Bellevue, Nebraska, United States of America

Bellevue is a city located in Sarpy County, Nebraska. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 44,382. Bellevue is part of the greater Omaha Metropolitan Area. It was incorporated in 1855 and is the oldest and third-largest city in Nebraska. Offutt Air Force Base is located in Bellevue, home to United States Strategic Command (formerly Strategic Air Command).

Bellevue Geography

Bellevue is located at 41°9'31" North, 95°56'3" West (41.158518, -95.934135). It is bounded on the east by the Missouri River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34.7 km² (13.4 mi²). 34.3 km² (13.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.7% water.

Bellevue Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 44,382 people, 16,937 households, and 11,940 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,292.3/km² (3,346.4/mi²). There are 17,439 housing units at an average density of 507.8/km² (1,314.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 85.83% White, 6.13% African American, 0.50% Native American, 2.11% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.78% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. 5.88% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 16,937 households out of which 35.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% are married couples living together, 11.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% are non-families. 23.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.61 and the average family size is 3.09.

In the city the population is spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $47,201, and the median income for a family is $54,422. Males have a median income of $33,819 versus $25,783 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,903. 5.9% of the population and 4.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.9% of those under the age of 18 and 3.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Bellevue History

Fur country

The City of Bellevue began as a fur trading post established by the Missouri Fur Company in 1822 to serve as a central trading point with local Omaha, Otoe, and Pawnee tribes. It received its name from early trappers who were impressed with the beauty of the view overlooking the Missouri River. Ideally situated on the Missouri River with access to the Platte valley, it became a hub for transfer of manufactured goods from the East and furs from the West. From the 1830s until the 1850s, Bellevue prospered. With the decline of the fur trade, Bellevue changed during the decade of the 1850s. With the opening of eastern Nebraska to settlement in 1854, Bellevue experienced a building boom, with the erection of the First Presbyterian Church, a bank, a hotel, and dozens of private homes.

The boom was short-lived, however. The expansion had been built on the premise that the city was to be selected as the territorial capital. As the oldest and most widely known settlement in the territory, it seemed a logical choice. In fact, the territorial governor, Francis Burt, had already moved into a residence in Bellevue. Shortly after he arrived, the new governor died. His replacement, T.B. Cuming, selected a new upstart community as the territorial capital—Omaha.

Decline of Bellevue

The second half of the century witnessed Bellevue's slip into relative obscurity. While Omaha grew from a few hundred in population in 1855 to 104,000 in 1890, Bellevue's numbers continued to slide until the city was near extinction. In 1876, the county seat was transferred to Papillion, 10 miles to the west. In the 1880s, Bellevue College was established. In the 1890s, an offer of inexpensive land brought Fort Crook to the Bellevue area. Both organizations provided an insurance against extinction. It would be the fort, however, that would cause the biggest impetus to Bellevue's population in the future.

Turnaround

From the 1880s to 1940, Bellevue's population grew only minimally, from around 500 to not more than 1200 in 1940. The small growth was primarily due to the improved transportation access to Omaha, which allowed for easier commuting.

It was Fort Crook, later named Offutt Air Force Base, that spurred Bellevue's largest growth. When Offutt became home to the huge Martin bomber plant during World War II and then, shortly after the war, housed the headquarters of the Strategic Air Command, thousands of workers, both civilian and military, made Bellevue their home. Bellevue's population grew from less than 1200 in 1940 to almost 4000 in 1950 and then almost 9000 ten years later. A decade later, Bellevue's population again more than doubled, to more than 20,000.

Bellevue today

Today, Bellevue's growth is primarily due to an expanding economy in the civilian sector. With the opening of the Kennedy Freeway, a limited access highway linked to the Interstate Highway system, a new building boom is in progress. Commercial, industrial, and residential construction are all expanding. Bellevue has finally fulfilled the promise that its founders saw nearly two centuries ago.

See also

• Bellevue Public Schools Local school district
• Offutt Air Force Base
• US Strategic Command

References

• City of Bellevue Website

External links

• http://www.bellevue.net/
• http://www.bellevuenebraska.com/
• http://www.offutt.af.mil/
• http://www.sarpy.com/
• Bellevue Public Schools
• Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bellevue,_Nebraska".