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BELLEVUE NEBRASKA HISTORY
First Presbyterian Church 1854
Bellevue,
Nebraska....the state's oldest city was incorporated in 1855. While its population
of almost 50,000 may not equal the crowd at a Cornhusker game, it is enough to place the
City third in the state, behind Omaha and Lincoln. Bellevue shares its northern border
with Omaha and its southern edge with Offutt Air Force
Base, home of U.S. Stratcom, a joint command staffed by members from all branches of
the military. Despite its growth and proximity to Omaha, Bellevue is proud of its
small town atmosphere
| The City of Bellevue began as a fur post
established by the Missouri Fur Company in 1822 to serve as a central trading point with
local Omaha, Otoe, and Pawnee tribes. It received its name from early trappers who were
impressed with the beauty of the view overlooking the Missouri River. Ideally situated on
the Missouri River with access to the Platte valley, it became a hub for transfer of
manufactured goods from the East and furs from the West. From the 1830s until the 1850s,
Bellevue prospered. With the decline of the fur trade, Bellevue changed during the decade
of the 1850s. With the opening of eastern Nebraska to settlement in 1854, Bellevue
experienced a building boom, with the erection of the First Presbyterian Church
(pictured), a bank, a hotel, and dozens of private homes. The boom was short-lived, however. The expansion had been built on the premise
that the city was to be selected as the territorial capital. As the oldest and most widely
known settlement in the territory, it seemed a logical choice. In fact, the territorial
governor , Francis Burt, had already moved into a residence in Bellevue. Shortly after he
arrived, the new governor died. His replacement, T.B. Cuming, selected a new upstart
community as the territorial capital -Omaha.
The second half of the century witnessed Bellevue's slip
into relative obscurity. While Omaha grew from a few hundred in population in 1855 to
104,000 in 1890, Bellevue's numbers continued to slide until the city was near extinction.
In 1876, the county seat was transferred to Papillion, 10 miles to the west. In the 1880s,
Bellevue College was established. In the 1890s, an offer of inexpensive land brought Fort
Crook to the Bellevue area. Both organizations provided an insurance against extinction.
It would be the fort, however, that would cause the biggest impetus to Bellevue's
population in the future.
From the 1880s to 1940,
Bellevue's population grew only minimally, from around 500 to not more than 1200 in 1940.
The small growth was primarily due to the improved transportation access to Omaha, which
allowed for easier commuting.
It was Fort Crook, later named Offutt
Air Force Base, that spurred Bellevue's largest growth. When Offutt became home to the
huge Martin bomber plant during World War II and then , shortly after the war, housed the
headquarters of the Strategic Air Command, thousands of workers, both civilian and
military, made Bellevue their home. Bellevue's population grew from less than 1200 in
1940, to almost 4000 in 1950 and then almost 9000 ten years later. A decade later,
Bellevue's population again more than doubled,to over 20,000.
Today, Bellevue's growth is primarily
due to an expanding economy in the civilian sector. With the opening of the Kennedy
Freeway, a limited access highway linked to the interstate system, a new building boom is
in progress. Commercial, industrial, and \residential construction are all expanding.
Bellevue has finally fulfilled the promise that its founders saw nearly two centuries ago.
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When Lewis and Clark camped in Sarpy County 195 years ago on
their way to discovering the west, they had no way of knowing that modern day discoverers
would someday be following in their footsteps to enjoy the area's rich history.
Nebraska's origins began here. Lewis and Clark had an encampment here.
Visitors can see landmarks that commemorate our state and nation's pioneer,
transportation, military and cultural heritage that will satisfy the history buff's desire
to know who and what came before us.
Historic Bellevue
Bellevue is rich in the history of the early pioneers. Explore the 1835 Log Cabin,
tour the restored First Presbyterian Church and the Fontenelle Bank, the first commercial
building in Nebraska. Stop by the Omaha and Southern Railroad Depot, built in 1869.
The Bellevue Pioneer Cemetery shows the family names of the area's early
pioneer families. Tour historic sites on your own or by free guided tour. Call
(402) 293-3080 or 1-800-GO-SARPY for tour information.
Historic Fort Crook
The prestigious Offutt Air Force Base began its great heritage as Fort Crook, an army
outpost, when it was completed in 1896. The original name came from Major General
George Crook, the guard house, various enlisted and officers' quarters, and former parade
grounds, are still in use today. After operating as Headquarters, Strategic Air
Command (SAC) for forty-four years, the Base became the headquarters of the U.S. Strategic
Command (STRATCOM) in June, 1992.
Historic Papillion
The J. Sautter House is a 130 year old farmstead home, reminiscent of early, midwestern
German-American architecture. The restored, one-room Portal school was recently
moved to this same site. Scheduled tours only, (402) 339-8149. 3rd &
Washington Street, Papillion.
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