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Lincoln, Nebraska
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The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second most populous city of the U.S. state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. The population was 225,581 at the 2000 census.
Lincoln started out as the village of Lancaster, which was founded in 1856, 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.
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Encyclopedia
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second most populous city of the U.S. state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. The population was 225,581 at the 2000 census.
Lincoln started out as the village of Lancaster, which was founded in 1856, 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.
However, Omaha interests attempted to derail the move by having Lancaster renamed after the recently assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. At the time, many of the people south of the river had been sympathetic towards the Confederate cause and it was assumed that the legislature would not pass the measure if the future capital was 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 city was recently named the healthiest city in the United States as of 2008.
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 cities 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 of Nebraska authors.
Geography
Lincoln is located at (40.809868, -96.675345). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 195.2 km˛ (75.4 sq mi). 193.3 km˛ (74.6 sq mi) of it is land and 1.9 km˛ (0.7 sq mi) 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 city that can be considered a suburb of Lincoln is Waverly.) This is due primarily to the fact that most land that would have developed as a suburban city has been annexed to the city of Lincoln itself.
Neighborhoods
- Arnold Heights: Located in far northwest Lincoln, this neighborhood also known as Airpark began as base housing for the adjacent Lincoln Air Force Base during the Cold War. The area originally consisted of 1,000 housing units and was annexed by Lincoln in 1966, after the base closed. All 1,000 units were originally managed by the Lincoln Housing Authority, today about half of the homes in the neighborhood have been sold to private owners. The area was also formerly known as both Capehart Housing when completed in 1960 (north housing) and the "Military Construction Area" when built during 1956 (South housing).
- Belmont:The Belmont neighborhood lies just north of Cornhusker Highway and south of Superior street between Interstate-180 and 27th street.
- Bethany: Bethany is located along Cotner Blvd. and Holdrege St. Originally laid out as a separate village by the Disciples of Christ, it was annexed by Lincoln in the late 1920s.
- Clinton: Located north of 27th and O Streets, Clinton is the target of ongoing revitalization efforts by the City of Lincoln.
- College View: College View is located along 48th St. and near Calvert St., adjacent to and surrounding the Union College campus; originally a separate village.
- Downtown: Lincoln's business district has a mix of offices, bars, restaurants and some retail. Events, housing, and other information about Downtown Lincoln can be found on the Downtown Lincoln Association's website at www.downtownlincoln.org.
- Gaslight Village.
- Havelock: Havelock is located along Havelock Ave. east of 56th St. in northeast Lincoln; originally a separate village.
- Hartley: One of Lincoln's earliest suburbs, Hartley is located east of Downtown proper, east of 27th St and north of O St. It is a mainly residential neighborhood of houses built 1890-1940.
- Hawley: Located directly east of UNL's downtown campus, the Hawley Historic District is home to a diverse population living in houses built in the early 20th century.
- Haymarket: One of Lincoln's oldest neighborhoods, the Haymarket is a historic warehouse and industrial district. In recent decades, it has become a dining, specialty shopping, and urban living district, with a variety of visual and performing arts and nightlife. The Haymarket has a weekly farmers' market from May to October. The area's website can be found at www.historichaymarket.info
- Highlands: The Highlands is a newer residential neighborhood in northwest Lincoln, located north of I-80 and near Lincoln Airport.
- Huskerville: A now non-existent neighborhood built north of Arnold Heights. Constructed during World War II, Huskerville was once the Lincoln Army Air Field hospital area from 1942 until 1945. After the war the area was converted into college housing and was most noted for a polio outbreak in 1952. The area was either removed or demolished in the late 1960s. The chapel, now protected by the National Register of Historic Places, is all that remains of Huskerville. A new development is underway here however including the construction of a new elementary school as of 2008.
- Indian Village: The Indian Village neighborhood is located from Van Dorn on the north to Highway 2 on the south, from 9th St on the west to 20th St on the east.
- Irvingdale: The Irvingdale neighborhood is located from South Street on the North, and Van Dorn on the South, from 9th St from the west to 22nd St on the east. The neighborhood has a mix of homes built in the early 1900s to more modern homes built in the 1950s, and is home to Irving Middle School, and the Stransky Park Concert Series.
- Near South The Near South neighborhood is located from G Street on the north to South Street on the south, and from 13th Street from the west to 27th on the east. The neighborhood is home to many of Lincoln's grand historic homes and is currently experiencing a strong revitalization effort by the Neighborhood Assn and City Officials. Many home-owners are deconverting properties that were once divided into apartments back into single-family homes. The Near South has coffee shops, restaurants, banks, and many other businesses. It is also home to Lincoln's beautiful Sunken Gardens.
- North Bottoms: Directly north of UNL's downtown campus, the North Bottoms is an area in the floodplain of Salt Creek that holds many low income houses. It is now home to many college students.
- South Bottoms: South of the Haymarket district, the South Bottoms, like the North Bottoms, was a neighborhood founded by Germans from Russia. Today, the neighborhood is noted for its architecture.
- University Place: University Place is located along 48th St. between Leighton Ave. and Adams St., near Nebraska Wesleyan University and UNL East Campus. It was an incorporated community before its annexation by Lincoln in 1926.
- West Lincoln: Located along West Cornhusker Hwy., West Lincoln was founded in 1887 and was an incorporated community before its annexation by Lincoln in 1966.
- Fox Hollow Located in southeast Lincoln, from 70th Streets to 84th Street, between Van Dorn and Pioneers. Middle to upper class neighborhoods near Holmes Lake. Fox Hollow is a planned subdivision and was constructed during the 1970s to present.
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 and the ), Woods Park, Holmes Park, Oak Lake Park, Pioneers Park, 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
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures | | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| Rec High °F (°C) | 73 (22.7) | 84 (28.8) | 89 (31.6) | 97 (36.1) | 99 (37.2) | 107 (41.6) | 108 (42.2) | 107 (41.6) | 106 (41.1) | 94 (34.4) | 85 (29.4) | 70 (21.1) |
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| Norm High °F (°C) | 33.2 (0.6) | 39.3 (4.0) | 51.2 (10.6) | 63.5 (17.5) | 73.8 (23.2) | 84.9 (29.4) | 89.6 (32) | 87.1 (30.6) | 78.8 (26) | 66.5 (19.2) | 49.1 (9.5) | 36.8 (2.6) |
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| Norm Avg °F (°C) | 22.4 (-5.3) | 28.3 (-2.0) | 39.4 (4.1) | 51.2 (10.6) | 62.0 (16.6) | 72.7 (22.6) | 77.8 (25.4) | 75.4 (24.1) | 66.0 (18.8) | 53.5 (11.9) | 38.1 (3.4) | 26.5 (-3.0) |
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| Norm Low °F (°C) | 11.5 (-11.4) | 17.2 (-8.2) | 27.5 (-2.5) | 38.8 (3.7) | 50.1 (10.0) | 60.4 (15.7) | 65.9 (18.8) | 63.7 (17.6) | 53.2 (11.7) | 40.4 (4.6) | 27 (-2.7) | 16.2 (-8.7) |
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| Rec Low °F (°C) | -33 (-36.1) | -24 (-31.1) | -19 (-28.3) | 3 (-16.1) | 24 (-4.4) | 39 (3.8) | 42 (5.5) | 41 (5) | 26 (-3.3) | 8 (-13.3) | -5 (-20.5) | -27 (-32.7) |
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| Precip in. (mm) | 0.67 (17.0) | 0.66 (16.8) | 2.21 (56.1) | 2.9 (73.6) | 4.23 (107.4) | 3.51 (89.1) | 3.54 (89.9) | 3.35 (85.1) | 2.92 (74.2) | 1.94 (49.3) | 1.58 (40.1) | 0.86 (21.8) |
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| Source: USTravelWeather.com |
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 banking, information technology, insurance, and rail and truck transport.
Three regional fast-food restaurant chains began in Lincoln: 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.
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 Northwest Airlines hubs Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, via United Express and Northwest Airlink regional jet aircraft, respectively. 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 Grand Island Regional Airport. The Lincoln Airport is also among the for the NASA Space Shuttle, and the top location located within the non-coastal United States.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 225,581 people, 90,485 households, and 53,567 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,166.9/km˛ (3,022.2/sq mi). There were 95,199 housing units at an average density of 492.5/km˛ (1,275.4/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 89.25% White, 3.12% Asian, 3.09% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.61% of the population.
There were 90,485 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.
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. Males had a median income of $33,899 versus $25,402 for females. 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.
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 high schools in the district: Lincoln High, East, Northeast, North Star, Southeast, and Southwest.
There are several private/parochial elementary and middle schools located throughout the community. These schools like Lincoln Public Schools are broken into districts and most will allow attendance outside of boundary lines if certain critera is met.
Private high schools located in Lincoln are College View Academy, Lincoln Christian, Lincoln Lutheran, Parkview Christian, Cathedral of the Risen Christ School and Pius X.
Colleges and universities
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the flagship campus of the University of Nebraska system, is the largest university in Lincoln. Other colleges and universities based in Lincoln are BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, Nebraska Wesleyan University, and Union College.
Colleges and universities with satellite locations in Lincoln are Bellevue University, Doane College, Kaplan University, Peru State College, and Southeast Community College.
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.
Arts, entertainment and culture
Lincoln's primary venues for live music include: Pershing Auditorium (large tours and national acts), Knickerbockers, Box Awesome, Duffy's Tavern, Duggan's Pub (local/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, the local Douglas Theatre Company (now owned by 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 downtown section of O Street is Lincoln's primary bar and nightclub district.
Lincoln, Nebraska, is the hometown of Zager and Evans, known for their international #1 hit record, 'In the Year 2525'. In addition, Lincoln is the hometown of the 1970s Horn Rock Band, STRAIGHT, known for the hit singles 'Save Your Breath' and 'Half Heaven, Half Heartache'.
Annual events
- March: Nebraska high school state boys' and girls' basketball tournaments
- First Sunday in May: Lincoln Marathon
- Early June: Cornhusker Boys' State and Cornhusker Girls' State
- Tuesday evenings in June: Jazz in June, an outdoor summer concert series
- Third Friday in June, July, and August: Dock Stock
- Late June: International Thespian Festival at the University of Nebraska
- Thursday evenings in July: Movies on the Green, movies shown on the green space near Kimball Hall
- Early August: Lancaster County Fair
- Second weekend in August: Capitol City Rib Fest
- Late August/early September: Nebraska State Fair
- Late August to late November: Nebraska Cornhuskers football
- Early November: Nebraska high school state football championships at Memorial Stadium
- Early to mid-November: Anime NebrasKon
- First Saturday in December: Star City Parade
Local media
Television
Lincoln has three broadcast television stations with original programming:
- KLKN (Channel 8; 31 DT) – ABC affiliate
- KOLN (Channel 10; 25 DT) – CBS affiliate
- KUON (Channel 12; 40 DT) – PBS affiliate, NET Television flagship station
- KCWL (Channel 51) – CW, no original programming
The headquarters of Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET), which is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System, 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, 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.
Radio
There are 22 radio stations in Lincoln.
FM stations include:
- KLCV (88.5) – Religious
- KNBE (88.9) – Religious
- KZUM (89.3) – Variety
- KFLV (89.9) – Contemporary Christian
- KRNU (90.3) – Alternative / College radio
- KUCV (91.1) – National Public Radio
- K220GT (91.9) – Contemporary Christian
- KTGL (92.9) – Classic Rock
- KJFT-LP (93.7) – Chinese-language Religious
- K233AN (94.5) – Contemporary Christian
- KRKR (95.1) – Talk
- KZKX (96.9) – Country
- KFGE (98.1) – Country
- KLTQ (101.9) – Light Rock
- KBZR (102.7) – Variety
- KIBZ (104.1) – Active Rock
- KLNC (105.3) – Adult Hits
- KFRX (106.3) – Top-40
- KBBK (107.3) – Hot AC
AM stations include:
- KFOR(1240) – News/Talk
- KLIN (1400) -News/Talk
- KLMS (1480) – Sports
Lincoln can also receive radio signals from Omaha.
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 Clocktower is the official campus paper of Union College.
Notable People
- Alex Gordon, MLB player who was born and raised in Lincoln.
- Dan Brown, is a YouTube star who became famous after his video on how to solve a Rubik's cube, which won the YouTube award for best instructional video in 2007.
- Dick Cheney, Vice President of United States under George W. Bush, Secretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush, former CEO of Haliburton Company. Was born in Lincoln, NE but moved to Casper, WY
- Don Wilson, was an American announcer and occasional actor in radio and television.
- Hilary Swank, is a double Academy Award-winning American actress, who was born in Lincoln, NE.
- Johnny Carson, attended college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
- Mary Doyle, was an American theatre actress who appeared on TV between TV credits from 1956 to 1982. She was born in Lincoln, NE and was the sister of the late TV actor David Doyle.
- Mignon Eberhart, was an American author of mystery novels.
- Robert Van Pelt, Served as U.S. District Judge in the District of Nebraska.
- Roscoe Pound, was a distinguished American legal scholar and educator.
- Ted Sorensen, best known as President John F. Kennedy’s special counsel and adviser, legendary speechwriter, and alter ego. President Kennedy once called him his “intellectual blood bank.”
See also
- Category:Buildings and structures in Lincoln, Nebraska
External links
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