French for “beautiful view,” Bellevue was more than just a pretty place for European fur traders struggling through a harsh winter when they first encountered Christian missionaries and Native Americans along the banks of the Missouri River in the early 1800s. Beyond the scenery, the help they received there kept them alive and productive, so the traders' choice of name reflected their gratitude when establishing a safe and breathtaking outpost in 1822.
Today, Bellevue is Nebraska’s oldest continuous settlement and is still revered for sweeping vistas of the Missouri River and surrounding hillsides. Fueled in part by a long-standing military presence, it’s the third largest city in Nebraska, behind next-door neighbor, Omaha and the state capital, Lincoln. With about 65,000 residents, “it’s a great location for families with kids because it’s on the outskirts of the metro area, so you can zip downtown quickly for work or maybe a trip to the zoo, but you’re also close to great Bellevue schools – and there are plenty of those,'' says Denny Bray, Realtor with Cuore Realty, LLC.
Bellevue’s history took a turn in World War II when a key bomber factory was sited at what would become Offutt Air Force Base, later the home of the Cold War's Strategic Air Command. Today, Offutt remains the largest employer, home to the reorganized U.S. Strategic Command, with nearly 10,000 employees. Bellevue Public Schools, Wal-Mart Super Center, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin are the next largest employers. The growth linked to the military presence is felt region-wide, says Erin Cejka, a marketing and communications coordinator with Sarpy County Museum.
“The newer part of Bellevue has all the comforts of a large city, including apartments and homes, grocery stores, restaurants, schools and entertainment,'' she says. "Bellevue has grown steadily over the years, thanks to Air Force families and those looking for an established community to raise their family with access to Omaha and Iowa.”
Bellevue neighborhoods range from historic to classic to brand new.
Every town needs an old-school Italian joint, and Roma Italian is that place in Bellevue.
Enjoy views of the Missouri River at Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue.
Stella's is always packed and is a Bellevue staple.
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High housing inventory and 20 parks
The city's first home, the Bellevue Log Cabin, was built in 1830 and is managed by the Sarpy County Museum. Today, “There are homes in every price range from early 20th-century cottages for around $80,000 to mid-century homes up to about $200,000 to new, custom-built, five-bedroom homes starting around $600,000,” Bray says. Two-bedroom condominiums have recently sold for about $150,000, while recently built New Traditional homes have sold for around $350,000. The median price runs just above $300,000.
Bellevue maintains 20 diverse parks, covering nearly 700 acres. “The most popular park in Bellevue is Fontenelle Forest,'' Cejka says. "The park is a large, heavily forested area with handicap-accessible walking trails. They have an amazing raptor-recovery program. And their Raptor Refuge allows visitors to walk across a suspension bridge and get up close to owls, hawks and eagles.''
Other parks in the city cater to sports, active play and more passive pursuits. An indoor waterpark is expected to be completed in 2026, Cejka says.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, open since 1894 and today exhibiting nearly 900 animals, is a 5-mile drive away.
A toll bridge across the Missouri River connects Bellevue to Iowa in the east.
Plenty of outdoor parks and activities are right outside Bellevue residents' doors.
Updated split-level homes are a popular style in the established Bellevue neighborhoods.
Residents of Bellevue looking for new construction homes head a few miles west.
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Abundant retail scene and expansive parks
With Bellevue’s history and diverse population, the city lends itself to a quirky array of uniquely named shops, restaurants and businesses. Sickies Garage Burgers and Brews, Lucky Chuck Skydiving and DogGurt (yes, they sell yogurt for dogs) are just a few. Ground Zero Hobby is more than a typical comic book store, offering role-playing games and plenty of board games. Roma Italian Restaurant and Stella’s Bar & Grill are long-standing casual dining favorites.
Walmart Supercenter is located at the intersection of Highway 75 and Fort Crook Road South. Shoppers will find Target, the Village Hotel and the Bellevue Conference Center at Twin Creek Plaza. The largest shopping center in the Bellevue area is Shadow Lake Towne Center, which has more than 80 retailers, restaurants and professional services.
The Sarpy County Museum researches and preserves the history of Nebraska’s settlement and expansion. From archiving Native American stories to digitizing historic photos of early railroad construction, their work is growing with their new museum at the Southwest corner of Highway 370 and 90th Street. The oldest manmade structure in Nebraska, Bellevue Log Cabin, and the oldest standing train depot in Nebraska, Bellevue Depot, are important historic destinations. The Bellevue Arts Museum hosts private events, educational classes and scheduled public events.
Platteview Golf Club is a private 18-hole professional golf course known for its mature oak and cottonwood trees, ponds and elevation changes. Bellevue Soccer Club is one of the state’s most notable youth soccer complexes and welcomes players and teams for instruction, league play and tournaments.
The Bellevue Riverfront Festival features live music, a carnival, food trucks and vendors that bring thousands of people to Bellevue each June. The Offutt Air Force Base Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show also features the Air Force Thunderbirds each August.
Residents of Bellevue stroll the quiet neighborhood streets to meet neighbors and get fresh air.
The city's multitude of parks offer activities and space for all ages.
The small downtown of Bellevue offers shops and restaurants along Mission Avenue.
Bellevue's collectors and hobbyists flock to Ground Zero Hobby for comics, games & action figure
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Environmental stewardship aims to protect Bellevue's future
In 2020, the City Council adopted the Sustainable Bellevue Environmental Stewardship Plan, which aims to minimize environmental threats. Goals include cutting energy usage by 30% by 2050, increasing tree canopy coverage by 40%, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. The plan will be monitored and updated every five years.
Temperatures range from hot in the summer to frigid in the winter, with nearly 3 feet of snow the norm. Tornadoes are a risk from late spring to mid-summer.
Highly rated public school districts serve 22,000 students
Bellevue Public Schools, which has a B-plus grade from Niche, serves most of the city, with parts of western Bellevue along state Route 370 served by Papillion-La Vista School District. Advanced Placement courses are offered at both Bellevue high schools. Papillion-La Vista School District earns an A-minus grade and is ranked the No. 1 school district in Sarpy County by Niche. Bellevue offers private school options, including Gross Catholic High School, which earns an A-minus grade and is ranked the No. 11 private high school in the state.
Bellevue West High is one of the three high schools in Bellevue.
Pawnee Elementary School serves students in grades K-5, many of whom are bilingual.
Logan Fontenelle Middle School is one of several junior high schools serving Bellevue students.
Entrance to Bellevue Jr/Sr High school with horse statue in front in Bellevue.
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Eppley Airfield’s massive expansion supports Bellevue and Offutt Air Force Base
State Route 370 connects western Bellevue to the eastern side and to the Old Town Bellevue area. Census data collected from 2018 to 2023 shows that residents’ mean commute time is about 20 minutes. U.S. Route 75, running north and south, divides Bellevue through its center, connecting residents with Omaha to the north. With this connection and proximity to Omaha, residents appreciate access to the largest airport in the state, Omaha’s Eppley Airfield, which is 15 miles north of Offutt Airforce Base in Bellevue. The airport offers 31 nonstop domestic flights and is amid a $950 million renovation and expansion.
Growth in healthcare and entertainment
Bellevue residents have access to nearby healthcare in the city but also benefit from being close to medical facilities in Council Bluffs, Lincoln and Omaha. Nebraska Medicine Bellevue Health Center opened in 2010 with an emergency center, a primary care clinic, physical rehabilitation services and a surgery center.
Construction on the highly anticipated Bellevue City Water Park is expected to begin in late 2024 or spring 2025. The city is also planning to welcome two new hotels by 2027 to support the water park's tourism. The city’s Capital Investment Program Plan highlights projects that enhance the living experience in Bellevue. Current projects focus on constructing new bike lanes, a new downtown fire station, on-demand transit services and road improvements.
Violent crime reductions are notable alongside population growth
The rate of violent crime in Bellevue tracks generally with that of Nebraska, but higher than the national norms, according to FBI data. Property crime comparisons are similar. According to the most recent crime statistics from the Bellevue Police Department, 2021 revealed a 2.3% reduction in overall crime throughout the Bellevue Community, as compared to 2020. This is notable, considering Bellevue grew by approximately 15,000 citizens over the previous five years due to an aggressive annexation plan.
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