Bennington Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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City · Douglas County · Population 2,026 (2020 census) · ZIP 68007 · Founded 1880s

About Bennington

Bennington is a city of 2,026 on NE 36 in northern Douglas County, about 14 miles northwest of downtown Omaha. It has Bennington Public Schools, one of the fastest-growing districts in the state, the Bennington Public Library and city hall, and holds Bennington Daze each June. The University of Nebraska Omaha's Glacier Creek Preserve lies just south of town.

History

The town began in the 1880s as "Bunz Town," when the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad (later the Chicago & North Western) built through, and was renamed for Bennington, Vermont. Most of its early settlers were German; St. John's Lutheran Church is on N. Molley St. The population was 229 in 1900 and 341 in 1960.

Since then Bennington has grown with the Omaha area, from 937 people in 2000 to 2,026 in 2020, its highest count. The school district has grown about 10 percent a year, and Bennington South High School, at 180th St. and Military Rd., is to open in 2028–29. Four places nearby are on the National Register: the Bennington State Bank (2006), the Oft-Gordon House, 11523 N. 156th St. (2010), now Oft's Bed & Breakfast, the Carl Penke Farm (2007) and the Ackerhurst-Eipperhurst Dairy Barn, 15220 Military Rd. (2002).

Highways and trails through Bennington

Route	One way	Other way
NE 36Along the north edge of town	East past Glenn Cunningham Lake to Florence and US 75	West across the Elkhorn River to NE 31 and US 275 near Valley
Military Rd.About 1 mi south of town	Southeast into Omaha	West toward NE 31

Nearby towns

Elk City	about 6 mi west	NE 36
Irvington	about 6 mi east-southeast	NE 36 and NE 133
Kennard	about 8 mi north-northwest	County roads
Elkhorn	about 7 mi south-southwest	NE 31
Boys Town	about 8 mi south-southeast	County roads
Waterloo	about 9 mi southwest	County roads
Valley	about 11 mi west-southwest	NE 36
Blair	about 12 mi north	NE 133
Omaha	about 14 mi east-southeast	Military Rd.
Fremont	about 18 mi west-northwest	NE 36 and US 275

Things to see

Glacier Creek Preserve, 14810 State St., about 2 mi south-southeast: restored tallgrass prairie and UNO's field station (402-554-6300) · Oft's Bed & Breakfast in the Oft-Gordon House (National Register) · Stone Creek Golf Course (27 holes) · Glenn Cunningham Lake, east along NE 36 · Bennington Daze (June 4–7 in 2026): parade, barbecue contest, fireworks, street dance and a community theater show

Events in Bennington

Bennington Daze
Annual community festival held each June featuring a parade, street dance, fireworks, barbecue contest and pancake breakfast.

Know of another event here? Tell us about it.

Schools and health care

Schools: Bennington Public Schools: Bennington, Pine Creek, Heritage, Anchor Pointe and Stratford elementary schools; Bennington Middle and Bennington South Middle schools; Bennington High School, 16610 Bennington Rd. Westview High School, 15800 Summit Plaza, has a Bennington address but belongs to Omaha Public Schools.

Health care: Nearest hospital CHI Health Immanuel, 6901 N. 72nd St., Omaha (about 8 mi)

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Douglas County Historical Society; NEGenWeb Douglas County; National Register of Historic Places; Nebraska Game and Parks; Papio-Missouri River NRD; city, school and hospital websites; Nebraska Department of Transportation. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.