South Omaha Nebraska
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South Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha neighborhood (former city) · Douglas County · city 1886; annexed by Omaha 1915
About South Omaha
South Omaha is the southern part of Omaha, about 3.6 miles south of downtown, centered on S. 24th St. It was a separate city from 1886 until Omaha annexed it in 1915, and it grew up around the Union Stockyards. Businesses here are listed under Omaha in the directory.
History
The Union Stockyards were founded here in 1883 and received their first cattle in 1884. The town plat was registered on July 18, 1884, and South Omaha became a city in 1886; it grew so fast that it was called "The Magic City." Its post office ran from 1884 to 1912.
When Omaha annexed it on June 20, 1915, South Omaha had about 40,000 people. In 1955 Omaha passed Chicago as the nation's largest livestock market. The stockyards closed in 1999, and the site, between S. 27th and 36th streets and L and Q streets, has been redeveloped, including the Metropolitan Community College South Omaha Campus. The Livestock Exchange Building, 4920 S. 30th St. (1926; National Register 1999), now holds apartments and the South Omaha Library. The South Omaha Main Street Historic District and the Vinton Street Commercial Historic District are among about 30 National Register listings here.
Highways and trails through South Omaha
| Route | One way | Other way |
|---|---|---|
| US 275 / NE 92L St. and Missouri Ave. | East across the South Omaha Veterans Memorial Bridge to Iowa | West across Omaha toward Waterloo and Fremont |
Nearby towns
| Downtown Omaha | about 3.6 mi north | US 75 and 24th St. |
| Bellevue | about 4.1 mi south-southeast | US 75 |
| Ralston | about 4.6 mi west | L St. and Q St. |
| La Vista | about 4.6 mi west-southwest | I-80 |
| Papillion | about 6 mi southwest | US 75 and NE 370 |
Things to see
The Livestock Exchange Building, 4920 S. 30th St. · the South Omaha Main Street Historic District, S. 24th St. from M to O streets · the Vinton Street Commercial Historic District · El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. · Sokol South Omaha Czechoslovak Museum, 2021 U St. · Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, about 1.5 mi northeast · PolishFest each June (June 6 in 2026)
Schools
Schools: Omaha Public Schools; Metropolitan Community College South Omaha Campus
Sources: Douglas County Historical Society; Andreas (1882); Forte postal history; Nebraska State Gazetteer 1890–91; National Park Service and National Register of Historic Places; Wikipedia. Distances are straight-line estimates from an approximate neighborhood center.
Navigate & Explore South Omaha
Get directions to South Omaha: Waze → · Google Maps → · Apple Maps →
Nearby businesses: Find businesses within 20 miles of South Omaha →
Road conditions: Nebraska 511 — 511.nebraska.gov
Cameras: View Douglas County cameras →
Travel corridors: US 275 Corridor → · NE 92 Corridor →