Located at the crossroads of two of Nebraska's busiest thoroughfares, Interstate-80 and Lincoln Highway, Kearney has come a long way from the Oregon Trail days and being a stop on the Union Pacific Railroad during the Civil War. Today, transportation continues to be important, with thousands of commuters driving into the city every day. Kearney's population has grown to 34,360 as of 2023, making it Nebraska's fifth-largest city.
Kearney has also grown to include several notable museums and a thriving downtown area that's referred to as Downtown Kearney on the Bricks. Today, major drivers of the economy include the University of Nebraska at Kearney and the Younes Conference Center, a business, hotel and dining complex that attracts over 725,000 visitors to the city per year. Other popular employers include manufacturing companies like Parker Hannifin and American Greetings as well as medical centers like Kearney Regional Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital.
Kearney
Officially certified as the city's first Nebraska Creative District, Downtown on the Bricks is Kearney's main hub for shopping and dining.
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Going out in Downtown on the Bricks
Officially certified as the city's first Nebraska Creative District, Downtown on the Bricks is Kearney's main hub for shopping and dining. The area's brick-paved streets come together with pubs and local restaurants, attracting buzzy energy from college kids and young professionals to form the center of Kearney's arts and cultural scene. Microbreweries like Thunderhead Brewing and the Platte Valley Brewery offer in-house drinks and a fun environment.
The Art Alleyways Project is a plan for 2025 to add more murals to the district and transform its alleyways into colorful spaces that host live music and pop-up galleries. "Downtown on the Bricks is a really vibrant place. There are lots of coffee places and restaurants that always make it a great time to visit," says Stephanie Novoa, an area local and Realtor with Go Home Realty. For more options, Hilltop Mall is just north of the city with a Walmart, gym and movie theater.
Kearney
Visit The Toasted Goat in Kearney's Downtown on the Bricks. They offer great drinks and a fun environment.
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An expanding housing market in Buffalo County
Kearney's growth has also been marked by an increasingly active housing market, with the median sales price rising to $349,400 in 2024. "There's definitely been some new development in outlying parts of town. You can find anything from a three-bedroom selling for $150,000 to a newly built four-bedroom going for $500,000," Novoa says.
While Classical Revival architecture from the Industrial Revolution can be found downtown, traditional wooden homes from the 1920s and midcentury cottages are more common throughout the city. Newly built properties in areas like Glenwood offer larger floorplans and lots ranging up to two acres.
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Kearney
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Kearney Public Schools and learning at UNK
Kearney Public Schools is rated as the best school district in Buffalo County and receives a B-plus from Niche. The county serves over 6,000 students with 14 schools across the city. Kearney Senior High School offers vocational programs like the construction technology class, which has built 35 houses.
Graduates can attend Central Community College or the University of Nebraska at Kearney, which has leading undergraduate programs in nursing, engineering and technology. "I went to school at UNK. The schools really help bring some energy to the city's culture and kind of make it feel like a college town," Novoa says.
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Kearney
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Getting around Midway City
The city of Kearney doesn't have public transportation of its own, but residents can call the R.Y.D.E. Transit System to schedule a bus anywhere throughout Buffalo County or its surrounding areas. The second longest interstate highway in the U.S., Interstate 80, passes just south of the city, opening up Kearney to surrounding areas. For connecting flights to Denver and Chicago, Kearney Regional Airport is 5 miles east of downtown.
Historic and creative attractions in Kearney
One of Kearney's attractions is its large number of museums and art venues. With a walkway bridging across Interstate 80, the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument commemorates Kearney's history along the Great Platte River Road during the time of the Oregon Trail. Other highlights include the Museum of Nebraska Art, the Trails & Rails Museum, and the Robert M. Merryman Performing Arts Center.
Younes Conference Center is an extensive convention complex with space for businesses, weddings and overnight stays. "They invest lots of money into the city," Novoa says, explaining that the complex attracts business to Kearney with multiple hotels and restaurants along Interstate 80.
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Kearney
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Getting out along the Platte River
The City of Kearney's Parks and Recreation Department maintains 18 parks throughout the city, from play areas and boat rentals at Yanney Heritage Park to educational opportunities at the Great Plains Cultural Learning Trail. Fishing is popular on the nearby Platte River, where visitors can also see millions of waterfowl traveling their migration routes during Spring and Fall.
Kearney has four distinct seasons, with relatively mild summers and cold winters that bring lots of snow. Kearney receives an average annual snowfall of 24 inches per year, making it less snowy than most places in Nebraska. Flood damage from the Platte River is considered unlikely, though a system of dams, levees and diversions maintained by the Central Platte Natural Resources District help guard against it.
Fishing is popular on the nearby Platte River, where visitors can also see millions of waterfowl traveling their migration routes during Spring and Fall just south of Kearney.
Outdoor education opportunities in Kearney include the Great Plains Cultural Learning Trail.
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Important to know
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Kearney's violent and property crime rates are both lower than the national average. Rates for both have also decreased in the last decade, with violent crimes decreasing by over 20%. The UNK Police Department has several free programs aimed at preventing crime in the city, including basic self-defense and sexual assault prevention.
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