Welcome to Bellevue

Founded as a fur-trading post in 1822, Bellevue is Nebraska’s oldest town. Tagged by French Canadian trappers as Belle Vue, or “beautiful view,” Bellevue is nestled alongside the Missouri River, which gives the historical area its park-like atmosphere. Once Nebraska’s prime spot for trade with the Omaha, Otoe, Missouri, and Pawnee tribes, the city’s long and fascinating history includes stints as a Missouri River Indian Agency and as home to a Baptist mission and a Mormon settlement.

After a rousing start, the city’s population slipped when its dreams of being named Nebraska Territory Capital were lost to Omaha, but the city’s future brought other economic promises, which grew the population to nearly 55,000 today. Those promises are still some of the reasons its home county—Sarpy—was named in the 2020 Census as Nebraska’s fastest-growing county.

Well Known For:

Offutt Air Force Base, which was the prime mover behind Bellevue’s population growth. The Martin Bomber Plant, which built influential World War II airplanes, was also opened in 1940. Following the war, Offutt became Strategic Air Command headquarters, and today it’s home to the 55th Wing of the U.S. Strategic Command, aka StratCom, and the Air Force Weather Agency. Many military personnel become so enamored of Bellevue, they choose to retire here.

Today’s growth and economy, however, lies primarily in civilian sectors such as education and health. Kennedy Freeway’s construction led to a boom in commercial, industrial, and residential construction. Bellevue University, a highly respected private, nonprofit college, boasts a wide range of degree programs and a student body largely composed of nontraditional students. The Bellevue Medical Center, an affiliate of Nebraska Medicine and a University of Nebraska Medical Center research and education partner, opened in 2010.

Area Highlights:

Bellevue is ideal for those who find their joy primarily in the outdoors. The city’s topography lends itself perfectly to parks and wooded and paved trails. Walkers, runners, and cyclists can catch the Bellevue Loop Trail, the southern leg of the Keystone Trail System, which connects to numerous other trails throughout Greater Omaha.

More than 600 acres of city parkland lures residents outside. Fontenelle Forest Nature Center is part of a federally designated National Natural Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The 1,400-acre nature center’s showcase of riverside hills and trails provides numerous educational programs, children’s summer camps, a ropes course, an art gallery, an ADA-accessible boardwalk with expansive views, rugged hiking through forest, prairie and wetlands, even the Raptor Wildlife Refuge for rescued birds. It’s a place you’ll want to return to often.

Haworth Park snugs up to the Missouri itself and is a popular place for camping. The southernmost spot on the Bellevue Loop Trail, the park hosts the city’s annual, family-friendly Riverfront Festival, which includes the Nebraska State BBQ Competition. Bellevue Berry Farm, on the town’s western border, hosts an annual Renaissance Festival and popular Halloween festivities. And don’t miss the Bellevue Farmer’s Market, held every Saturday morning from June through September, in Old Towne’s lovely Washington Park. It’s small-town Midwest living at its best.

Plus, Bellevue’s locally owned food scene is second to none. As you might imagine because of Offutt, the city’s globally diverse population is reflected in many ethnic-centered restaurants. Vietnamese, Korean, Hawaiian/Filipino/PanAsian, Hispanic, Italian, Mediterranean/Greek, and a sushi restaurant named one of Greater Omaha’s best, all tempt the taste buds. A soul food restaurant was opened specifically to cater to hungry, homesick military troops—much to residents’ delight. And Stella’s, named frequently as Nebraska’s best burger, is known worldwide.

Options for housing in Bellevue include numerous apartment communities, senior living centers, and single-family villas and homes. Numerous new housing subdivisions have been added in the past three years, including such developments as Belle Logo, Cedar Grove, Liberty, Hyda Hills II, Lions Gate, and Spring Ridge. Wherever you look in Bellevue, you’ll find friendly, welcoming Midwesterners.