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Florence, Omaha

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Coordinates: 41°20′N 95°57′W / 41.333°N 95.950°W / 41.333; -95.950
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This article is about a neighborhood in Omaha. For the former city in Nebraska, see Florence, Nebraska.
Florence
Winter Quarters (1846—1848)
Former city
CountryUnited States
StateNebraska
CityOmaha
FoundedOctober 3, 1854
IncorporatedMarch 10, 1855
 • CityMarch 10, 1857
AnnexationJune 1, 1917
Government
 • Administrative bodyOmaha City Council



Florence is a present-day neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska, United States on the city's north end and was one of the oldest cities in Nebraska before being annexed by Omaha. Given the high concentration of National Register of Historic Places in the neighborhood, it is acknowledged that "The historic Florence neighborhood was a city before Nebraska was officially a state,"[1] and is regarded as "the historic front door to Omaha as well as the state."[2]

History

Starting in 1917, the neighborhood of Florence has roots pre-dating the establishment of the State of Nebraska. It was originally established in 1846 as Winter Quarters[3], which was largely abandoned by 1848. However, in 1854 the site was revitalized as an independent town, and in 1857 the Nebraska Territory Legislature officially incorporated it as an independent city named for the founder's adopted daughter, Florence Kilbourn.[4]

In 1917, the City of Florence was annexed by the City of Omaha,[5] and since then has been identified as a neighborhood in Omaha.

Modern developments

In 2024, the Florence neighborhood's main thoroughfare, N. 30th St., is undergoing road and mobility enhancements as part of a broader push to improve traffic flow and safety throughout the city. Florence is included in Omaha's traffic management projects, which aim to modernize signals and improve transportation routes in the region​.[6] Recently installed along N. 30th St., the Florence neighborhood is now home to six street-side bioretention gardens in a two-block area. "The City of Omaha Stormwater program will be maintaining the bioretention gardens and evaluating their performance periodically to make sure it is working as intended..."[7]

One recent neighborhood introduction brochure said Florence is "[j]ust a quick 10-minute drive away from downtown Omaha, this thriving neighborhood is filled with well-preserved buildings and homes dating back to the 1800s. Plus, there are plenty of down-home restaurants and family-friendly attractions like Alpine Inn, Mormon Trail Center, General Crook House Museum and the Bank of Florence Museum."[8]

Preserving Florence history

There have been several developments over the last century intended to celebrate the history of the Florence neighborhood. Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple was constructed in 2001 to commemorate the Mormon pioneers of 1846. The opening ceremonies and open house for the large temple drew thousands of visitors. The Mormon Trail Center in Florence is a museum interpreting the Mormon Trail and early Mormon-era history of the area, and the Mormon Pioneer Cemetery is a neighboring historical site today. Also of interest are the Mormon Pioneer Memorial Bridge, built in 1952 that carries Interstate 680 over the Missouri River. The Mormon Bridge Tollhouse, at 3010 Willit Street, was related to the operations of the toll bridge. The Cutler's Park monument on the northwest corner of Young Street and Mormon Bridge Road was installed in 2017 and includes educational information, and details information about the nearby Cutler's Park Cemetery.

The Florence Futures Foundation is responsible for fostering many of the historic preservation efforts in the area by working to enhance neighborhood identity and reverse economic decline by attracting heritage tourism.[9]

Historic landmarks in Florence

Landmarks in Florence
Name Built Location NRHP? Notes
Bank of Florence 1856 8502 North 30th Street October 15, 1969 This wildcat bank was designated as an Omaha landmark on October 14, 1980. It is a Greek Revival-style building built between 1850 and 1874.
Florence Boulevard 1892 Burt Street north to J.J. Pershing Drive Part of Omaha boulevard system, this was once called the "Prettiest Mile."
Florence Depot 1887 9000 North 30th Street Originally built at 28th and Grebe Streets.
Florence Firehouse 1888 8415 North 29th Street This landmark was severely damaged in a fire that broke out due to faulty electrical wiring on May 15, 1984. It was rebuilt in the Urbana Gothic style, a transition from the early Fremol style of most other landmark Florence buildings.[10]
Florence Mill 1846 9102 North 30th Street December 31, 1998 Also known as the Weber Mill, Mormon Mill, Grist Mill, and Old Pink Mill, this site is on the National Register of Historic Places and has two historic markers.
Florence School 1860s 7902 North 36th Street Also known as Florence Elementary School. It was recently remodeled, and now has a part of the school specifically for boy and girls club. It attends to students from grades kindergarten to fifth grade.
Fontenelle Boulevard Pre-1900 Military Road to North 30th Street
Keirle House 1905 3017 Mormon Street Declared an Omaha Landmark in 1997.
Mormon Pioneer Cemetery 1846 3301 State Street Used until 1848, LDS Church records indicate 359 pioneers are buried there.
Notre Dame Academy and Convent 1924 3501 State Street March 5, 1998
Old People's Home 1917 3325 Fontenelle Boulevard October 21, 1987
Potter's Field Cemetery 1870s 7909 Mormon Bridge Road Located next to the Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
St Philip Neri School 8202 North 31st Street The parish was founded in 1904; the school in 1922.[11]
The Shipley Cemetery
Potter's Field Location of an official Nebraska State Historical Society marker.
Fort Lisa
Cabanne's Trading Post
Encantonment Missouri and Fort Atkinson Pre-territorial military installations, are nearby as well.[12]


See also

References

  1. ^ "Greater Omaha", Greater Omaha Chamber. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "Heritage tourism may define future of Florence" Archived 2008-09-07 at the Wayback Machine, Omaha by Design. Retrieved 9/18/08.
  3. ^ Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska - Douglas County
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 127.
  5. ^ Reeves, R. (n.d.) Douglas County History Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine University of Nebraska.
  6. ^ [https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/city-of-omaha-gathering-feedback-on-addressing-traffic-troubles-in-florence "Omaha residents give feedback on fixing traffic troubles in Florence," KMTV (May 20, 2022). Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  7. ^ "Florence Streetscape". OmahaStormWater.org. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  8. ^ "Greater Omaha", Greater Omaha Chamber. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "About", Florence Futures Foundation. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  10. ^ Federal Writers Project, Nebraska: A Guide to the Cornhusker State, Nebraska State Historical Society, (1939) Online full-text PDF edition, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Retrieved 6/28/10.
  11. ^ "Parish history" Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine, St. Philip Neri Church of Omaha, Retrieved 6/4/08.
  12. ^ "A Directory of Historic Places in Florence, Nebraska" by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.

41°20′N 95°57′W / 41.333°N 95.950°W / 41.333; -95.950

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