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Omaha, Nebraska

"The Gateway to the West"
Where Warren Buffett still lives in the same modest house he bought in 1958 — Omaha grew from a muddy Missouri River crossing into America's railroad capital, meatpacking center, and an unlikely financial powerhouse.
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Founded 1854 | Population 486,051 | Peak 486,051 (2020) | County Douglas County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Omaha, Nebraska

1
1863Union Pacific Railroad Headquarters: Omaha was designated the eastern terminus of the transcontinental railroad. The Union Pacific Railroad made Omaha its headquarters, driving explosive growth and establishing the city as a transportation hub.
2
1913Easter Sunday Tornado: A massive tornado tore through Omaha on Easter Sunday, killing 103 people, injuring 350, and destroying over 1,500 buildings. It was one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history.
3
1962Berkshire Hathaway Built in Omaha: Warren Buffett took control of Berkshire Hathaway and built it from Omaha into one of the world's most valuable companies. Buffett still lives in the same modest Omaha house he bought in 1958.
4
1919Red Summer Courthouse Lynching: A white mob stormed the Douglas County Courthouse, lynched Will Brown, and set the courthouse on fire. Mayor Ed Smith was nearly lynched himself when he tried to intervene.
5
1898Trans-Mississippi Exposition: Omaha hosted a major world's fair that drew 2.6 million visitors, showcasing the city and the American West. The exposition established Omaha as a significant American city.
6
1880Meatpacking Capital: Omaha's stockyards and meatpacking plants made it one of the largest food processing centers in the world, rivaling Chicago in cattle and hog processing.
7
1942Martin Bomber Plant: The Glenn L. Martin Company built a massive bomber factory in Omaha to produce B-29 and B-26 aircraft during WWII, employing over 14,000 workers.
8
1948Strategic Air Command: Offutt Air Force Base became headquarters of the Strategic Air Command, making Omaha the nerve center of America's nuclear deterrent during the Cold War.
9
1975College World Series Permanent Home: The NCAA College World Series permanently settled in Omaha, becoming the city's signature sporting event and drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors every June.
10
2003Omaha Becomes Insurance Hub: With Mutual of Omaha, Berkshire Hathaway, and other major firms, Omaha established itself as one of the largest insurance centers in the country.
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Population Over Time

0 121,513 243,026 364,538 486,051 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Latest News in Omaha

News articles will appear here as they're published.

Complete Historical Timeline

1854 Government
Omaha founded as Nebraska Territory capital
1863 Transport
Union Pacific Railroad begins in Omaha
1880 Industry
Meatpacking industry booms
1898 Culture
Trans-Mississippi Exposition draws 2.6 million
1913 Disaster
Easter Sunday tornado kills 103
1919 Civil Rights
Courthouse lynching during Red Summer
1942 Industry
Martin bomber plant opens for WWII
1948 Government
Strategic Air Command HQ at Offutt AFB
1962 Business
Buffett builds Berkshire Hathaway
1975 Sports
College World Series makes Omaha permanent home
2003 Business
Omaha's insurance industry grows
2020 Civil Rights
George Floyd protests in Omaha

Did You Know?

1
Warren Buffett, one of the richest people in the world, still lives in the same modest Omaha house he bought for $31,500 in 1958.
2
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is consistently rated the best zoo in the world, featuring the world's largest indoor desert and the largest indoor rainforest in North America.
3
The College World Series has been held in Omaha every year since 1950, making it one of the longest-running annual sporting events at a single location in the country.
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