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Nebraska State...
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Nebraska Counties
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Nebraska Counties
There is 93 counties in state of Nebraska. |
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Douglas County, Nebraska
Douglas County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat: Omaha
Year Organized: 1854
Square Miles: 331
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Court House: 1819 Farnam Street
County Courthouse
Omaha, NE 68102-0000
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Etymology - Origin of County Name
named in honor of Illinois Sen. Stephen A. Douglas
Demographics:
County QuickFacts:
Census Bureau Quick Facts
History
Douglas County is one of the eight
counties that made up the original Nebraska Territory. In June 1854, President
Franklin Pierce announced the ratification of a treaty made with the Omaha
Indians which ceded the land along the Missouri River to the government for
settlement. It was the responsibility of acting Gov. Thomas B. Cuming to divide
the land into counties based on census figures.
The fact that Douglas County, which was named in honor of Illinois Sen. Stephen
A. Douglas, was located in the geographic center of the eight counties played an
important role in its development. When a census of the eight-county region was
completed in November 1854, it showed the territory had a population of 2,732.
Gov. Cuming then issued a proclamation ordering an election for members of the
Territorial Legislature. Once its members were elected, the body convened for
the first time on Jan. 15, 1855, in Omaha.
When it came time to locate the territorial capital, Omaha was a logical
selection due to its central location. It would remain the capital until
Nebraska was admitted to the Union in 1867, at which time it was moved to the
present city of Lincoln.
Even though the capital was relocated to Lincoln, Omaha and Douglas County would
enjoy tremendous prosperity in the 1860s and 1870s. It began in 1863 when ground
was broken at Omaha for the Union Pacific Railroad. Rapid development followed
and within six years Omaha would be designated as a city of the first class.
Douglas County has had three courthouses since its boundaries were established.
The first dates back to 1858 when a two-story structure was built in downtown
Omaha. Soon the county outgrew the building and plans were made for a
replacement. In 1882 a new courthouse was unveiled. Within 25 years the county
had once again outgrown its courthouse. Between 1910 and 1912 the county's third
courthouse was built. Along with the Civic Center, this building still serves
the county today.
Neighboring Counties:
Cities and Towns:
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- Bennington |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Boys Town |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Elkhorn |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Omaha
(County Seat) |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Ralston |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Valley |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Waterloo |
village |
Incorporated Area |
County Resources:
Enter County Resources and Information Here
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County Resource Guide
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The history of our nation can be seen as a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names we've given our counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic
features of our country!"
But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.
Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally,
act locally." |
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