Historic Cheney offers views of vast farmland and new development
As the Midland Pacific Railroad built west from Nebraska City to Lincoln after the Civil War, William B. Cheney envisioned a thriving village around the first station, which was built on his land around 1871. That settlement was called Cheney, now a neighborhood on the southeast side of Lincoln. Though it initially grew with small homes, schools, banks, churches and a post office, the idea of a standalone town never got further than 49 permanent residents by the 1940s.
Today, Cheney is an unincorporated and still-small community about 10 miles from Lincoln. And yes, the enterprising landowner who started it all was an ancestor of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born in Lincoln. About half of Cheney is occupied by 62 single-family residences, most built between 1920 and 1990. Industrial businesses, from self-storage facilities and engine shops to tire repair and painting businesses, occupy the other half.
Jamie Granquist, office specialist with Lincoln Parks and Recreation, who lives near Cheney, says, “It’s a cute little town that farms surrounded for years. While there are still farms nearby, new subdivisions are popping up just outside of Cheney. The land is beautiful around Cheney. It doesn’t have lowlands so it doesn’t flood when big storms hit.”
Chaney is a small, tight neighborhood community.
There are many examples of duplexes throughout Cheney.
1/2
Traditional and ranch-style homes are found in Cheney
Cheney has about 62 homes inside its boundaries, so sales are limited to one or two homes a year. Two-story New Traditional duplexes that can be rented as two separate three-bedroom, two-bathroom units have recently sold for about $375,000. Ready to renovate three-bedroom homes from 1977 have recently sold from about $130,000 to $200,000. Whether Cheney will remain its own community in the coming decades or be assumed into future subdivisions is unknown. But the popularity of the southeast region of Lincoln is evident with the number of new homes along Nebraska Parkway and Pine Lake Road.
Ranch homes can be found throughout Cheney.
There are several architecture styles found throughout Cheney.
1/2
Norris Public Schools are the fifth-best school district in Lincoln
Even though there are no schools inside the boundaries of Cheney, and students will have to travel about 13 miles to reach the nearest public schools in the town of Firth, these schools are top-rated Norris Public Schools. Niche rates Norris Public Schools as the No. 5 best school district in Lancaster County. Norris Elementary receives an A-minus grade from Niche, while Norris Middle has a B-grade. Norris High receives a B-grade from Niche and offers STEM, college preparatory and AP programs.
Norris High is an above average public school.
Norris Middle School serves grades 6-8.
1/2
Highway 77 links Cheney residents to Downtown Lincoln and Lincoln Airport
Cheney is 14 miles southeast of Lincoln Airport and 10 miles from Downtown Lincoln. The newly renamed Nebraska Parkway — it was formerly called Highway 2 — offers a direct trip that will take residents about 25 minutes or less, with Lincoln’s typically minimal traffic. Residents of Cheney drive cars as their primary mode of transportation inside and beyond the neighborhood’s boundaries. StarTran has one bus stop for Route 13 on Yankee Hill Road, which delivers passengers downtown.
The Nebraska Parkway is a great way to travel from Chaney.
Chaney is a small, tight neighborhood community.
1/2
Jensen Park is a Future Community Park but still welcomes baseball players
While no city parks are inside Cheney’s boundaries, 190-acre Jensen Park is about one-quarter mile west of Cheney. According to Granquist, Jensen Park is considered a Future Community Park. “That simply means that when new housing growth meets a certain level identified in the City’s 10-year plan, the park will then be developed with more amenities, like playgrounds, shelters, upgraded baseball fields and other sports fields.” Today, the park offers two practice ballfields and a natural area with crushed-rock parking. Granquist adds, “One day Jensen Park will be quite an asset to Lincoln Parks. It will be a regional park, which have more amenities than city parks. But even today, it offers much natural beauty. It’s topographically interesting with hills, valleys and an eye-catching tree line.”
Lincoln and Chaney have embraced the roundabout method of travel.
Jensen Park near Chaney is a work-in-progress but offers baseball fields for all.
1/2
Big box retailers are just across Nebraska Parkway from Cheney
Residents are less than a quarter mile from grocery, retailers and fast food. Walmart and Sam’s Club are right next to one another on Andermatt Drive. Big 10 Sports Bar and Grill offers pizza, wings, burgers and their Big 10 House Nachos. Menards offers home improvement supplies and same-day delivery. Lines move quickly in the mornings at Scooter’s Coffee’s drive through.
If you're looking to renovate that newly purchase home in Chaney, Menards is the spot.
Walmart near Cheney offers many things including the flowers you were hoping to plant.
1/2
Sandhills Global Event Center is 10 miles north of Cheney
The Sandhills Global Event Center, formerly the Lancaster Event Center, is the largest outdoor, fairground-style event center in Lincoln and home to the Lancaster County Super Fair, the largest fair in the state. The center hosts musical talent from across the globe, including Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, REO Speedwagon and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. It also hosts farmers' markets, first Friday events, marathons and bike races.
Sandhills Global Event Center is located near Chaney and hosts the Lancaster County Fair.
There are many events to enjoy at Sandhills Global Event Center near Chaney.
1/2
A newly formed house of worship calls Cheney home
The growing Catholic parish named the Vietnamese Martyrs Community, was founded in 2009. For several years they celebrated mass in their native language on Sundays and Holy Days at Sacred Heart Parish, just a mile and a half east of University of Nebraska’s main campus. To support the growing community, the Diocese of Lincoln officially established the former St. Michael Church in Cheney to be renamed St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions Martyrs Church. The church is located on 1st Street just off Yankee Hill Road, in the heart of Cheney.
The gardent and statue are beautiful at St. Andrew Dung Lac Church in Cheney.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Mary Thommi,
an experienced agent in this area.
Transit
Airport
Lincoln
26 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Cheney
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
2
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
64
Median Year Built
1977
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,362
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
11,325
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Mary Thommi,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
160
Median Age
37
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
20.6%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$101,042
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$105,897
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
100%
College Graduates
56.4%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
28.2%
% Population in Labor Force
83.7%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
29''
Average Winter Low Temperature
15°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
18''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
39/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
19/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
