Historic Omaha Maps

[Zephyr]

These are some maps I got out of the book "Cities of the American West: A
History of Frontier Urban Planning," by John Reps. Back when Omaha was
the territorial capital city of Nebraska.

Omaha's plat, 1954

Notice the Park from Davenport to Jackson, between 8th and 9th. This went
away after Herndon House Hotel built on the Park and the rest of the former
public property was subdivided. Washington and Jefferson Square, two
blocks north and south of Capitol Avenue between 15th and 16th, were also
vacated then. Washington Square became the site for the first County
Courthouse.

Omaha in 1869

The Capitol was built in 1859 at a cost of $110,000.

Plan of 1857

Omaha was officially incorporated this year, population reached 2,000,
and a depression hit later in the year.

Plan of 1866

The year before the capital was moved to Lincoln.

View in 1868

Most development was concentrated on Douglas and Farnam.

Elements of Omaha's first plans:

• Most streets were 100 feet wide
  Capitol Avenue was 120 feet wide
  Alleys were 20 feet wide
  Blocks were 260X260 feet

[Coyote]

Cool.
On the third floor of Dale Clark they have some old original maps of some of the train stop cities that still are on some Omaha maps. Portal is just outside La Vista around 108th and Giles. Can't remember how much of the plat was actually built but in 1890 it had a population of 60 had a Methodist church and the cemetary is still there - I think - can't wait till they finish that bridge to see what's there. Then there is Chalco that had a pop of 50. I don't know where exactly Gilmore was - somewhere in Bellevue - but it also had a pop of 30 in 1890. I have wondered about Lane - I think it was only a stop on the line - but it is still marked on Bob Boozer just north of W Center.

[Swift]

What are avaerage street widths now?