Brick buildings and strong community ties in Auburn
Red-brick buildings line the streets of Auburn, a small Nebraska city about 65 miles south of Omaha. Low housing prices and strong community ties make up the nectar that draws buyers to the area. “We lean into a honeybee identity,” says Leslie Clark, executive director for the Auburn Chamber of Commerce. “We’re a community that works together for the good of our hive.” The city plans to honor Nebraska's state insect with its first Honeybee Festival in September 2025.
Victorian, National and ranch-style homes on brick-paved streets
Some of Auburn’s centrally located streets are brick-paved, mirroring the buildings in the city’s historic district. Broad swaths of grass separate shaded sidewalks from traffic. Properties measure up to a quarter of an acre and include driveways long enough for one or two vehicles. A lot of the housing stock dates to the early 1900s, but most homes built between the 1960s and the ’80s include attached garages. Cottages, National and ranch-style homes cost $50,000 to $150,000, while Colonial and Victorian houses sell for $160,000 to $350,000. “Things sell very well here. We’re less expensive than Nebraska City,” says Jody Adams, a Realtor with Bernard Real Estate and lifelong Auburn resident. The Westgate Redevelopment Project, currently in progress, is expected to add 36 buildable lots to the housing market. “We’ve had grant money come in through the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund,” Clark says. “We just sold two new single-family homes, and the proceeds are going to be invested in other new homes under the same program.”
Sports, speech and Quiz Bowl teams at Auburn High School
Calvert Elementary School receives a Niche grade of B, while Auburn Middle School is rated B-plus. The B-rated Auburn High School also serves surrounding towns like Peru, Julian and Brownville. The high school boys basketball team won back-to-back state championships from 2019 to 2021, and the speech and “Quiz Bowl” teams perform well in regional tournaments.
Legion Memorial Park is home to sports courts and a public pool
Legion Memorial Park is home to the Auburn Municipal Pool, which features a corkscrew waterslide. Nearby tennis and basketball courts invite competitive play. Towering trees lend shade to the playground and picnic areas, and the veterans memorial offers space for rest and reflection. From July through August, musicians tune up on the brick stage for the Summer Sounds Concert Series. A walking path encircles the Optimist Lake fishing hole, and the golf course at Auburn Country Club is open to the public. History and cultural heritage are preserved at the Nemaha Valley Museum, where locals can research their family trees.
Auburn is abuzz with plans for the inaugural Honeybee Festival
The Chamber of Commerce hosts events throughout the year. Auburn’s Hometown Christmas is a highlight, but the city is buzzing with a new plan: The inaugural Honeybee Festival is slated for September. The University of Nebraska will bring an observation hive from its Bee Lab, and locals can compete in a “honey-bee-licious” cookoff. Other planned highlights include live music, street dancing and kids activities. The Nemaha County Fair rides into town for four days in August with midway rides and games, livestock shows and a parade.
Popular restaurants on J Street in downtown Auburn
Boutiques, thrift stores and specialty shops occupy brick buildings in Auburn’s downtown area, and several restaurants on J Street are local favorites. Options range from burgers at Dairy Sweet to deli-style sandwiches at Dutch Pantry and Mexican classics at El Portal. The Memphis pork sliders and brisket burnt ends at BBQ 136 have a dedicated following. Nearby, Arbor Manor serves premium steaks in a renovated Victorian-style house. Family Fare supermarket anchors a small shopping plaza on the southern edge of the city. “If you’re looking for Walmart, that’s like a curse word around here,” Clark says with a chuckle, “but there’s one about 20 miles from here in Nebraska City.”
Transportation
Residents have a 65-mile drive to Omaha and Eppley Airfield, the closest major airport. U.S. Route 75 offers the best starting point for trips to Omaha and Lincoln, about 70 miles away. Blue Rivers Transportation System offers on-demand bus service, and medical services are available at Nemaha County Hospital. Many workers commute to Cooper Nuclear Station, about 13 miles away in Brownville.
Historic red-brick churches serve the Christian population
Several historic churches serve the city’s Christian population. The First United Presbyterian Church and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church both date to the early 1900s and showcase Gothic Revival architecture, with red-brick construction, arched stained-glass windows and gabled roofs crowned with square towers.
