Welcome to Papillion

Papillion, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2020, has a long history of being named one of the country’s best places to live and raise a family. From Money magazine and USA Today to Bloomberg Businessweek and U.S. News & World Report, numerous national media outlets have sung the praises of this small, upscale town over the years. Add the fact that the Omaha Metro has a burgeoning reputation as a big player in the Midwest’s trendy Silicon Prairie, and Papillion’s future only shines brighter.

Well Known For:

   

Papillion boasts top-ranked public schools, low unemployment and crime rates, affordable housing, 19 first-class city parks, 18 miles of biking/hiking trails citywide, and two public golf courses. Its quaint downtown is packed with historical buildings repurposed for shops, offices, bars, and restaurants, while modern shopping, eateries, and entertainment lie a couple of miles south at such places as Midlands Place and Shadow Lake Towne Center. Papillion is a welcoming, comfortable place for singles, couples, families, and retirees.

Papillion, with a current population of just more than 20,000 people, maintains its small-town feel even though it’s part of Greater Omaha, currently ranked the country’s 40th largest city with a population of nearly 1 million. Omaha is a quick 8-mile commute away, and the growing technology park is even closer, as is Bellevue’s Offutt Air Force Base. Centrally located in Sarpy County, Papillion—also the county seat—is near Interstates 80 and 29 for commuting and travel ease.

Area Highlights:

Residents find fun at Werner Park, home of the Omaha Storm Chasers (the Kansas City Royal’s Triple A affiliate); Papio Fun Park, featuring mini golf, bumper cars, an arcade, and more; Papio Bay Aquatic Center, 5 acres of outdoor fun; and the open-air SumTur Amphitheater at Walnut Creek, host to national acts, concerts and local events, including free family movie nights. The Walnut Creek Recreation Area and Prairie Queen Recreation Area, for outdoor enthusiasts, will soon be joined by two new recreation areas—the Portal and the Big Elk, all complete with lakes, trails, and water-sport options.

Also available is Papillion Landing, opened in 2020, complete with a full roster of fitness classes and myriad fitness equipment choices, soccer and softball fields, batting cages, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, and a natatorium featuring a waterpark kids adore. In addition, there are meeting rooms, the Chrysalis Event Center, the 55+ Club, a coffee bar, and the Digital Learning Library—an engaging arm of the Papillion Public Library divided into the Interactive Lab for teens and preteens and the Computer Lab/Makerspace, open to all ages and complete with a 3D printer.

The Annual Papillion Days Festival is a popular summer event. It includes a carnival, parade, the Beer Fest, a giant fireworks show, and the Market in the Park for food, crafts, and family fun. 2020 brought COVID and the cancellation of the city’s sesquicentennial celebration, but the Wings Over Papillion Butterfly Bench public art project installed 34 benches and painted two Butterfly Effect murals around town. The Papillion 150 Butterfly & Pollinator Garden began construction as well.

Options for housing in Papillion include numerous apartment communities, senior living centers, and single-family townhomes, villas, and homes. More than 300 new homes were built here in 2020, from family-friendly communities to luxury living developments. Those in search of townhomes and villas should explore Ashbury Hills, The Cove, Lakewood Villages, and Southern Pointe. House hunters should check out the subdivisions Ashbury Creek, Ashbury Farms, Founders Ridge, Granite Lake, Lincoln Way, Shadow Lake 2, Southern Pointe, and Sumtur Crossing. Everyone will find something to fall in love with in Papillion.