Blair blends ancient and modern history with a growing modern economy
Blair is about 30 miles north of Downtown Omaha where nearly 150 years ago it stood as a key crossing point of the Missouri River for the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad. The city's 5 square miles are surrounded by prairie and the Loess Hills, an ecologically and archaeologically important part of Nebraska. It’s also surrounded by acres of undeveloped land and emerging subdivisions, which feed into Blair's blend of "country and suburban living,'' says Amber Tkaczuk, a Realtor with Nebraska Realty and a real estate agent for 15 years. “There’s plenty of available land for sale around Blair. By comparison, Omaha is pretty tapped out of buildable land." While the city’s population is about 8,000, the broader population of Washington County is more than twice that.
Nearby towns and historic sites include Fort Calhoun, Fort Atkinson, Kennard, Black Elk-Neihardt Park and the Cuming City Cemetery and Nature Preserve, many of which harken to Blair's days as a westward-migration gateway. Today, economic diversity drives recent successes of Blair, the county seat, says Paula Hazelwood, the executive director of Gateway Economic Development, quoted in Omaha Magazine. "Since Blair hasn’t relied heavily on one business, the community has been able to grow,'' she's quoted as saying. "We’ve had a diverse business base for some time but have recently experienced a higher influx of retail service. Blair is really a hot community right now.”
Auto dealer Woodhouse Ford, Great Plains Communications and Memorial Community Hospital & Health System are the largest employers in Blair. The city’s largest industries include agriculture, technology, telecommunications and healthcare. The newest employers in Blair are Novozymes, a biotech manufacturer that produces enzymes for biofuel, and Skywerx Aviation, at Blair Municipal Airport, which offers hangar space and charter flights.
The Blair Executive airport is a few miles from town.
Woodhouse Ford is a Blair staple for car shopping.
Memorial Community Hospital is located in Blair.
Great Plains Communications headquarters is located in Blair.
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Parks preserve local history while Big 10 Husker football is an hour away
Black Elk-Neihardt Park was established in 1975 at the highest point in Blair. The 44-foot tall Tower of the Four Winds serves as the centerpiece of the park, offering tribute to Nebraska historian John G. Neihardt, who wrote "Black Elk Speaks" a book about the life of Lakota medicine man, Black Elk. The park's 80 hilly acres include trails, picnic and camping areas and a disc golf course. In addition, the city operates several recreation spots, including a skate park, a public pool and ball fields.
With Blair’s railway past, the 1880 vintage Blair Train Depot is a natural destination for families and history fans. Its location inside Lion’s Park is alongside a bike trail, picnic shelter, playground, and horseshoe pits. In nearby Fort Calhoun, Washington County Museum offers three galleries that display an array of local history, including prehistoric relics and dinosaur bones, Native American artifacts, The Homestead Act history and details about Fort Atkinson and the Mormon migration west. Creative Connections Studio Gallery showcases art, gifts, and antiques.
While Nebraska Cornhusker college football fans can drive an hour south to attend home games in Lincoln, residents also enjoy supporting the Blair High School Bears.
Black Elk Neidhardt Park is a great place to enjoy a picnic.
The Four Winds tower is a favorite among visitors of Black Elk Neidhardt Park.
The train depot is a great place to learn about the history of Blair in Lions Park.
Enjoy the outdoors at Lions Park.
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19th Century homes, new estates and top schools
Buyers will find a mix of century-old cottages, bungalows, two-story traditional homes, and 21st-century New Traditional homes and estates on acreage. Older one-story homes needing renovations can be found for around $100,000, while four-bedroom custom homes on 5 acres can sell for up to $1.5 million. Lots and buildable parcels are easy to find in Blair from less than an acre to 70 acres.
Blair Community Schools has a B-plus grade from Niche and operates four elementary schools, A-rated Gerald Otte Blair Middle School and B-rated Blair High School. Blair Christian Academy offers kindergarten through fourth grade. Omaha campuses of Creighton University and University of Nebraska are the biggest four-year sites, and Metropolitan Community College campuses are scattered around the Omaha metro area.
Blair has many modern neighborhood homes.
There are many two-story homes throughout Blair.
There are many older homes in Blair.
There are many cottage style homes found in Blair.
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Memorial Community Hospital and new apartments reflect growth
Memorial Community Hospital is a mile west of downtown, and primary-care and walk-in clinic care are also available.
In July 2024, the Blair City Council approved the development of 132 apartment units between Highway 30 and Highway 133. Noting a long-standing housing shortage, the council stated that it believes this project will encourage future development south of downtown. In 2022, Dollar General opened two distribution facilities in Blair, which created about 400 jobs and nearly $140 million in economic investment.
Memorial Community Hospital is located in Blair.
Local retailers are increasing in downtown Blair
Washington Street is the heart of downtown. “Homebuyers enjoy the character of downtown Blair and its shops and restaurants,'' says Tkaczuk. "Many families have lived there for generations, but they’re very welcoming to newcomers.” Tighe It With A Bow sells home décor, gifts and antiques with a flair for repurposing while its neighbor Bra-Ta Boutique specializes in stylish and budget-friendly women’s fashion. Family Fare Supermarket makes it easy to stay close to home for groceries, and Wal-Mart is on the southern edge of town. New York Bar & Grill is a friendly place to enjoy casual food, shoot pool or watch sports. Just Mary’s offers classic diner food and regular trivia nights.
Blair residents can shop at the local Walmart.
There are many shops in historic downtown Blair.
There are several eating options in downtown Blair.
Residents love shopping at Family Fair in Blair.
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Flood risk in Blair demonstrated in 2011
The historic flood of June 2011 was one of the costliest and largest-scale disasters of its kind along the Missouri River. More than $2 billion of damage was caused by flooding in seven states along the Missouri River from Montana through the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri. . A levee broke in Harrison County, Iowa, just across the Missouri River from Washington County, flooding U.S. Highway 30 between Blair and the Missouri Valley and flooding the DeSoto Wildlife Refuge, about 6 miles east of downtown Blair.
Eppley Airfield is 18 miles southeast of Blair
Nebraska Highway 133, U.S. Highway 75 and Nebraska Highway 91 serve Blair. Drivers will take U.S. Highway 75 about 26 miles to reach Omaha Eppley Airfield. The airport is the largest in the state and is undergoing a $950 million renovation and expansion. Omaha Metro Transit’s Route 30 provides service to Blair. City Taxi Inc. and zTrip taxis also serve Blair.
Low crime and a risk of tornados
Blair's rate of violent crime is generally below that of the nation and Nebraska, as is the rate of property crimes. Blair is patrolled by its city police force, with seven patrol officers, one part-time officer, one detective, one animal control officer and a school resource officer. The department also runs a canine program, a citizen’s police academy and an online Crime Stoppers program.
Summers are hot in Blair and normal temperatures in winter can fall below 20. Nearly 3 feet of snow can be expected each season, and tornado risk rises in the spring and early summer. On Arbor Day, April 26, 2024, an EF-4 tornado with maximum winds of 170 miles per hour touched down in Bennington, Elkhorn, and Blair. Several homes were heavily damaged, and four injuries in Blair were reported.
Written By
Sarah Albiston
Photography Contributed By
Kevin Franz
Video By
Matt Pangman
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Blair, NE sell after 29 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Blair, NE over the last 12 months is $317,500, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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