Expansive stretches of flat land lend themselves to farms, ranches and rail yards in Lincoln County, and the small city of North Platte at its center is the hub for entertainment, history and culture. Strong ties to the past are evident in the community, but the future is what's on residents' minds. "Others and I decided in the past few years, after a slow population decline, that we're not going to let our town die," says Brandon Kelliher, the Mayor of North Platte. "We're going to turn it around."
Kelliher highlights three things that attract people to a city: homes, jobs and things to do. Jobs are plentiful in the city partly due to Bailey Yard, the world's largest rail yard, which is over 8 miles long and employs more than 2,600 people. Regarding new housing and entertainment, Kelliher says, "We have been successful at getting those up and going in the past five or six years."
North Platte maintains its population with events like Nebraska Land Days at the Wild West Arena.
Jobs are plentiful in North Platte, partly due to the Bailey Yard, which employs more than 2,600 people.
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The railroad still plays a major role in the city's economy
Union Pacific Railroad owns Bailey Yard and is the largest employer, followed by Great Planes Health – "The largest hospital in any direction for 100 miles," Kelliher says. The railroad is why North Platte grew into a city, and many distribution, trucking and manufacturing facilities set up shop along it. A new beef processing facility called Sustainable Beef will partner with local ranchers and bring 800 jobs to the city beginning in April 2025.
Interstate 80 passes through the city and spans Nebraska from east to west. North Platte-Lee Bird Regional Airport flies to Denver International Airport and will soon get a new terminal.
Buffalo Bill left his legacy
William "Buffalo Bill" Cody once called North Platte home and chose the railroad-adjacent location as the base for his traveling show, Buffalo Bill's Wild West. His mansion and the barn used for housing his animals and carriages in the off-season are on display at Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park. The frontiersman and showman lends his name not only to Buffalo's NFL team but to numerous locations throughout North Platte, like Cody Park, Cody Elementary and Fort Cody Trading Post.
Buffalo Bill lends his name not only to Buffalo's NFL team but to numerous locations throughout North Platte, like Cody Park.
Cody once called North Platte home and chose the railroad-adjacent location as the base for his traveling show, Buffalo Bill's Wild West.
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Dining at new restaurants in the Canteen District
Eighteen new restaurants have opened their doors in the past four years. Department stores, specialty stores and grocery stores are by the highway exchange, but the area's local restaurants and shops are downtown, which locals call the Canteen District. During World War II, a volunteer group called the North Platte Canteen fed traveling soldiers passing through on trains. Upwards of seven million soldiers were fed in 15-minute stops at the station. "We try to keep that tradition up in the community," Kelliher says. "The last time was probably five years ago, but it's still something the city enjoys doing even after 80 years."
Double Dips Ice Creamery is a favorite spot in North Platte for cold treats.
The Cedar Room in North Platte offers some of the most exceptional dishes in the Canteen District.
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New additions to the local parks
In the coming years, the city plans to triple the size of the community recreation center, add a lazy river and splash pad to the pool and build an additional skate park and pickleball facility. Many well-regarded golf courses are in the surrounding county, including Sand Hills Golf Club, which Golf Digest ranks as the eighth-best course in the country. "People fly into the regional airport on private jets, and we chauffeur them to the private golf courses north of the city," Kelliher says.
Visit the buffalo at Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park in North Platte.
North Platte residents enjoy outdoor time at Cody Park, which has plenty of outdoor activities for the entire family.
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Thousands of new residencies on the horizon
Predominantly single-family homes make up the city in gridded streets with small lots. Construction peaked in the early- and mid-1900s, creating many bungalows and cottages. The smaller houses, empty lots and manufactured units are the least expensive and sell for as little as $40,000. While the area has an older collection of homes, "2,000 new doors are coming to the city for residential purposes," Kelliher says. "About 600 of those are already built and are mostly apartments, but there are townhouses, condos and single-family units in the works." The city's outer edges have the most expensive and newest homes that sell for up to $500,000, with a few higher outliers.
While North Platte's $200,000 median price is half that of the national median, prices are increasing fast – up 8% from the previous year.
The median home price in North Platte is half that of the national median, although prices are increasing fast.
Many new residences, including apartments, are being built in North Platte on the outskirts of the city.
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Student internships with local businesses
North Platte Public Schools is rated a C-plus on Niche. The district extends north and south to include outlying areas in Lincoln County and offers student internships with businesses throughout the city as part of its Career and Technical Education Program.
North Platte Public Schools offers student internships with businesses throughout the city as part of its Career and Technical Education Program.
North Platte Public Schools is rated a C-plus on Niche. The district extends north and south to include outlying areas in Lincoln County.
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Important to know
North Platte has hot and humid summers with little rain throughout the year. As reported by the NOAA, there is an average of 29.6 inches of snow. North Platte is also in Tornado Alley, and the surrounding county regularly experiences small tornados and high winds.
According to the FBI, violent crime regularly happens at a rate below the national average, while property crime rates fluctuate more and are often above the national average.
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Average Home Value
Source: Public RecordsDisclaimer: 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.
