Did you know? The city of Beatrice, NE was settled by pioneers who were sailing up the Missouri River from St. Louis on the steamboat, Hannibal. The steamboat ran around and 35 of the passengers decided to form the Nebraska Association. The city was named for the oldest daughter of the first president of the Nebraska Association, Julia Beatrice Kinney. It was incorporated as a town in the year 1871 and in 1873 became a city.
Beatrice, NE is a quaint town located in the charming Gage County. It is steeped in history and played a very important role in the homesteading of America's once wild prairie land. Beatrice is such a remarkable city that it even made it into Laura Ingalls Wilder's diaries. Even now, so many centuries later, Beatrice is still an amazing city. According to the 2010 census, there were 12,496 people living in this quaint little city. It is located right where the DeRoin Trail crossed over the Big Blue River.
Moving To Beatrice, NE
If you're considering a search for apartments in Beatrice, Nebraska, you are definitely making a wise decision. Beatrice has a livability rating of 75. The city is ranked # 87 in Nebraska due to their low cost of living, high per capita income, lots of amenities available in the local area, and the very stable housing market, making it fairly easy to find an apartment here!
Based on 2010 estimates, the median home value in the town of Beatrice is a bit higher than the Nebraska average, but is actually 53.2 percent lower than the national home value average. The average price asked for homes for sale in Beatrice is 37.7 percent lower than the National average. Finally, the average rental rate in the city of Beatrice is .8 percent higher than the average in the state of Nebraska, but is 31.4 percent lower than National averages. Ask your realtor about any particular things you're looking for, such as serviced apartments or proximity to shops and restaurants. If you want to move, you may want to start looking now, as there aren't a huge amount of vacant rental homes in Beatrice right now.
Living in Beatrice, NE
Life in Beatrice is pretty great any way you slice it. There aren't really any neighborhoods here because the town is so tiny, but there is plenty to do no matter where you're living! There are several historical sites and monuments in and near Beatrice. There are also several exciting local festivals such as, The Heartland Storytelling Festival, The Gage County Fair and Expo, and The Winter Festival of Prairie Culture. In addition, the Rockford Lake State Recreation area and the Historic Oregon Trail have facilities for outdoor and recreational activities. You can find out as much as you like on the town's history by visiting the Beatrice Public Library and the Gage County Historical Museum. The Museum is housed in the Burlington Railroad Depot from 1906 and is run by the Gage County Historical Society.
A visit to the 1887 Shmuck Building, which houses Yesterday's Lady will find you taking a step back into time- back when ladies were valued and their bodies were respected. This museum pays respect to women's fashion and allows you and your female friends to try on vintage clothing- allowing you to literally step into the patent leather shoes of your ancestors. Additionally, you will learn so much about the history of women's fashion through the various exhibits. From the full length dresses of the Victorian Era to the 1950s aprons, to the sexy, satiny baby dolls of the 1960s, this museum displays them all. There are also some amusing exhibits, such as "The History of the Bra: An Uplifting Story" and "To Top it Off: Hat Show" that will leave you with a smile or two.
For those families who want to get out of the heat of summer, visit The Beatrice Big Blue Water Park. They have a youth pool containing a fountain bubbler, a 9,000 square foot zero depth pool, 124 loop water slide, 2- one meter diving boards, an 8 foot wide river slide, and much more. They are only open seasonally from noon until 8 pm starting the weekend of Memorial Day in May and closing up the weekend of Labor Day in September.
There are many other things in the city to see and do from history to entertaining, you can be sure that you will find something to get your attention. When it comes to travel within the city, you can take your own car, you can commute with friends, utilize public transportation or you can walk. The average commute time in Beatrice is 17 minutes. The average commute time within the state of Nebraska is 18 minutes, while the national average commute time is 26. To travel outside the city, you can take your own vehicle or you can travel by bus or by airplane. There is an Amtrak station and an airport located within 30 miles of the city's center.
Based on the data collected in the last three to seven years, the highest median temperature recorded was in July at a whopping 76.5 degrees, while the coldest was in December at 26.5 degrees. The highest precipitation was in October at 0.6". So, there will be lots of beautiful, dry days. Additionally, the air quality is 21.8 percent better than the state of Nebraska and 32.5 percent better than the national air quality average. The pollution index is 22.6 percent better than the state of Nebraska average and 90.2 percent better than the average nationally.
There is definitely no shortage of things to do, whether you are alone or with friends and family. You will find that Beatrice, NE is definitely a wonderful place to live and work. Since it is steeped in history and rich in character, there is never a shortage of things to do.