Metro Region, NE Land for Sale

Nebraska's Metro region includes the counties surrounding the state's largest cities of Omaha and Lincoln, the state's capital. The region borders Iowa to the east. Other large cities include Blair, Wahoo, Fremont, Papillion and Plattsmouth. Economy of this region is primarily based in the service and manufacturing industries. The State of Nebraska is a large employer in the region, with Lincoln being the capital, and the University of Nebraska, with campuses in Lincoln and Omaha. Highest employers in the area of Omaha include Offutt Air Force Base and several large hospital systems. Other industries include finance, insurance, publishing, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, railroads, high technology, information technology, medical, education and truck transport. Omaha is also a popular location for tourism. The majority of the state's higher education institutions are located in this area, including University of Nebraska at Lincoln and Omaha, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Bellevue University, Bryan College of Health Sciences, Clarkson College, College of Saint Mary, Grace University, Midland University, Nebraska Christian College, Nebraska Methodist College, Union College and Metropolitan Community College.

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is located in this region, and is the only national or state protected area. With the state's two largest cities in the region, there are a large number of other attractions. Most notable attractions in the Lincoln area include the Nebraska State Capitol, Lincoln Children's Zoo, Frank H. Woods Telephone Museum and the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed, which displays physical items of significance in racing and automotive history. Lincoln also has an extensive park system, with more than 125 individual parks, which are connected by a 133-mile system of recreational trails. College football is popular in the entire region, due to Nebraska's team, the Cornhuskers. Attractions in the Omaha area include Henry Doorly Zoo, Old Market in Downtown Omaha, Fontenelle Forest and Nature Center, Joslyn Art Museum and Sculpture Garden, Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha's Botanical Center, Omaha Children's Museum, Neale Woods Nature Center, and also many paved running and biking trails throughout the city and surrounding communities, including the American Discovery Trail and Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which passes through Omaha.

Douglas County is located in the eastern part of Nebraska's Metro region, is the most populated county in the state, and is home to over one-fourth of Nebraska's residents. It is named for Stephen A. Douglas, a U.S. Senator from Illinois in the mid-1800s. Omaha is the largest city in the county and the state and is the county seat. Other cities in the county include Bennington, Ralston and Valley, and there are nine other villages, census-designated places and unincorporated communities. As mentioned, Omaha is a center of the economy, industry, education, employment, culture and tourism in the state and also Douglas County. Valley is home to the area's National Weather Service office, serving portions of Eastern Nebraska and Southwestern Iowa. Higher education institutions in the county include University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Clarkson College, College of Saint Mary, Creighton University, Grace University, Nebraska Methodist College and Metropolitan Community College.

Saunders County is located just west of Douglas County in Nebraska's Metro region. It is named for Alvin Saunders, a Nebraska territorial governor. Wahoo is the largest city and the county seat, other cities are Ashland and Yutan, and there are less than 40 other villages, townships and census-designated places. There are many opportunities for outdoor recreation in the county and nearby, including Czechland Lake, Mahoney State Park, Memphis State Park, Two Rivers State Park, Lake Wanahoo and a few county parks with picnic areas, playgrounds and an outdoor pool. Some additional attractions in the county include the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum, Saunders County Museum, White Sands Raceway, five golf courses and two art galleries. The county hosts an annual rodeo event. There are a number of quaint antique shops, specialty and gift shops in Wahoo and Ashland. University of Nebraska-Lincoln has an extension in the county, which aids in promoting agriculture, natural resources, consumer and family economics, community and economic development and 4-H and youth development.

Sarpy County is located just east of Saunders County and south of Douglas County. It is the third most populated county in the state, and has the smallest area of any other county. It is named for Col. Peter Sarpy, an early fur trader in the Bellevue area in the 1840s. Bellevue is the largest city and Papillion is the county seat. Other cities include Gretna, La Vista and Springfield, and there are 10 other census-designated places and unincorporated communities. The county is also divided 30 different census precincts. Offutt Air Force Base is located in Sarpy County, one of the highest-level military installations in the nation and has a number of employees. Bellevue University is located in the county, with more than 10,000 students enrolled and also Nebraska Christian College. Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium and Schramm State Recreation offer a scenic 330-acre area along the Platte River. It is also the site of the state's first fish hatchery in 1882, and now the old hatch house is a fishing management museum. Fontenelle Forest features 1,400 acres of woods, wetlands and waterways along 19 miles of walking trails, along the scenic bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. It also features a Nature Center with hands-on exhibits and live animal displays. Other outdoor attractions include the Bellevue and Keystone Loop Trails, Mopac Trailhead and Nature Center, Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail, Prairie Queen Recreation Area, Walnut Creek Lake and Recreation Area, featuring hiking and biking trails, boat dock and ramp, fishing pier and a lake island for fishing, Wehrspann Lake and Chalco Recreation Area, West Papio Trail and eight golf courses. Some additional attractions include Bellevue Pioneer Cemetery, a historic log cabin in Bellevue, Omaha and Southern Railroad Depot, Sarpy County Historical Museum, Weiss Sculpture Garden and Studio and eight breweries and wineries throughout Sarpy County.