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Bellevue is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 44,382 at the 2000 census and had increased to 47,347 by the 2004 estimate. Bellevue is part of the greater Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. It was incorporated in 1855 and is the oldest and third-largest city in Nebraska. Offutt Air Force Base, home to United States Strategic Command (formerly Strategic Air Command) and the 55th Wing, is located in Bellevue.
Geography
Bellevue is located at (41.158518, -95.934135). It is bounded on the east by the Missouri River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34.7 km² (13.4 mi²). 34.3 km² (13.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.7%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,382 people, 16,937 households, and 11,940 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,292.3/km² (3,346.4/mi²). There were 17,439 housing units at an average density of 507.8/km² (1,314.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.83% White, 6.13% African American, 0.50% Native American, 2.11% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.78% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.88% of the population.
There were 16,937 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,201, and the median income for a family was $54,422. Males had a median income of $33,819 versus $25,783 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,903. About 4.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
History
Fur country
The City of Bellevue began as a fur trading post established by the Missouri Fur Company in 1822 to serve as a central trading point with local Omaha, Otoe, and Pawnee tribes. It received its name from early trappers who were impressed with the beauty of the view overlooking the Missouri River. Ideally situated on the Missouri River with access to the Platte River valley, it became a hub for transfer of manufactured goods from the East and furs from the West. From the 1830s until the 1850s, Bellevue prospered. With the decline of the fur trade, Bellevue changed during the decade of the 1850s. With the opening of eastern Nebraska to settlement in 1854, Bellevue experienced a building boom, with the erection of the First Presbyterian Church, a bank, a hotel, and dozens of private homes.The boom was short-lived, however. The expansion had been built on the premise that the city was to be selected as the Nebraska Territory capital. As the oldest and most widely known settlement in the territory, it seemed a logical choice. In fact, the territorial governor, Francis Burt, had already moved into a residence in Bellevue. Shortly after he arrived, the new governor died. His replacement, T.B. Cuming, selected a new upstart community as the territorial capital—Omaha.
Decline
The second half of the century witnessed Bellevue's slip into relative obscurity. While Omaha grew from a few hundred in population in 1855 to 104,000 in 1890, Bellevue's numbers continued to slide until the city was near extinction. In 1876, the county seat was transferred to Papillion, 10 miles to the west. In the 1880s, Bellevue College (now Bellevue University) was established. In the 1890s, an offer of inexpensive land brought Fort Crook to the Bellevue area. Both organizations provided an insurance against extinction. It would be the fort, however, that would cause the biggest impetus to Bellevue's population in the future.20th century turnaround
From the 1880s to 1940, Bellevue's population grew only minimally, from around 500 to not more than 1200 in 1940. The small growth was primarily due to the improved transportation access to Omaha, which allowed for easier commuting.It was Fort Crook, later named Offutt Air Force Base, that spurred Bellevue's largest growth. When Offutt became home to the huge Martin bomber plant during World War II and then, shortly after the war, housed the headquarters of the Strategic Air Command, thousands of workers, both civilian and military, made Bellevue their home. Bellevue's population grew from less than 1200 in 1940 to almost 4000 in 1950 and then almost 9000 ten years later. A decade later, Bellevue's population again more than doubled, to more than 20,000. The Martin bomber plant is birthplace of the historically famed Enola Gay airplane.
Today
Today, Bellevue's growth is primarily due to an expanding economy in the civilian sector. With the opening of the Kennedy Freeway, a limited access highway linked to the Interstate Highway System, a new building boom is in progress. Commercial, industrial, and residential construction are all expanding. Bellevue has finally fulfilled the promise that its founders saw nearly two centuries ago.Bellevue is also home to Fontenelle Forest, 1,400 acres of privately owned forestland with 17 miles of hiking trails giving spectacular views of the Missouri River and surrounding area.
See also
References
External links
- Bellevue Public Schools
- Bellevue University
- Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department
- Fontenelle Forest
- Offutt Air Force Base
- http://www.bellevue.net/
- http://www.bellevuenebraska.com/
- http://www.sarpy.com/
"Bellevue, Nebraska"