The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Omaha

OMAHA, the largest city of Nebraska, capital of Douglas co., on the Missouri river, opposite Council Bluffs, Ia., 50 m. N. E. of Lincoln, and 490 m. by rail W. by S. of Chicago; pop. in 1860, 1,883; in 1870, 16,083, of whom 6,320 were foreigners; in 1875, about 20,000. It occupies a beautiful plateau, rising gradually into bluffs. The streets are broad and cross each other at right angles. The city is lighted with gas, and is well provided with street railroads. The level portion is chiefly devoted to business purposes, while the bluffs are occupied by handsome residences with tastefully arranged grounds. The United States court house and post office is a fine building of Cincinnati freestone, 122 by 66 ft., and four stories high, costing $350,000. The high school building, the Grand Central hotel, and the depot and general office of the Union Pacific railroad are also noteworthy structures. Omaha is the E. terminus of the Union Pacific railroad, and also of the Omaha and Northwestern and the Omaha and Southwestern lines. By bridge and ferry to Council Bluffs it is connected with the eastern railroad system. (See .) There is considerable trade, the wholesale business in groceries, dry goods, hardware, crockery, lumber, and agricultural implements amounting to about $9,500,000 a year. The city has two national banks, a state bank, and a private bank, with a total capital of $600,000, and deposits to the amount of $2,700,000. Manufactures are increasing. The principal establishments are extensive smelting works, smelting and refining gold, silver, lead, and zinc; large linseed oil works, steam engine works, a cracker factory, two soap factories, and several large breweries and distilleries, besides the

repair and construction shops of the Union Pacific railroad. There is also a pork-packing establishment. The public schools are graded and of a high character; the average attendance is about 1,500 pupils. The city is the seat of the state institution for the deaf and dumb, and the United States courts for the district of Nebraska are held here. Three daily and six weekly newspapers and three monthly periodicals are published. There are 24 churches.—Omaha was laid out in 1854, and became the territorial capital. It was incorporated as a city in 1857. Its rapid growth dates from the construction of the Union Pacific railroad.