Bellevue: Where “the good life” keeps getting better

It’s easy to feel right at home in Nebraska’s oldest settlement—and Sarpy County’s largest city. Originating as a fur-trading post in 1822, Bellevue earned its name from trappers who admired the city’s “beautiful view” of the wooded bluffs surrounding the majestic Missouri River.

While certainly a lot has changed over the years, this remarkable view remains today. One prime location is Haworth Park, where recreational trails wind along the riverfront into western Sarpy County and Omaha. The park is also home to the highly imaginative Lewis and Clark Children’s Interpretive Art Wall, which tells the story of the expedition through the eyes and artwork of children.

Bellevue is also one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation. Home to more than 60,000 residents and the 55th Wing and U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, the city is bustling with residential and commercial growth, sparking the creation of several new shopping and dining destinations.

Not to be forgotten is Bellevue’s commitment to heritage and civic pride. Here, visitors can see Nebraska’s oldest church, the Old Presbyterian Church, and oldest public commercial building, the Old Fontenelle Bank, both built in 1856. The city also maintains an 1830s log cabin, the Southern Railroad Depot, and the Sarpy County Historical Museum featuring hundreds of artifacts and dozens of historical displays.

Outdoor recreation abounds at Fontenelle Forest with 19 miles of boardwalks and clearly marked trails, hands-on exhibits, live animal displays, and abundant wetlands. Several other parks are peppered throughout the community, including golfing hot spots Tregaron and Fontenelle Hills.