Omaha Street Names

[Coyote]

I have the book "Nebraska Place-Names" (1960, Univ of NE Press) that I use often to remind me who some of our cities or streets or rivers are named after. Some throw me way off, like the Loup River...

[BRoss]

This is fascinating! I do know that a lot of the older streets, such as Cuming, Burt, Dodge, and others, are named after military generals - many from the Civil War, some (probably) from the so-called "Indian wars." I agree, one person who can't be bothered to educate themselves shouldn't be able to dictate to the whole community. History is right there on our street signs, folks, open your eyes.

Actually Dodge was named after an influential Iowa senator who was a strong supporter of westward expansion: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Street" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[threeoutside]

Ah - good to know. Was that who the Dodge House is named after, too?

[Brad]

Ah - good to know. Was that who the Dodge House is named after, too?

The Dodge house is after General Dodge.

[Coyote]

This is fascinating! I do know that a lot of the older streets, such as Cuming, Burt, Dodge, and others, are named after military generals - many from the Civil War, some (probably) from the so-called "Indian wars." I agree, one person who can't be bothered to educate themselves shouldn't be able to dictate to the whole community. History is right there on our street signs, folks, open your eyes.

If you are interested in that, then you should check this out:

La Vista Public Library (October 14 - November 3, 2014)
Civil War 150: Celebrating Nebraska's role in the War of the States

[bigredmed]

Cumings and Burt were territorial governors. Capitol Ave was the street leading to the territorial capitol. South of Dodge, you have girl names like Emilie and Shirley.

These were wives or daughters of the developers.

[threeoutside]

Well, I was wrong, wasn't I - but at least I triggered a small outburst of info-sharing. Thanks, guys! Looks like *my* history-reading needs a growth spurt.

[damonhynes]

Not downtown, but my favorite street is John Galt Boulevard. It's named after a fictional character from Ayn Rand's book Atlas Shrugged whose life apparently isn't going anywhere. It received it's name because, just like character, it doesn't go anywhere.

Let me dredge this back up after six years: We all know it was named after the character, but...

1. Who did the naming? Developer? Big tenant?
2. How come no Taggart, Roark, Rearden?

[Bob from Omaha]

Not downtown, but my favorite street is John Galt Boulevard. It's named after a fictional character from Ayn Rand's book Atlas Shrugged whose life apparently isn't going anywhere. It received it's name because, just like character, it doesn't go anywhere.

Let me dredge this back up after six years: We all know it was named after the character, but...

1. Who did the naming? Developer? Big tenant?
2. How come no Taggart, Roark, Rearden?

Developer did it.

[damonhynes]

Developer did it.

Thanx!

[threeoutside]

Developer did it.

Thanx!

I didn't know developers read books!

[NeonMartiniGlass]

I wonder if there are any other patterns to the Omaha streets?

From East to West they increase numerically...

[Coyote]

Streets from A to Z are alphabetical, then comes the Presidents...

[threeoutside]

In the original core of downtown, the street names are also alphabetical north to south: Burt, Cuming, Davenport, Dodge, Douglas, Farnam, Harney, Jackson...I think they're all names of American generals, maybe someone can confirm that (or not)?

[Coyote]

Cuming Street: Thomas B. Cuming took over the office of Governor of the Nebraska Territory immediately after Francis Burt’s death.
Burt St: Francis Burt was the first Governor of the Nebraska Territory.
Webster St: Three possibilities.
California St: Named after all the Calibraskans.
Cass St: General Lewis Cass, was an active part in the fight over the Kansas-Nebraska bill. Cass was the Democratic nominee for President in 1848.
Chicago: Chicago, IL
Davenport: Davenport IA, where some bankers came from.
Dodge Street: U.S. Senator Augustus Caesar Dodge Introduced the Senate bill to organize the Nebraska Territory.
Douglas Street: Stephen A. Douglas was a U.S. Senator from Illinois who was integral in the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the building of the Union Pacific railroad.
Farnam Street: Henry Farnam, another railroad tycoon and proponent of westward expansion.

[threeoutside]

Thanks for the information! I knew I'd left some of them out.

[swinquest]

I have tried to search the forum and the internet....is there a database of all of the commemorative street names that are in Omaha? I was watching the City Council meeting this past week and there was 2 or 3 requests that got approved, so I was wondering if there is a database somewhere that lists all of them and their locations.

[Louie]

Idk, but by my house there is Dan Rock Blvd, which has a neat little story: https://www.ketv.com/article/man-gets-d ... im/7130641

[Stan]

Maybe not exactly what you're looking for but interesting none the less. https://douglascohistory.org/collection ... eet-names/

[Busguy2010]

Throughout my life, I was always fascinated with the names of our streets. The story behind them, the people they're named after, the ones Ive never heard of. Now, I basically know the streets like the back of my hand, to a point you could drop me on a corner somewhere, and give me another corner to go to, and it'd be a no brainer how to get there.

I was just looking at Google maps due to a recent discussion, and that brought out another fascination with our streets : Main roads that become obscure, quiet neighborhood streets. Or, rather, obscure neighborhood streets that became main roads. So I found it fun to pick my memory and the map, to find the ones that stuck out to me for their names and some of the surprising places I've seen/not seen them.

Probably everyone's biggest one is Dodge street. I don't think it's ever not a main road, except where it curves to become West Dodge, Dodge street does coexist with West Dodge for about 5 blocks from 79th to 84th. I notice that street names are generally maintained by their relative latitude, but Dodge street is one that is not. If you go out West where Dodge street would be located relative, it has a special name.

Next are Pacific, Center, Maple, and Fort. I always find it funny how you can be on any of these streets and find them either giant thoroughfares out west, or quiet neighborhood (even brick) streets over east. Leavenworth is another main street that you see becomes disjointed suburban neighborhood streets. Cuming as well.

There are also some streets that are major streets, but only for relatively short stretches. Cass street being one; it's really only a main road from 72nd to 87th. Same with Grover; its one of the main east-west roads from 42nd to 72nd, then immediately becomes a neighborhood street to 84th, and after that, is seldom named. I always find it funny for the short stretches in quiet West Omaha neighborhoods to have the street named Ames Avenue, given its reputation. Also how L Street is such a major street from 21st to 132nd, and then be a quiet, fragmented suburban neighborhood street after that. Same with any of the letter named streets. Some of them are barely there for a handful of blocks. F street goes from neighborhood, to industrial, to non-existent, back to neighborhood, broken up by the lake, and then becomes part of the grid way out west. Q street maintains its main street status aside from a few blocks east of 24th, and the mile in Ralston.

I also find it interesting to see historically named streets that you'd be hard pressed to pick out a few blocks of.

I could probably go on and on, but I'll pass it off to you all for now. So my question is - what street has meaning to you in your time in the city? Any that might be kind of obscure? Any that are a main street now that you grew up playing in? Etc., etc.

[BRoss]

I notice that street names are generally maintained by their relative latitude, but Dodge street is one that is not. If you go out West where Dodge street would be located relative, it has a special name.

This is generally the case throughout the city. Dodge St is 100 N/S whereas West Dodge Rd is 500 N (which is the alignment of Cass St and is why you don't see that much out west except for frontage roads). The alignment of Dodge St turns into Burke St.

All of the Street / West Road pairs are shifts in alignment. One odd one though is Center St. Towards the east end, it's 1900 S, but at 60th is 2300 S. Then once it turns into West Center Rd at 67th, it's 2700 S.

The phone book used to have a table of all the streets and their alignments.

There's actually a city ordinance (34-78 & 34-79) with the street names - https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/c ... 4-78STNODO

[Busguy2010]

I notice that street names are generally maintained by their relative latitude, but Dodge street is one that is not. If you go out West where Dodge street would be located relative, it has a special name.

This is generally the case throughout the city. Dodge St is 100 N/S whereas West Dodge Rd is 500 N (which is the alignment of Cass St and is why you don't see that much out west except for frontage roads). The alignment of Dodge St turns into Burke St.

All of the Street / West Road pairs are shifts in alignment. One odd one though is Center St. Towards the east end, it's 1900 S, but at 60th is 2300 S. Then once it turns into West Center Rd at 67th, it's 2700 S.

The phone book used to have a table of all the streets and their alignments.

There's actually a city ordinance (34-78 & 34-79) with the street names - https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/c ... 4-78STNODO

That's cool. I figured the 100 block out west was Burke or Lamp, and it is.

The other thing I found curious is how there are some main north/south roads that dont quite fit the 12 block grid. I think the biggest one being 90th street. Others are 42nd, 30th, and 13th.

Its funny to me that 90th street is such a major road, and then once it gets disjointed by the creek, you can find it as a quiet neighborhood street, for only a short stretch in the Westridge neighborhood.

[Brad]

Its funny to me that 90th street is such a major road, and then once it gets disjointed by the creek, you can find it as a quiet neighborhood street, for only a short stretch in the Westridge neighborhood.

Typically 90th would not have been the main road. If you do the 12 block (1 mile spacing) it should have been 72nd, 84th 96th, 108th, 120th., like it is in Sarpy county. I'm assuming 90th only became a main road in Omaha because way back in the day it was the north south highway to Irvington.

[BRoss]

The other thing I found curious is how there are some main north/south roads that dont quite fit the 12 block grid. I think the biggest one being 90th street. Others are 42nd, 30th, and 13th.

Most of those are on half-mile alignments (every 6). 102nd by Westroads and 114th are other examples.

13th Street is weird and basically takes the place of 12th Street, but is less than a mile from 24th Street.

[Busguy2010]

The other thing I found curious is how there are some main north/south roads that dont quite fit the 12 block grid. I think the biggest one being 90th street. Others are 42nd, 30th, and 13th.

Most of those are on half-mile alignments (every 6). 102nd by Westroads and 114th are other examples.

13th Street is weird and basically takes the place of 12th Street, but is less than a mile from 24th Street.

I forgot about 16th too.

I thought about it, and really in eastern Omaha, the only street to follow the 12 block grid is 24th. Aside from 24th, you really have to get to 60th before you see it really reestablish, and then 72nd is the real definitive line, and I think the first one to run county line to county line.

Ones that you'd figure ought to be there are 36th and 48th, but their places are really taken by 30th, then 42nd, 50th, and 52nd, respectively.

[Busguy2010]

13th probably is the weirdest one because if Im not mistaken, its the only really main road thats an odd number.

33rd has it's stretch, but its more of a neighborhood road. 32nd Ave is also a different one. Park Ave is also probably one of the very few north/south roads thats a name instead of a number, outside of the boulevard system. It probably would be 29th Ave if anything else.

[nativeomahan]

I’m guessing that 13th Street became a major arterial in large part both because of the rail yards on either side of 10th street being so massive and the fact that the terrain where 12th Street runs is much much hillier that up and down 13th Street.
Neither 12th or 13th continue as main streets north of downtown. 16th, 24th and 30th are the main options running north from downtown. Again I think rail yards and industrial facilities around 10th and 12th streets saw to that.

[GenX]

I’m guessing that 13th Street became a major arterial in large part both because of the rail yards on either side of 10th street being so massive and the fact that the terrain where 12th Street runs is much much hillier that up and down 13th Street.
Neither 12th or 13th continue as main streets north of downtown. 16th, 24th and 30th are the main options running north from downtown. Again I think rail yards and industrial facilities around 10th and 12th streets saw to that.

Carter Lake has a lot to do with that. If you notice driving east on Locust from 16th there’s a significant grade change. That’s the old shoreline.

[nebport5]

Next week's City Council Agenda includes an item for a commemorative “Jean Stothert Street” on 13th Street from Douglas Street to Harney Street.

[Garrett]

Head of the park, makes sense