Omaha , Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska , United States , and is the county seat of Douglas County . It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River , about 20 miles ( 30 km ) north of the mouth of the Platte River . Omaha is the anchor of the Omaha - Council Bluffs metropolitan area , which includes Council Bluffs , Iowa , across the Missouri River from Omaha . According to the 2010 Census , Omaha ' s population was 408 , 958 , making it the nation ' s 42nd - largest city . Including its suburbs , Omaha formed the 60th - largest metropolitan area in the United States in 2010 , with an estimated population of 865 , 350 residing in eight counties . There are more than 1 . 2 million residents within a 50 - mile ( 80 - km ) radius of the city ' s center , forming the Greater Omaha area . Omaha ' s pioneer period began in 1854 when the city was founded by speculators from neighboring Council Bluffs , Iowa . The city was founded along the Missouri River , and a crossing called Lone Tree Ferry earned the city its nickname , the " Gateway to the West . " During the 19th century , Omaha ' s central location in the United States caused the city to become an important national transportation hub . Throughout the rest of the 19th century , the transportation and jobbing sectors were important in the city , along with its railroads and breweries . In the 20th century , the Omaha Stockyards , once the world ' s largest , and its meatpacking plants , gained international prominence . Today , Omaha is the home to five Fortune 500 companies : ConAgra Foods , Union Pacific Corporation , Mutual of Omaha , Peter Kiewit and Sons , Inc . , and Berkshire Hathaway . Berkshire Hathaway is headed by local investor Warren Buffett , who was the richest person in the world for the first half of 2008 . Omaha is also the home to four Fortune 1000 headquarters , TD Ameritrade , West Corporation , Valmont Industries , and Werner Enterprises . First National Bank of Omaha is the largest privately held bank in the United States . Headquarters for Leo A Daly , HDR , Inc . and DLR Group , three of the US ' s top 30 architectural and engineering firms , are located in Omaha . The modern economy of Omaha is diverse and built on skilled knowledge jobs . In 2009 , Forbes identified Omaha as the nation ' s number one " Best Bang - For - The Buck City " and number one on " America ' s Fastest - Recovering Cities " list . Tourism in Omaha benefits the city ' s economy greatly , with the annual College World Series providing important revenue and the city ' s Henry Doorly Zoo serving as the top attraction in Nebraska . Omaha hosted the Olympic swim trials in 2008 , and is scheduled to do so again in 2012 . A historic preservation movement in Omaha has led to a number of historic structures and districts being designated Omaha Landmarks or listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Since its founding , ethnic groups in the city have clustered in enclaves in north , south and downtown Omaha . In its early days , the city ' s history included a variety of crime such as illicit gambling and riots . Today , the diverse culture of Omaha includes a variety of performance venues , museums , and musical heritage , including the historically - significant jazz scene in North Omaha and the modern and influential " Omaha Sound " . Sports have been important in Omaha for more than a century , and the city currently hosts three professional sports teams . Omaha also has a number of recreational trails and parks located throughout the city .