Gretna Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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City · Sarpy County · Population 5,083 (2020 census) · ZIP 68028 · Founded 1886

About Gretna

Gretna is a city of 5,083 (2020) in western Sarpy County, on US 6 and NE 31 at I-80 exit 432, about 18 miles southwest of downtown Omaha; estimates since then put it above 9,000. It has Gretna Public Schools, the public library, Gretna Crossing Park and the Nebraska Crossing outlet mall, and holds Gretna Days each July.

History

Forest City, a trading post from 1856 and a town incorporated in 1858, stood about 2 miles west on the Omaha–Ashland road. When the Burlington built its Omaha–Ashland cutoff in the summer of 1886, Gretna began on the new line; the Lincoln Land Company platted it in 1887, the Forest City post office moved here, and Forest City faded. Gretna was named for Gretna Green, Scotland, home of some early settlers, and its Aberdeen, Angus and McKenna streets keep the Scottish tie. It incorporated on July 10, 1889.

Gretna had about 300 people in 1890 and still fewer than 500 in 1950. I-80 and Omaha's growth changed that: Nebraska Crossing opened in 1993 and was rebuilt in 2013, the Holy Family Shrine opened above the interstate in 2002, Gretna Crossing Park and its YMCA opened in 2023, and the 2020 census counted 5,083 people, the most yet.

Highways and trails through Gretna

Route	One way	Other way
US 6 / NE 31Together north through town	North to Elkhorn and Omaha	South to I-80 (exit 432); US 6 continues southwest to Ashland
NE 370Begins at US 6 / NE 31	East to Papillion and Bellevue	Begins in Gretna
I-80Exit 432 at the south edge of town	Northeast to Omaha	Southwest across the Platte to Lincoln (about 33 mi)
NE 31South of I-80	South to Schramm Park and NE 50 near Louisville	North with US 6

Nearby towns

Forest City	about 2.1 mi west-southwest	Schram Rd.
Melia	about 3.6 mi south-southwest	US 6
Chalco	about 6 mi east-northeast	I-80 and NE 50
Linoma Beach	about 7 mi southwest	US 6
Beacon View	about 7 mi southwest	US 6
Springfield	about 7 mi southeast	County roads
Elkhorn	about 10 mi north	NE 31
Ashland	about 10 mi southwest	US 6
Papillion	about 10 mi east	NE 370
Omaha	about 18 mi east-northeast	I-80
Lincoln	about 33 mi southwest	I-80

Things to see

Schramm Park State Recreation Area, 21502 W. Hwy 31, about 9 mi south on the Platte: trails and ponds on the site of the state's first fish hatchery (1882); day use, park permit required ($7.35 a day for Nebraska vehicles in 2026) · the Schramm Education Center aquarium (daily 10–5; $10 adults) · Holy Family Shrine, 23132 Pflug Rd., on the bluffs over I-80 · Vala's Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard, 12102 S. 180th St. (September 4–November 1 in 2026) · Nebraska Crossing outlets, 21209 Nebraska Crossing Dr. · Gretna Crossing Park and YMCA · Forest City Cemetery, about 2 mi west · the Linoma Lighthouse at Linoma Beach, about 7 mi southwest on US 6 · Gretna Days (July 22–26 in 2026)

Events in Gretna

Gretna Days
Gretna's summer festival in late July, with a carnival, tractor pull, fireworks and a grand parade (July 22–26 in 2026).

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Schools and health care

Schools: Gretna Public Schools: Gretna High School, 11335 S. 204th St., and Gretna East High School; Gretna, Aspen Creek and Giles Creek middle schools; Gretna, Squire John Thomas and Harvest Hills elementary schools in town, with Palisades, Whitetail Creek, Aspen Creek, Falling Waters and Cedar Hollow elementary schools in the district

Health care: CHI Health Clinic Family Medicine Gretna and Methodist Physicians Clinic & Urgent Care Gretna; nearest hospitals in west Omaha and Papillion

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