Douglas County, Nebraska (Plate 1)

Douglas County, Nebraska

County Seat: Omaha
Founded: 1854
Named For: Stephen A. Douglas, U.S. Senator from Illinois
License Plate Prefix: Alphanumeric — the state moved Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy off county-number plates
Population: 584,526 (2020 census)
Area: 339 sq mi

History

Douglas County was established in 1854 as one of Nebraska’s original counties and named after Senator Stephen A. Douglas. Omaha, founded the same year, quickly became the territorial capital and a major gateway to the West due to its strategic location on the Missouri River. Railroads, stockyards, and river commerce fueled rapid growth through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Communities such as Bennington, Valley, Ralston, and Waterloo developed as agricultural, suburban, and industrial centers supporting the expanding metropolitan region.

The county’s history reflects frontier expansion, transportation innovation, and the rise of Omaha as Nebraska’s largest city and economic engine.

Geography

Location: Eastern Nebraska along the Missouri River
Landscape: Urban centers, suburban communities, river bluffs, and fertile farmland

Adjacent Counties:

• Washington County (north)
• Dodge County (northwest)
• Saunders County (west)
• Sarpy County (south)
• Pottawattamie County, Iowa (east, across the Missouri River)

Culture & Landmarks

• Old Market District – Omaha’s historic warehouse district filled with shops, restaurants, and cultural venues.
• Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium – One of the nation’s top zoos, known for world‑class exhibits.
• Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge – Iconic riverfront landmark connecting Nebraska and Iowa.

Notable Communities

• Omaha – County seat and Nebraska’s largest city.
• Bennington – Growing suburban community.
• Ralston – Independent city surrounded by Omaha.
• Valley – Community near lakes and recreation areas.
• Waterloo – Village with strong rural and suburban identity.

Events & Attractions

• College World Series – Omaha hosts one of the nation’s premier sporting events each June.
• Omaha Summer Arts Festival – Major regional celebration of art, music, and culture.
• Outdoor Recreation – Riverfront trails, lakes, parks, and scenic drives.
• View the full Douglas County Events calendar →

Living in Douglas County

Douglas County blends urban energy, suburban growth, and historic neighborhoods. Omaha provides major services, healthcare, education, and cultural attractions, while Bennington, Valley, Ralston, and Waterloo offer quieter community life. Residents value the area’s economic opportunities, cultural diversity, and strong regional identity.

Douglas County at a Glance

Douglas County, Nebraska — created 23 November 1854, one of the eight original counties proclaimed by acting territorial governor Thomas B. Cuming, and named for Stephen A. Douglas, author of the Kansas–Nebraska Act. County seat Omaha, never contested, and capital of Nebraska Territory until statehood moved it to Lincoln in 1867. The decisive fact in the county’s history is that President Lincoln designated Omaha the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific — the city became the anchor of the first transcontinental railroad and earned its nickname, the Gate City. The South Omaha Union Stockyards grew into one of the world’s great livestock and meatpacking centres, the largest anywhere by the late 1950s, and closed in 1999. Population 584,526 (2020), about 606,000 today — Nebraska’s most populous county, and its third-smallest by area. 1,133 listings across 8 towns.

Getting there: Interstate 80 with I-480 and I-680, US-75, US-6 and US-275, plus NE-31, 36, 50, 64, 85, 92 and 133. Eppley Airfield handled 5,225,232 passengers in 2025 and has more operations than every other Nebraska airport combined. Union Pacific is headquartered here and runs its national network from the Harriman Dispatching Center; Amtrak’s California Zephyr stops daily. Central Time.

For visitors: the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium — named best zoo in the United States by USA Today 10Best in March 2026, its fourth year running — along with the Old Market Historic District, the Joslyn Art Museum, Lauritzen Gardens, and the Durham Museum in the old Union Station. Charles Schwab Field hosts the College World Series. Boys Town is an incorporated village inside the city and a National Historic Landmark. The county holds 189 National Register listings, three of them National Historic Landmarks.

Born here: Malcolm X (1925), President Gerald Ford (1913, as Leslie Lynch King Jr.), Fred Astaire (1899), Marlon Brando (1924), Warren Buffett (1930, still in the house he bought here in 1958), Bob Gibson (1935), Montgomery Clift, Gabrielle Union, film-maker Alexander Payne, and boxer Terence “Bud” Crawford, who retired undefeated in 2025 as undisputed champion in three divisions. Henry Fonda is Omaha’s most-claimed son but was born in Grand Island; the family moved here when he was one.

Douglas County · Metro · Interstate 80 Corridor · Explore Nebraska