Geography of Omaha

The geography of Omaha, Nebraska is characterized by its riverfront position alongside the Missouri River. The city's geography, with its proximity to the river was a factor in making Omaha the "Gateway of the West" from which thousands of settlers traveled into the American West during the 19th century. Environmental issues include more than one hundred years of industrial smelting along the riverfront along with the continuous impact of suburban sprawl on the city's west side. The city's climate is temperate.

Geography

Omaha is located at coord|41|15|38|N|96|0|47|W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 118.9 square miles (307.9 km²). 115.7 square miles (299.7 km²) of it is land and 3.2 square miles (8.2 km²) of it is water. The total area is 2.67% water.

Situated in the Midwestern United States on the shore of the Missouri River in eastern Nebraska, the Port of Omaha helped the city grow in significance as a trading city. Much of Omaha is built in the Missouri River Valley. Other significant bodies of water in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area include Lake Manawa, Papillion Creek, Carter Lake, Platte River and the Glenn Cunningham Lake.

The city's land has been altered considerably by human intervention, with substantial regrading throughout Downtown Omaha and scattered across the city. Minor land reclamation efforts, along with dams further upstream, have brought dozens of acres along the Missouri into usage. Many of the natural variations in topography have been evened out.

The highest natural point in the city is Belvedere Point in North Omaha.

East Omaha sits on a flood plain west of the Missouri River. The area is the location of Carter Lake, an oxbow lake. The lake was once the site of East Omaha Island. In the crux of Carter Drive is an unnamed sulpher spring, and located south of there is Hardwood Creek. East Omaha was once the location of Florence Lake, which dried up at some point in the 1920s.

Cityscape

Similar to many other Western U.S. cities, Omaha was developed on a grid plan with the city center at the Missouri River and Dodge Street. This intersection was initially near the Lone Tree Ferry, Omaha's impetus for founding; today the city's downtown surrounds the area.

Neighborhoods

An expansive city covering substantial area, Omaha has many distinct neighborhoods. Dozens of small neighborhoods spread across several distinct areas in the city's core areas of Downtown Omaha, Midtown Omaha, South Omaha and North Omaha. West Omaha, Northwest Omaha, Southwest Omaha and several Sarpy County cities and towns surround the city.

Climate

Omaha has a humid continental climate including warm summers and cold, dry winters. The city has an annual average of 32 inches of snow in the winters, which are relatively cold. Sunshine occurs 50 percent of the possible time in the winter and 75 percent in the summer.

Though located at approximately the same latitude as Rome, Omaha, by virtue its location near the center of the North America far from large bodies of water or mountain ranges, has a humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification "Dfa"), with hot summers and cold winters. Average July maximum and minimum temperatures are 88 °F (31 °C) and 66 °F (19 °C) respectively, with moderate humidity and relatively frequent thunderstorms; the January counterparts are 31 °F (-1 °C) and 11 °F (-12 °C). The maximum temperature recorded in the city is 114 °F (46 °C), the minimum -32 °F (-36 °C). Average yearly precipitation is 30 in (76 cm), falling mostly in the warmer months. What precipitation does fall in winter usually takes the form of snow, with average yearly snowfall being around 30 in (76 cm).

Infobox Weather
metric_first=
single_line= yes
location = Omaha
Jan_Hi_°F = 31.3 |Jan_REC_Hi_°F = 69
Feb_Hi_°F = 37.1 |Feb_REC_Hi_°F = 78
Mar_Hi_°F = 49.4 |Mar_REC_Hi_°F = 91
Apr_Hi_°F = 63.8 |Apr_REC_Hi_°F = 96
May_Hi_°F = 74.0 |May_REC_Hi_°F = 103
Jun_Hi_°F = 83.7 |Jun_REC_Hi_°F = 107
Jul_Hi_°F = 87.9 |Jul_REC_Hi_°F = 114
Aug_Hi_°F = 85.2 |Aug_REC_Hi_°F = 111
Sep_Hi_°F = 76.5 |Sep_REC_Hi_°F = 104
Oct_Hi_°F = 65.6 |Oct_REC_Hi_°F = 96
Nov_Hi_°F = 49.3 |Nov_REC_Hi_°F = 83
Dec_Hi_°F = 34.6 |Dec_REC_Hi_°F = 72
Year_Hi_°F = 63.2 |Year_REC_Hi_°F = 114
Jan_Lo_°F = 10.9 |Jan_REC_Lo_°F = -32
Feb_Lo_°F = 16.7 |Feb_REC_Lo_°F = -26
Mar_Lo_°F = 27.7 |Mar_REC_Lo_°F = -16
Apr_Lo_°F = 39.9 |Apr_REC_Lo_°F = 5
May_Lo_°F = 50.9 |May_REC_Lo_°F = 25
Jun_Lo_°F = 60.4 |Jun_REC_Lo_°F = 39
Jul_Lo_°F = 65.9 |Jul_REC_Lo_°F = 44
Aug_Lo_°F = 62.9 |Aug_REC_Lo_°F = 43
Sep_Lo_°F = 53.6 |Sep_REC_Lo_°F = 28
Oct_Lo_°F = 41.2 |Oct_REC_Lo_°F = 8
Nov_Lo_°F = 28.7 |Nov_REC_Lo_°F = -14
Dec_Lo_°F = 15.6 |Dec_REC_Lo_°F = -25
Year_Lo_°F = 39.5 |Year_REC_Lo_°F = -32
Jan_Precip_inch = 0.74
Feb_Precip_inch = 0.77
Mar_Precip_inch = 2.04
Apr_Precip_inch = 2.66
May_Precip_inch = 4.52
Jun_Precip_inch = 3.87
Jul_Precip_inch = 3.51
Aug_Precip_inch = 3.24
Sep_Precip_inch = 3.72
Oct_Precip_inch = 2.28
Nov_Precip_inch = 1.49
Dec_Precip_inch = 1.02
Year_Precip_inch = 29.86
source = cite web
url = http://www.nebraskaclimateoffice.unl.edu/normals.htm | title = Normals, Means, and Extremes for Nebraska | accessdate = 2008-01-07 | publisher = Nebraska Climate Office]
accessdate=2008-01-07
source2 = cite web
url = http://www.crh.noaa.gov/oax/?n=records-normals | title = Omaha Climate Records | accessdate = 2008-01-07 | publisher = National Weather Service]
accessdate2=2008-01-07

Environmental concerns

A recent report named northeast Omaha "one of the most dangerous toxic waste sites in the nation" after the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed that more than 2,600 children in the area have lead poisoning. [Eilperin, J. (2004) [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A11246-2004Nov24?language=printer Lack of Funding Slows Cleanup Of Hundreds of Superfund Sites] . "Washington Post" Thursday, November 25, 2004; Page A01] In early 2003, a large section of East Omaha was declared a Superfund site after thousands of yards tested positive for high levels of lead contamination resulting from a nearby lead smeltering plant that operated for more than a century. [ Hein, J (2006) " [http://leeterry.house.gov/Article_Details.aspx?NewsID=1341 House Passes Terry’s Bipartisan Amendment to Help Protect Children from Lead Poisoning] " Office of Congressman Terry Lee.]

Natural disasters

In 1877 Omaha's Carter Lake was formed by a massive flood which altered the course of the Missouri River. The Great Flood of 1881 filled the Omaha and Council Bluffs with water for almost a month, causing two fatalities and millions of dollars in damage. As many as 1,000 people were displaced by a flood in 1943, which sent the Missouri River, Carter Lake, and the old Florence Lake into peoples' homes and businesses throughout East Omaha. The flood of April 13, 1952 led to 40,000 people being evacuated from East Omaha and Carter Lake. President Harry S. Truman personally visited the scene of the flooding in Omaha and officially declared it a disaster area. [NDNR para 6.]

Several neighborhoods in central Omaha and North Omaha were severely damaged by the Easter Sunday tornado of 1913, which destroyed many businesses and neighborhoods. More than 200 people died during the event. [ [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/preservation/nature/flood/chpt22.htm "Story of the Great Plains Flood and Cyclone Disaster] ] [Sing, T (2003) "Omaha's Easter Tornado of 1913". Arcadia Publishing.] The Omaha Tornado of 1975 moved across 10 miles of streets and residences, crossing the city's busiest intersection at 72nd & Dodge. Three people were killed and 133 reported injured. Over 4,000 buildings were damaged and 287 were destroyed. In terms of damage, it was the costliest tornado in American history to that date, with insurance costs estimated at up to $1.1 billion (in 1975 dollars).

References