Omaha : Nebraska

Omaha is a seat in the Douglas County. It includesDouglas, Sarpy, Cass, and Washington counties in Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa within its metropolitan statistical areas. It is an important railroad center augmented by the Union Stockyards and the meat-packing industry. The citizens of Omaha were always committed to social issues for example, Father Edward J. Flanagan's establishment of Boys Town in the Omaha area made the subject of homeless children an important national issue. Today, Omaha has gained popularity as an important telecommunications and insurance center. It is also home to the U.S. Air Force Strategic Command. It is also notable for its inexpensive housing, good schools, and relatively few social and environmental problems. It has been ranked 11th as the “Best City for Business and Careers" in 2004 by the Forbes Magazine.

Omaha is located on the bank of the Missouri River and is surrounded by rolling hills. It enjoys a continental climate with warm summers and cold and dry winters. Low pressure systems that cross the country also affect the weather in Omaha, resulting in periodic and rapid changes, especially in the winter. Omaha receives an annual average of 32 inches of snow.
 
Area: 118.88 square miles (2000)

Elevation: Ranges from 965 to 1,300 feet above sea level

Latitude: 41.26 N

Longitude: 96.01 W

Average Temperatures: January, 21° F; July, 76° F; annual average, 52° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 30 inches of rain; 32 inches of snow

Population: 414,521 as on 2005

Local festivals include:

    * Ambience Festival
    * Art in Bloom Festival
    * Douglas County Fair
    * German Day
    * Oktoberfest
    * Polish Festival
    * Polka Days
    * Railroad Days
    * Summer Arts Festival

Attractions:

    * Kenefick Park
    * Neale Woods Nature Center
    * Dodge Park
    * Wehrspann Lake
    * Lauritzen Gardens
    * FunPlex
    * Henry Doorly Zoo
    * Mallory Kountze Planetarium
    * Mount Vernon Gardens