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Neighborhoods of Omaha, Nebraska facts for kids

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The neighborhoods of Omaha are many different community areas. They are spread across the Omaha metro area. All of them are on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River.

Omaha's Story: How Neighborhoods Grew

Omaha started with neighborhoods close to its first settlement. This was near 12th and Jackson Street. In 1854, the city's first settler, William P. Snowden, built the St. Nicholas Hotel there. This was three years before Omaha became an official city.

Early neighborhoods included the Sporting District and the Burnt District. As the city grew, new areas like the Near North Side and Sheelytown (where many Irish immigrants lived) were built. Housing districts also appeared throughout what is now Downtown Omaha.

In the 1880s, more neighborhoods developed. These were on the southern and western edges of downtown. Some of these included Bemis Park, Dahlman, Deer Park, Dogtown, Gifford Park, Hanscom Park, Kountze Place, and Little Bohemia.

Towns That Became Part of Omaha

Omaha has grown a lot since it began. It expanded by adding smaller towns and areas. Here are some towns that used to be separate but are now part of Omaha:

  • Benson: This neighborhood is in north-central Omaha, near 60th and Maple Streets. It joined Omaha in 1917.
  • Dundee: Located in central Omaha, near 50th and Dodge Streets. Dundee was a separate city. It joined Omaha in 1915, but residents fought the change until 1917.
  • Elkhorn: Named after the Elkhorn River, it became a town in 1889. Elkhorn joined Omaha on March 8, 2005, after a two-year court case. It officially became part of Omaha on March 1, 2007. The original town is near 204th St. and West Maple Road.
  • Florence: This is a neighborhood in far north Omaha. A Mormon settlement called Cutler's Park was here in 1846, even before Omaha was founded. Florence joined Omaha in 1917.
  • Millard: This large area in southwest Omaha was once a separate city. It joined Omaha in 1971. The original town is near 132nd and Q Streets.
  • Saratoga: A historic neighborhood in North Omaha. It was founded in 1856 and grew very fast, but then slowed down within a year. Today, it still has a school, library, and businesses.

Cities and Towns Near Omaha

Several nearby cities and towns are like suburbs of Omaha. They are close by and many people who live there work in Omaha.

  • Bellevue: This is the largest nearby city and might be the oldest settlement in Nebraska. It's just south of Omaha.
  • Bennington: Founded in the 1880s, it was an important stop along the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad.
  • Carter Lake, Iowa: This unique city used to be on the east side of the Missouri River. Now, it's surrounded by Nebraska!
  • La Vista: A city south of Omaha.
  • Papillion: Also south of Omaha, it's the main city for Sarpy County.
  • Ralston: This city is almost completely surrounded by Omaha.
  • Valley: Established in 1886, it was an important shipping spot for the Union Pacific Railroad.
  • Waterloo: Incorporated in 1883, it's along the Elkhorn River. Waterloo was once the world's largest shipper of seed corn.

Main Community Areas

Omaha is divided into several large areas. Each area includes many smaller neighborhoods.

Omaha neighborhoods
Downtown-lime, East-peach, Midtown-blue-gray, North-red, South-pink, West-lavender
  • Midtown: This area is west of downtown. It's known for its diverse people and rich history.
  • North Omaha: North of downtown, this area has a strong history, beautiful buildings, and a special meaning for the city's African American population.
  • South Omaha: This area south of downtown has been home to many immigrants from Eastern Europe and, more recently, from Central and North America. Its churches and buildings show its rich past.
  • West Omaha: This term describes areas west of 72nd Street. It includes newer suburbs and important community places.
Main Community Areas in Omaha
Name Location Fun Facts
Downtown Omaha From 20th Street to the Missouri River, and Leavenworth Street to Cuming Street. Includes areas like NoDo and the Riverfront.
East Omaha From the Missouri River to Florence Boulevard. This was the first area Omaha added in 1854.
Midtown Omaha From Cuming Street to Center Street, and 24th Street to 72nd Street. A diverse and historic part of the city.
North Omaha From Dodge Street to I-680, and 72nd Street to East Omaha. Known for its important history and culture.
South Omaha From Center Street to Harrison Street, and the Missouri River to 72nd Street. Has a strong immigrant history.
West Omaha Traditionally west of 72nd Street. Home to newer neighborhoods and growing communities.

Exploring North Omaha

Scriptown was an early development from 1855. It was created to reward Nebraska Territory lawmakers. This area quickly grew and became the heart of Near North Omaha.

Near North Omaha became a very important community. It grew into a center for business and social life, especially for Black culture in the 1920s. Many Black-owned businesses, churches, and social centers were here. There were also many Jewish-owned businesses. Today, efforts are being made to bring new life to the community.

The Saratoga community is where a town once boomed and then slowed down within a year. It still has a school, library, and businesses. Also in this area is Kountze Place, which was once a wealthy suburban area.

The northeast part of North Omaha includes Carter Lake, Iowa, East Omaha, and Beechwood. Carter Lake is unique because it's part of Iowa but is west of the Missouri River. Omaha's Levi Carter Park is located here. Beechwood was near Florence Lake and had its own school. Today, it's a trailer court. Eppley Airfield, Omaha's main airport, is in East Omaha.

Far North Omaha includes areas north of Ames Avenue. This includes Florence, where the original Mormon settlement of Cutler's Park was located. This settlement was there before Omaha was founded!

Miller Park is a neighborhood named after a pioneer, Dr. George Miller. It was mainly built between 1920 and 1950. It has churches, a school, and a park. Next to it is Minne Lusa, developed between 1915 and 1926.

The southwest part of North Omaha includes Benson, near 60th and Maple Streets. It was a city in the 1880s before joining Omaha in 1917. Benson is still an important neighborhood today. Next to Benson is Dundee, near 50th and Dodge Streets. The Gold Coast neighborhood has beautiful buildings, like St. Cecilia Cathedral, and historic parks. Other important neighborhoods here are Gifford Park, Orchard Hill, and Walnut Hill.

Housing Rules and History

In the past, some housing rules in Omaha limited where people could live based on their race. These rules were common in the 1920s. This meant that certain groups were mostly limited to specific neighborhoods, like parts of North Omaha and South Omaha.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1948 that these racial rules could no longer be enforced. Later, in 1969, the City of Omaha passed an Open Housing Ordinance. This helped make housing fairer for everyone.

Many Neighborhoods of Omaha

Omaha has countless neighborhoods, both old and new. One famous area is the Old Market. This is a lively area downtown with shops, restaurants, and homes. It used to be where fresh food vendors sold their goods.

The central part of Omaha, west of downtown, has many historic neighborhoods. These include Gifford Park, Morton Meadows, Gold Coast, and Country Club. Bemis Park is also central and has many beautiful homes.

In West Omaha, you'll find Boys Town. This is a famous village with a well-known institution. Also nearby is Chalco, a community southwest of Omaha.

In South Omaha, you can find areas like South 24th Street, Sheelytown, Little Bohemia, Little Italy, and Little Poland. Other neighborhoods there include Spring Lake and Deer Park.

In North Omaha, East Omaha was the first area added to the city in 1854. It has a large park and the city's airport. Miller Park is a neighborhood developed from 1920 to 1950. The Fort Omaha Historic District is next to it. Just north is Minne Lusa, developed from 1900-1950.

Near North Omaha is a historic neighborhood close to downtown. Omaha's Prospect Hill neighborhood is home to the city's oldest cemetery, Prospect Hill Cemetery. It also has some of the oldest homes in the city.

List of Omaha Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods in Omaha alphabetical order
Name Location Notes
Aksarben/Elmwood Park South 50th Street to 72nd Street; Center to Pacific/Leavenworth
Aksarben Village South 63rd Street to 72nd Street; Center to Pacific.
Applewood South 90th Street to 108th Street; Harrison Street to "Q" Street.
Armbrust Acres South 168th Street to South 160th Avenue, West Center Road to "C" Street.
Baker Place Hamilton St on the south; Military Ave on the east and north; NW Radial Hwy on the west.
Barrington Park North 156th Street to 164th Street. California Street to Burt Street.
Bemis Park Cuming Street (south) to Hamilton Street (north); 40th Street (west) to 33rd Street (east) Joined Omaha in 1887.
Bennington Centered on North 156th Street and Bennington Road A city within Omaha's planning area.
Benson Fontenelle Boulevard to North 72nd Street, Ames to Western Avenue.
Bent Creek North 156th Street to 164th Street. California Street to Parker Street
Blackstone Saddle Creek to 36th Street; Leavenworth Street to Dodge Street. Named after the Blackstone Hotel.
Boys Town North 132nd Street to 144th Street; West Dodge Road to Pacific Street. Boys Town is its own village, separate from Omaha.
Briar Hills North 168th Street and Blondo.
Bridlewood North 162nd Avenue to 168th Street; Blondo Street to Corby Street.
Broadwood Heights-Golden Valley South 90th to 84th Streets, Harney Street to Shamrock Road.
Brookhaven South 108th Street to 118th Street; Harrison Street to "Y" Street.
Buena Vista
Burlington Road South 42nd Street, L Street, Interstate 80 and Dahlman Avenue
Burnt District 16th Street to Missouri River; Douglas Street to Cass Street.
Cathedral Landmark District North 38th Street between Capitol Avenue and Cuming Street.
Carter Lake The Carter Lake, Carter Lake Drive, Abbott Drive, North 11th Street and Avenue H. An independent city in Iowa, but west of the Missouri River.
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.
Dahlman South of downtown Omaha
Deer Park 10th Street to Missouri River; "D" Street to I-80.
Dundee Happy Hollow Boulevard to 46th Street; Leavenworth Street to Hamilton Street
Eagle Ridge Between 48th Street and 72nd Street on Cornhusker Road.
Eagle Run North 132nd to 144th Street. Binney Street to West Maple Road.
Elkhorn 204th Street to 240th Street; West Center Road to West Maple Road Joined Omaha in 2005. Used to be a separate city.
Elmwood Park South 50th to 72nd Streets; Dodge Street to Leavenworth Street Joined Omaha in 1917 with Dundee.
Fairacres North 62nd to 69th Streets; Fairacres Road and Burt Street to Dodge Street.
Five Fountains North 192nd to 180th Streets, the Old Lincoln Highway to West Dodge Road.
Florence North 30th Street between Craig Avenue and Bondesson Street The Mormon Pioneer Cemetery and Omaha Winter Quarters LDS Temple are here.
Field Club 32nd Avenue to 36th Street; Center Street to Pacific Street.
First National Business Park West Dodge Road between 132nd Street and 144th Street
Fountain Hills South 156th Street to 163rd Street; Pacific Street to Farnam Street.
Gifford Park North Freeway to North 38th Street; Dodge to Cuming Street.
Gold Coast 36th Street to 40th Street; Jones Street to Cuming Street. The large George A. Joslyn Mansion is located here.
Greenfields South 163rd to 156th Streets, West Dodge Road to Capitol Avenue and Nottingham Drive.
Green Meadows North 134th to 141st Street. Patrick Avenue to Corby Street.
Hanscom Park I-480 to South 42nd Street; I-80 to Center Street.
Happy Hollow Happy Hollow Boulevard between Leavenworth Street and Western Avenue
Harvey Oaks Bob Boozer Drive to South 144th Street, Hickory Street to West Center Road.
Hillsborough North 132nd Street to 144th Street. West Maple Road to Fort Street.
Howard Street Apartment District South 22nd Street to 24th Street; Landon Court to Harney Street.
Huntington Park 156th to 165th, Blondo to Maple
Indian Hills Village 90th to 84th Streets, Indian Hills Drive to Westover Road.
Irvington Irvington Road between Ida Street and State Street.
Keystone N.72nd to N.90th, Maple st to Fort/Military Rd The Keystone Trail starts at Democracy Park in Keystone.
Kountze Place North 16th Avenue to 30th Street; Locust Street to Pratt Street.
La Vista South 72nd Street to I-80; Harrison Street to Giles Road. The newest incorporated city in Nebraska (1960).
Leawood Southwest South 168th Street to Bob Boozer Drive, Hickory Street and Wood Drive to West Center Road.
Leavenworth Leavenworth Street between South 20th Street and 33rd Street.
Linden Park-Lindenwood North 132nd to 144th Street. Hamilton to Blondo Streets.
Little Bohemia South 10th Street to 16th Street; Pierce Street to Martha Street.
Little Italy South 10th Street to Missouri River; Pacific Street to Center Street.
Maple Village Centered at North 90th Street and Maple Street.
Meridian Park Southeast of 168th Street & Giles Road
Midtown Crossing Dodge Street to Farnam Street between 33rd Street and Turner Boulevard.
Millard Millard Avenue between 144th Street and "L" Street.
Miller Park Florence Boulevard to North 30th Street; Sorensen Parkway to Redick Avenue.
Minne Lusa North 24th Street to 30th Street; Read Street and Vane Street to Redick Avenue.
Morton Meadows 42nd Street to Saddle Creek Road; Center Street to Leavenworth Street.
Mockingbird Heights South 84th Street to 96th Street; "Q" Street to "L" Street.
Near North Side 16th Street to 30th Street; Cuming Street to Locust Street.
Oak Heights South 102nd Street to 108th Street; "Q" Street to Berry Street.
Old Gold Coast
Old Market Historic District 10th Street to 13th Street; Jackson Street to Farnam Street. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Omaha View Lake Street to Maple Street; 31st Street to 34th Avenue/John Creighton Blvd
Orchard Hill Hamilton Street to Blondo Street; 36th Street to Military Avenue.
Original Montclair (Omaha) Hamilton Street to Cuming Street; 30th Street to 33rd Street Site of the Oregon Trail.
Pacific Hollow South 158th to 152nd Street, Pacific Street to Hickory Street
Pacific Meadows South 163rd to 156th Street, Douglas-Farnam Street to Pacific Street.
Pacific Park South 168th Street to Bob Boozer Drive, Pacific Street to Hickory Street and Wood Drive.
Papillion South 48th Street to 144th Street; Giles Road to Capehart Road. An independent city founded in 1870.
Park Avenue Pacific St to Woolworth St; South 29th St to South 33rd St; Park Ave from Leavenworth Ave to Ed Creighton Ave.
Park East South 20th Street to 28th Street; Dodge Street to Leavenworth Street.
Pepperwood North of 150th and Dodge to 156th and Blondo
Prospect Hill North 30th Street to 36th Street; Lake Street to Hamilton Street. Prospect Hill Cemetery is the oldest in Omaha.
Ralston South 72nd Street to 84th Street; Harrison Street to "Q" Street. An independent city, surrounded by Omaha.
Raven Oaks North 60th Street to 50th Street; Willit Street to Raven Oaks Drive.
Roanoke North 108th Street to 120th Street, Fort Street to Taylor Street.
Robin Hill South 42nd Street to South 50th Street; Spring Street to I-80.
Royalwood Estates South 120th Street to 132nd Street, West Center Road to Shirley Street.
Regency South 96th Street to Regency Parkway; Pacific Street to West Dodge Road.
Roxbury South 108th Street to I-80; "Q" Street to "X" Street.
Saratoga North 24th Street between Ames Avenue and Storz Expressway.
Sheelytown Located just north of The Union Stockyards. Used to be an Irish community.
South Omaha Main Street Historic District South 24th Street between "M" and "O" Streets.
Sporting District 16th and Harney Street.
Spring Lake Missouri River to Kennedy Freeway; I-80 to Missouri Avenue.
Squatter's Row Between North 11th and North 13th Streets, from Nicholas to Locust Streets
Sunny Slope 108th Street to I-680, Fort Street to Maple Street
Trendwood S 144th St to 132nd St, West Center Rd to Pacific St
Valley Highway 275 to North 288th Street; Meigs Street to Ida Street. An incorporated city.
Vinton Street Commercial Historic District Vinton Street between Elm Street and South 17th Street.
Walnut Hill North 40th Street to Saddle Creek Road; Cuming to Hamilton Street.
Waterloo Highway 275 between Blondo Street and West Maple Road. An independent city, west of Elkhorn.
Wedgewood South 120th Street to Crestridge Road, Leavenworth Road to Mayberry Street.
West Farnam neighborhood 38th and Farnam Street.
Westgate 72nd to 84th Streets, W. Center Rd to I-80
Westside 84th to 90th Streets, Pacific St to W. Center Rd
Windridge Hills North 156th to 159th Streets, Western Avenue to Blondo Street.
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