Plains Indians were the first inhabitants of Lincoln
Lincoln is Nebraska’s second-most populous city, sitting in the southeastern corner of the state no more than 60 miles from Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. It was initially settled by Plains Indians who lived and hunted along Salt Creek, an ancient tributary of the Platte River. When European settlers arrived in the mid-1800s, many believed salt mining, with the benefit of newly built cross-country railroads for distribution, would make them wildly prosperous. However, startup costs and conflicts with political leaders in Nebraska watered down these dreams.
The floodplains along Salt Creek was inexpensive, so these settlers adjusted their dreams, built tiny homes and worked on emerging railroads until they saved enough to buy farms. The city was founded in 1856 as the Village of Lancaster and was renamed for President Abraham Lincoln in 1869. It then became the state capital. While the 16th president never set foot in the city, his name is used prolifically across the city: Lincoln Public Schools, the Lincoln Monument at the Nebraska State Capitol, the Lincoln Visitors Center and Lincoln Mall, leading to the capital, are just some examples.
Many consider Lincoln a college town and a mid-size city — it's the 71st largest in the country with a population of 292,627, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Two of the four campuses of the University of Nebraska are in Lincoln, which has a student population of about 26,000. Memorial Stadium in Downtown Lincoln is one of the country's most recognizable college football sites and is home to the “Sea of Red,” the popular name for fans of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.
The Chief Standing Bear Statue in Lincoln depicts a pivotal moment in Nebraska History.
The Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte statue is located in Lincoln.
Most homes in Country Club are surrounded by tall trees.
Country Club homes are lined next to the Country Club of Lincoln.
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Employment is high and growth is strong in Lincoln
With Lincoln Public Schools and the University of Nebraska the first and third largest employers in the metro area, education is a driving force in the city. The state of Nebraska, B & R Stores, a 34-supermarket chain, and BryanLGH Health System are the next largest employers in Lincoln. Other well-known employers include Wal-Mart Stores, State Farm Insurance and Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing USA.
Alongside its strong education industry, the newest employers in Lincoln include startups, tech companies and media companies, including Americom Communications, Hurrdat Media (video and analytics for Nebraska sports teams), Monolith (renewable hydrogen and clean building materials) and Hail Varsity, the university's sports marketing arm.
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird's most recent city budget calls for critical areas of infrastructure investment, setting aside funding for road and highway improvements and increased funding for parks and playground improvements. Another key priority for the mayor is the Water 2.0 project, which aims to secure a second water source for the city, assuring capacity into the 2070s.
The Nebraska Innovation Campus is an emerging public/private research endeavor being developed by the University of Nebraska near North Bottoms . It is being built on the 249-acre old Nebraska State Fairgrounds site. The campus's mission is to foster new and collaborative partnerships between the University and private-sector businesses.
Leading hospitals in Lincoln include Bryan Medical Center, with 664 beds and a Level II Trauma Center, and Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center.
The Sunday Farmers' Market at College View is one of the most popular markets in Lincoln.
Downtown Lincoln is the best place to discover new dishes.
Hawley residents get together every Friday through the summer to enjoy music from a local band.
Woods Park residents enjoy the nearby Lincoln Children's Zoo.
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Lincoln Public Schools are the No. 1 public school district in Lancaster County
Lincoln Public Schools serves 41,850 students across its elementary, middle and high schools. It is one of the few states that does not offer school-choice options and charter schools. According to Niche, it is the No. 1 school district in Lancaster County, which gives the district an A-minus. According to Realtor Matt Kirkland, the owner of Giving Realty and a real estate agent in Lincoln for more than 20 years, “Lincoln Public Schools are well-regarded and have been around for generations. Parents are proud of the public schools, and many are alumni, so there’s a strong loyalty factor here.”
The University of Nebraska is the state’s only public research university and a leader in American agriculture and veterinary science. Its College of Agriculture and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources have contributed to the development of drought-resistant crops and hybrid wheat varieties. It is ranked 21st among U.S. schools of agriculture and 55th worldwide. The school has contributed to the diversification of Nebraska’s farm crops over the past 150 years, ensuring the health and longevity of multi-generational farms in the state. The University of Nebraska has four campuses in Lincoln and Omaha: University of Nebraska-Omaha, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln and University of Nebraska-Kearney.
Nebraska Wesleyan University is located a mile east of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's East Campus . It is a private Methodist-affiliated university with 2,100 students and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the state’s No.1 independent regional university. It offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Prescott Elementary School serves students Grades PK, K-5.
Irving Middle School serves students grades 6-8.
Lincoln High School serves grades 9-12.
Students from Irvingdale attend Lincoln Southeast High School before graduating.
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Downtown and the Haymarket District are cultural and sporting hot spots
The University of Nebraska's Morrill Hall is the university’s state museum. It holds one of the country’s largest collections of elephant fossils, which once lived in Nebraska. The International Quilt Museum houses the world's largest publicly held collection, with 4,000 quilts. Downtown Lincoln is home to several respected art galleries. Keichel Art is four different galleries in one, each on a separate floor. Events often incorporate the rooftop for elegant outdoor gatherings. The Sheldon Museum of Art collections include 19th and 20th-century paintings, sculptures, ceramics and drawings. Timely exhibitions, including “Unprecedented: Art in Times of Crisis,” have drawn national attention.
Sports and large events, including classic car shows, ice skating competitions and national touring concerts, bring crowds to Pinnacle Bank Arena. It’s also the home of the University of Nebraska’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and has a capacity of 15,000. The 85,000-seat Memorial Stadium is home to the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers football team and their fans, known as The Sea of Red.
The Sandhills Global Event Center is Lincoln's largest outdoor event center and home to the Lancaster County Super Fair. Eight miles from downtown, it is the largest event space in the city. It hosts musical talent from across the globe. It also hosts farmers' markets, first Friday events, marathons and bike races.
Downtown Lincoln and Capitol View neighborhoods offer distinctive shopping and dining destinations. Billy’s Restaurant in Everett is 40 years old and is steps from the Governor’s Mansion and the Nebraska State Capitol. Kirkland says it's not uncommon to see the governor or other high-ranking state officials there. "Billy’s is one of the more upscale restaurants in downtown Lincoln and has a great reputation,” he says. Muchacho’s is small but stands out with its bright blue brick building and similarly painted food truck. Its tagline is “Coffee. Tacos. Beer.”, which explains its long hours of daily operation.
The Historic Haymarket district is a 30-block area between Memorial Stadium and O Street that offers more than 200 businesses, including restaurants, bars, art galleries and retail shops. Vincenzo’s has consistently been rated Lincoln’s top Italian restaurant by the "Lincoln Star-Journal." Its traditional menu and upscale setting welcome diners seven days a week. Canopy Street Market features an organized array of produce, dry goods, spirits and pre-made foods. With a tagline of “Where good food and friends meet,” it’s no surprise that they will order out-of-stock or hard-to-find products for customers. The Haymarket District is also where Husker Football fans converge after home games.
The historical Haymarket in city of Lincoln is a place for events and dining.
The city of Lincoln is the second largest city in the state of Nebraska.
Oak Hills residents enjoy watching their local collage team play in the Memorial Stadium.
Everett is located just south of the Haymarket area.
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A competitive housing market where homes sell, on average, within 14 days
The Lincoln housing market is strong, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 0.7% and a rental vacancy rate of 4.0%. Homes sell, on average, within 14 days. In August 2024, industry data reported that 320 homes were sold in Lincoln over the past 12 months, with a median single-family home sales price of $295,000. Housing in and around Downtown Lincoln includes mid-rise condominiums with 1-2- and 3-bedroom units that sell from about $150,000 to $700,000. Luxury two-story, four-bedroom units have sold for $1.2 million. Suburban neighborhoods, including Bethany in northeast Lincoln and Arnold Heights in northwest Lincoln, feature mostly midcentury modern homes from the 1950s to the 1980s that range from $100,000 to about $400,000. Historic neighborhoods such as Country Club feature Tudor, Colonial-style and renovated American Foursquare homes that have recently sold from about $200,000 to over $800,000. New townhomes in the young mixed-use development of Fallbrook offer townhouses in northwest Lincoln range from about $400,000 to $900,000 depending on the style and size.
A row of bungalow homes in Indian Village vary in style and color.
The Lincoln Country Club near Indian Village hosts several events throughout the year.
Thoroughly renovated bungalows from the 1920s can be found throughout Irvingdale.
The Porter Ridge neighborhood has sidewalks and easy access to parks.
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Lincoln’s park system has gained national attention
According to the Trust for Public Land, Lincoln Parks and Recreation is in the top third of park systems in the United States. The city has 166 parks, including neighborhood and mini-parks, and over 6,000 acres of natural greenspace. City parks range from 0.2 acre Government Square Park, one of the most photographed spots in Downtown Lincoln, to 1,472 acre Wilderness Park in southwest Lincoln. As the city's largest park, it preserves cross-country trails believed to have been used by the Otoe-Missouria and the Pawnee Indian tribes. More than 30 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails welcome visitors during the months of mild weather. In the winter, cross-country trails are well-marked for skiers. The park protects many rare birds and wildlife species and is highly regarded for its wetland and woodland habitats.
Lincoln also offers 22 golf courses, including 10 private, seven public and five municipal courses. The city offers more than 183 miles of paved bicycle trails in Lincoln. Wilderness Park offers 39 unpaved miles. With the increasing popularity of gravel biking, Lincoln has developed over 100 miles of gravel bicycle trails across the city.
Enjoy time on the lake with Lincoln Paddle Company at Holmes Lake Park.
The Union Plaza in Hawley has bike and walking trails for residents to enjoy.
A group of Lincoln friends enjoy playing pickleball at Peterson Park.
Discover defiant kinds of art around Union Plaza.
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The longest Main Street in the U.S. runs through bicycle-friendly Lincoln
The country’s longest straight Main Street — also called O Street and Route 6 inside Lincoln — is considered the city's spine and runs 59 miles inside its boundaries. Its total distance is 76 miles, starting east of Lincoln in Union then ending about 40 miles west of Lincoln in Utica. Interstate 80 crosses the entire country and connects Lincoln to Omaha and Wyoming, about 700 miles. U.S. Route 77 runs north-south through Lincoln between Sioux City, Iowa and the Texas-Mexico border.
Lincoln Airport offers direct flights to Chicago and Denver. It completed a $56 million renovation in 2024, including two new bag belts, new customer service and rental car desks, and a new restaurant, bar and frequent fliers club. From the most-distant residential corner in southeast Lincoln, near Cheney , drivers will make the 15-mile airport trip in less than 30 minutes with Lincoln’s typically minimal traffic.
Lincoln is a notably bicycle-friendly city. It was named a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists in 2019 and renewed its status in 2023. In addition to bicycle-friendly roads, the award recognizes Lincoln for having 11 bicycle-friendly businesses, including Cycle Works on North 27th Street. The award recognizes businesses that welcome cyclists, provide safe parking and hydration stations. While car travel is the most popular mode of transportation in Lincoln, StarTran is the city’s bus system, with 18 routes. Running on compressed natural gas, StarTran has gained attention for reducing maintenance and fuel costs for the city.
O street runs though the city of Lincoln.
O street takes residents to major shopping centers in Lincoln.
Saint Mary's Catholic Church is located on 14th Street in Capitol View.
The towering Nebraska capitol building can be seen from the homes of Oak Hills.
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Crime is low and four mild seasons enhance outdoor endeavors
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, Lincoln’s reported property and violent crime rates are generally higher than state and national figures. According to the 2023 Lincoln Police Annual Report, presented in May 2024, violent crime, burglary and thefts reached a 20-year low in 2023. The city’s mayor, Leirion Gaylor Baird, was quoted by local media on May 2, 2024, saying, “Today we live in one of the safest capital cities in the country.”
Lincoln’s four seasons will see the highest summer temperatures of about 89 degrees in July and the lowest winter temperatures of about 17 degrees in February. The city averages about 26 inches of snow annually, while June is historically the wettest month, with an average annual rainfall of 31.01 inches. According to First Street, a provider of climate risk data, Lincoln has a minor Wind Factor risk based on the likelihood of severe storms.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
