouses. The Lozier Corporation is located here, along with several shipping companies. The Omaha Public Power District North Omaha plant is also in the area.

Education

Schools have always been important to the identity of East Omaha.

The main school in East Omaha is Sherman School, which is part of Omaha Public Schools. Sherman School started in 1887 as a two-room building. At its busiest, it had almost 600 students from kindergarten to eighth grade. Today, the school is located at N. 14th and Ellison Avenue and teaches students from kindergarten to fifth grade.

Other schools in the area were once outside the Omaha school district. One was Beechwood Elementary School, which closed down. Another was Pershing School. It opened in the 1880s and was replaced by a larger building in 1926. After floods and the expansion of Eppley Airfield, it was torn down in 1975.

St. Therese School was a Catholic school opened by Ursuline Sisters in 1919. It taught students from kindergarten to eighth grade. The school closed permanently in 2012.

Environment

East Omaha has faced environmental challenges. A report once called it "one of the most dangerous toxic waste sites in the nation." This was after the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that many children in the area had lead poisoning. In 2003, a large part of East Omaha was named a Superfund site. This meant the area needed a special cleanup because of high levels of lead from a nearby lead factory that operated for over a century.

Geographic Features

East Omaha is on a flood plain west of the Missouri River. It's where Carter Lake, an oxbow lake, is located. There's also a sulphur spring and Hardwood Creek in the area. Florence Lake, which was once in East Omaha, dried up in the 1920s.

Places to Visit

East Omaha has several important places for the city and the community. The Sherman Community Center offers fun activities and meeting spaces. Levi Carter Park has been a place for outdoor fun for over 100 years.

The Open Door Mission, a well-known Omaha organization, moved to East Omaha in 1986. The USS Hazard is a former U.S. warship that is now a museum and memorial from World War II. It's docked at the Omaha Marina in East Omaha. The Omaha Correctional Center (OCC) is a prison located on a 37-acre (150,000 m²) site in East Omaha, near Eppley Airfield. Eppley Airfield is Omaha's main airport, with flights across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Fun and Recreation

In the late 1800s, East Omaha Lake was renamed Carter Lake. The park around it was a popular spot for sailing, and it even had a YMCA Camp. In 1896, the United States Supreme Court decided that Carter Lake belonged to the state of Iowa.

Homes in East Omaha

East Omaha was one of Omaha's first suburbs, starting in the late 1800s. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad's East Omaha Land Company helped develop the area. They spent a lot of money to clear the land and build streets for homes.

Through the 1920s, people living near Carter Lake (which belonged to Iowa) didn't have basic city services like sewers or water lines, even though they paid taxes to Council Bluffs. The community tried to become part of Omaha, but Omaha didn't want to pay for the services either. In 1930, Carter Lake became its own town, still within Iowa.

Weather Events

In 1877, a huge flood changed the course of the Missouri River, creating Carter Lake.

East Omaha was badly damaged by the Easter Sunday tornado in 1913. This powerful tornado destroyed many businesses and homes. It even "sucked the water high into the air" as it crossed Carter Lake.

Another major flood in 1943 displaced about 1,000 people. The Missouri River, Carter Lake, and the old Florence Lake flooded homes and businesses. The flood caused about $1.4 million in damage.

The flood of April 13, 1952, led to 40,000 people being evacuated from East Omaha and Carter Lake. President Harry S. Truman visited the area and declared it a disaster.