Lincoln, Nebraska

City of Lincoln
—  City  —
Lincoln skyline

Seal
Nickname(s): Star City
Location in Nebraska
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Nebraska
County Lancaster
Founded[1]
  Renamed
  Incorporated
1856
  July 29, 1867
  April 1, 1869
Government
 • Mayor Chris Beutler (D)
 • Legislature
 • U.S. Congress Jeff Fortenberry (R)
Area
 • City 75.4 sq mi (195.2 km2)
 • Land 74.7 sq mi (193.3 km2)
 • Water 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km2)
Elevation 1,176 ft (358 m)
Population (2000)
 • City 258,379
 • Density 3,022.2/sq mi (1,166.9/km2)
 • Metro 302,157
  [2]
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s) 402, 531
FIPS code 31-28000[3]
GNIS feature ID 0837279[4]
Website www.lincoln.ne.gov

The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379.

Lincoln was founded in 1856 as the village of Lancaster, and became the county seat of the newly created Lancaster County in 1859. The capital of Nebraska Territory had been Omaha since the creation of the territory in 1854; however, most of the territory's population lived south of the Platte River. After much of the territory south of the Platte considered annexation to Kansas, the legislature voted to move the capital south of the river and as far west as possible. The village of Lancaster was chosen, in part due to the salt flats and marshes.

Omaha interests attempted to derail the move by having Lancaster renamed after the recently assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. Many of the people south of the river had been sympathetic to the Confederate cause in the recently concluded Civil War, and it was assumed that the legislature would not pass the measure if the future capital were named after Lincoln. The ploy did not work, as Lancaster was renamed Lincoln and became the state capital upon Nebraska's admission to the Union on March 1, 1867. The choice to name the capital city "Lincoln" caused quite a stir among constituents, whose sentiments were mixed regarding who should have won the Civil War.[5]

Contents

Geography

Lincoln is located at (40.809868, −96.675345).[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 75.4 square miles (195 km2). 74.6 square miles (193 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (0.98%) is water.

Lincoln is one of the few large cities of Nebraska not located along either the Platte River or the Missouri River. The city was originally laid out near Salt Creek and among the nearly flat saline wetlands of northern Lancaster County. The city's growth over the years has led to development of the surrounding land, much of which is composed of gently rolling hills. In recent years, Lincoln's northward growth has encroached on the habitat of the endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle.

Metropolitan area

The Lincoln metropolitan area consists of Lancaster County and Seward County, which was added to the metropolitan area in 2003. Lincoln has very little development outside its city limits and has no contiguous suburbs (the largest town that can be considered a suburb of Lincoln is Waverly.) This is due primarily to the fact that most land that would otherwise be developed as a suburban town has already been annexed by the city of Lincoln itself.

Neighborhoods

Parks

Lincoln has an extensive park system, with over 100 individual parks. The largest parks in Lincoln's park system are: Antelope Park (which contains the Lincoln Children's Zoo and the Sunken Gardens), Woods Park, Holmes Park, Oak Lake Park, Pioneers Park and Pioneers Park Nature Center, Tierra Park, and Wilderness Park. The parks are connected by a 159 km (99 mi) system of recreational trails. The MoPac Trail extends through Lincoln.

Climate

Lincoln, located on the Great Plains far from the moderating influence of mountains or large bodies of water, possesses a highly variable four-season humid continental climate (Koppen Dfa): winters are cold but relatively dry, summers are hot and occasionally humid. With little precipitation falling during winter, precipitation is concentrated in the warmer months, when thunderstorms frequently roll in, often producing tornadoes. Snow tends to fall in light amounts, though blizzards are possible. Snow cover is not very reliable due to both the dryness and the frequent thaws during winter.

Monthly averages range from 22.4 °F (−5.3 °C) in January to 77.8 °F (25.4 °C) in July. However, the city is subject both to episodes of bitter cold in winter and heat waves during summer, with 14 nights below 0 °F (−18 °C), 40 days above 90 °F (32 °C), and 5 days above 100 °F (38 °C).[9] Temperature extremes have ranged from −33 °F (−36 °C) in January 1974 to 108 °F (42 °C) in July 1995.[9]

Law and government

Lincoln has a mayor-council government. The mayor and a seven-member city council are selected in nonpartisan elections. Four members are elected from city council districts; the remaining three members are elected at-large. Lincoln's health, personnel, and planning departments are joint city/county agencies; most city and Lancaster County offices are located in the County/City Building.

Since Lincoln is the state capital, many Nebraska state agencies and offices are located in Lincoln, as are several United States Government agencies and offices. The city lies within the Lincoln Public Schools school district; the primary law enforcement agency for the city is the Lincoln Police Department. The Lincoln Fire and Rescue Department shoulders the city's fire fighting and ambulatory services while outlying areas of the city are supported by volunteer fire fighting units.

The city's public library system is Lincoln City Libraries, which has eight branches. Lincoln City Libraries circulates more than three million items per year to the residents of Lincoln and Lancaster County. Lincoln City Libraries is also home to Polley Music Library and the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska authors.

Economy

Lincoln's economy is fairly typical of a mid-sized American city; most economic activity is derived from service industries. The state government and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are both large contributors to the local economy. Other prominent industries in Lincoln include medical, banking, information technology, education, call centers, insurance (such as Allstate Insurance subsidiary Lincoln Benefit Life), and rail and truck transport.

One of the largest employers is the BryanLGH Medical Center, which consists of two major hospitals and several large outpatient facilities located across the city. Healthcare and medical jobs account for a substantial portion of Lincoln's employment: as of 2009, full-time healthcare employees in the city included 9,010 healthcare practitioners in technical occupations, 4,610 workers in healthcare support positions, 780 licensed and vocational nurses, and 150 medical and clinical laboratory technicians.[11]

Several national business were originally established in Lincoln; these include student lender Nelnet, Fort Western Stores and HobbyTown USA. Several regional restaurant chains began in Lincoln, including Amigos/Kings Classic, Runza Restaurants, and Valentino's.

Transportation

Rail

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Lincoln, operating its California Zephyr daily in each direction between Chicago and Emeryville, California, across the bay from San Francisco.

Bus

A public bus transit system, StarTran, operates in Lincoln. StarTran's fleet consists of 60 full-sized buses and 9 Handi-Vans.[12]

Air

The Lincoln Airport provides passengers with daily non-stop service to United Airlines hubs O'Hare International Airport and Denver International Airport as well as Delta Air Lines hub Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. Regional jet service on Delta Air Lines to Salt Lake City and Atlanta was discontinued in 2009. In the past Allegiant Air departed Wednesdays and Saturdays to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas aboard their fleet of MD-80s. However, this service has ended in Lincoln and has been transferred to the Central Nebraska Regional Airport. The Lincoln Airport is also among the emergency landing sites for the NASA Space Shuttle.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1870 2,441
1880 13,003 432.7%
1890 55,164 324.2%
1900 40,169 −27.2%
1910 43,973 9.5%
1920 54,948 25.0%
1930 75,933 38.2%
1940 81,984 8.0%
1950 98,884 20.6%
1960 128,521 30.0%
1970 149,518 16.3%
1980 171,932 15.0%
1990 191,972 11.7%
2000 225,581 17.5%
2010 258,379 14.5%
source:[13][14]

As of the census of 2010, there were 258,379 people, 103,546 households, and 60,300 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 86.0% White, 3.8% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.3% of the population.

There were 103,546 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 29.6% of all householders lived alone.[15]

In the city the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 16.4% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,605, and the median income for a family was $52,558. Men had a median income of $33,899 versus $25,402 for women. The per capita income for the city was $20,984. About 5.8% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

The U.S. Government designated Lincoln as a refugee-friendly city due to its stable economy, educational institutions, and size. Since then, refugees from Vietnam settled in Lincoln, and further waves came from other countries.[16]

Sites of interest

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Education

Primary and secondary education

Lincoln Public Schools is the sole public school district in the city. There are six traditional high schools in the district: Lincoln High, East, Northeast, North Star, Southeast, and Southwest. Additionally, Lincoln Public Schools is home to special interest high schools including the Arts and Humanities Focus Program, the Zoo School, the Information Technology Focus Program, and the Entrepreneurship Focus Program.

There are several private parochial elementary and middle schools located throughout the community. These schools, like Lincoln Public Schools, are broken into districts, but most will allow attendance outside of boundary lines.

Private high schools located in Lincoln are College View Academy, Lincoln Christian, Lincoln Lutheran, Parkview Christian and Pius X High School.

Colleges and universities

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the flagship campus of the University of Nebraska system, is the largest university in Nebraska. Other colleges and universities based in Lincoln are: BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Southeast Community College and Union College.

Colleges and universities with satellite locations in Lincoln are Bellevue University, Concordia University, Nebraska, College of Saint Mary, Doane College, and Kaplan University.

Sports teams

Lincoln is best known for the university's football team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In total, the University of Nebraska fields 21 men's and women's teams in 14 NCAA Division I sports. Other sports teams are the Lincoln Saltdogs, an American Association independent minor league baseball team; the Lincoln Stars, a USHL junior ice hockey team. Lincoln is also home to the No Coast Derby Girls, a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association.

Arts, entertainment and culture

Lincoln's primary venues for live music include: Pershing Auditorium (large tours and national acts), Bourbon Theatre, Duffy's Tavern, Red9 (opened in 2009, previously P.O. Pears), Knickerbockers, Duggan's Pub (local and regional acts; smaller venues), and the Zoo Bar (blues). The Pla-Mor Ballroom is a staple of Lincoln's music and dance scene, featuring its house band, the award-winning Sandy Creek Band.

The Lied Center is a venue for national tours of Broadway productions, concert music, and guest lectures. Lincoln has several performing arts venues. Plays are staged by UNL students in the Temple Building; community theater productions are held at the Lincoln Community Playhouse, the Loft at The Mill, and the Haymarket Theater.

For movie viewing, Marcus Theatres owns 32 screens at four locations, and the University of Nebraska's Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center shows independent and foreign films. Standalone cinemas in Lincoln include the Joyo Theater and Rococo Theater. The Rococo Theater also hosts benefits and other engagements.

The downtown section of O Street is Lincoln's primary bar and nightclub district.

Lincoln is the hometown of Zager and Evans, known for their international #1 hit record, "In the Year 2525". It is also the home town of several notable musical groups, such as Remedy Drive, VOTA, the Bathtub Dogs, For Against, Lullaby for the Working Class, Ideal Cleaners, Matthew Sweet, Dirtfedd and The Show is the Rainbow. Lincoln is also home to Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine.

Annual events

Local media

Television

Lincoln has four licensed broadcast television stations:

The headquarters of Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET), which is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting Service, National Public Radio and Public Radio International, are in Lincoln.

Lincoln is one of the few cities without its own NBC affiliate; Omaha's WOWT-TV serves as the city's default NBC affiliate on cable, while Hastings' KHAS-TV is available in satellite locals packages. Most of Omaha's other television stations can also be picked up in Lincoln with an antenna, and all are available on cable.

Lincoln also has analog TV translators for 3ABN on channel 27 and TBN on channel 29.

Radio

There are 22 radio stations in Lincoln.

FM stations include:

AM stations include:

Most areas of Lincoln also receive radio signals from Omaha and other surrounding communities.

Print

The Lincoln Journal Star is the city's major daily newspaper. The Daily Nebraskan is the official campus paper of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The DailyER Nebraskan is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's biweekly satiric paper. The Clocktower is the official campus paper of Union College.

People

See also

References

  1. ^ Founded as "Lancaster".
  2. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (CBSA-EST2006-01)" (CSV). 2006 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. April 5, 2007. http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/CBSA-EST2006-01.csv. Retrieved April 8, 2007. 
  3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ "Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau | Why Visit Lincoln? | History". Lincoln.org. http://www.lincoln.org/visiting/whyvisit/history. Retrieved 2011-08-29. 
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  7. ^ "Capitol Beach, Lincoln, Nebraska Zip Code Boundary Map (NE)". Zipmap.net. http://www.zipmap.net/Nebraska/Lancaster_County/Z_Capitol_Beach.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-29. 
  8. ^ "Gaslight Village Populated Place Profile / Lancaster County, Nebraska Data". Nebraska.hometownlocator.com. http://nebraska.hometownlocator.com/ne/lancaster/gaslight-village.cfm. Retrieved 2011-08-29. 
  9. ^ a b c "Climatology of the United States No. 20: LINCOLN AP, NE 1971–2000" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. July 2011. http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/ne/254795.pdf. Retrieved March 13, 2010. 
  10. ^ "Climatological Normals of Lincoln". Hong Kong Observatory. http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/n_america/us/lincoln_e.htm. Retrieved June 7, 2010. 
  11. ^ "Lincoln Career, Salary & Employment Info". http://www.collegedegreereport.com/cities/lincoln. 
  12. ^ "InterLinc: StarTran Fact Sheet". Lincoln.ne.gov. http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/startran/factsht.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-29. 
  13. ^ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850–1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 146.
  14. ^ "Subcounty population estimates: Nebraska 2000–2007" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 18, 2009. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2007-31.csv. Retrieved May 11, 2009. 
  15. ^ "American FactFinder". U.S. Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml. Retrieved 6 June 2011. 
  16. ^ "'We've Found Peace in This Land'." Parade. October 10, 2010. Retrieved on August 17, 2011.
  17. ^ "Nebraska State Capitol, Lincoln, U.S.A.". Emporis.com. http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=126253. Retrieved 2011-08-29. 
  18. ^ (nd) Lincoln Children's Museum website. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  19. ^ (nd) Lincoln Children's Zoo website. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  20. ^ (nd) Museum of American Speed website. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  21. ^ (nd) Schleich Red Wing Pottery Museum website. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  22. ^ (nd) Sunken Gardens webpage. City of Lincoln. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  23. ^ (nd) Downtown Lincoln Association webpage. Downtown Lincoln Association. Retrieved 3/6/08.
  24. ^ "Lincoln Race Course - Lincoln, Nebraska". Lincolnracing.com. 2011-05-13. http://www.lincolnracing.com/lrc/index.asp. Retrieved 2011-08-29. 
  25. ^ "Historic Haymarket". Historichaymarket.info. http://www.historichaymarket.info/events/dock_stock.asp. Retrieved 2011-08-29. 
  26. ^ Sports Car Club of America Website, Sports Car Club of America, Inc.

External links