Gering is only eight minutes east of Scotts Bluff National Monument, which rises eight stories over the North Platte River. This natural formation acted as a landmark for both Native Americans and settlers journeying to Oregon, Utah and California.
You'd think that a city with only 8,500 people (according to the 2010 U
Gering is only eight minutes east of Scotts Bluff National Monument, which rises eight stories over the North Platte River. This natural formation acted as a landmark for both Native Americans and settlers journeying to Oregon, Utah and California.
You'd think that a city with only 8,500 people (according to the 2010 U.S. Census) that's located out in Western Nebraska would be sleepily content with its refreshing isolation. But it is the county seat and gateway to a major natural landmark. So it uses its Convention and Visitors Bureau to pump up its man-made attractions and the Chamber to expand its economic pluses.
First, decide whether your want to live around people or by yourself. If you pick the first option, you can choose from all kinds of rental options including apartments, townhouses and single-family houses from almost any era. If you stick to the second option, you're limited to single-family houses and mobile homes, and can only find them if you have a real estate agent on your side.
Wherever you end up, your potential landlords will ask for for lots of information to decide if you're deserving of their studio apartment for rent. Arguably the most important of these is how much money you make and how much you spend because they want to make sure you'll pay them every month. Apartment managers can get pretty nosy by asking for every possible source of income, such as salary, pensions or lottery winnings; and assets, such as checking accounts and stocks.
Don't try to fudge anything because they can confirm your claims and investigate your expenses by looking at your credit report. Way before you start looking for a rental apt, download this document for free from AnnualCreditReport.com. Correcting any inaccuracies or deleting any mistakes usually takes several weeks.
Black marks against you include legal actions you've brought against previous landlords, unpaid rent or any kind of criminal behavior. Foreclosures and bankruptcies aren't necessarily deal-breakers, especially if you've come from an area with a bad economy these past few years. If you have an agent, you can bounce these potential negatives against her to find out how they'll affect your prospects.
Both of the neighborhoods in Gering have northern borders on the river. But don't get your heart set on hearing the sound of water from your window because no properties front the shoreline.
City Center: This neighborhood is all about the city because it contains stores, restaurants, industries and most of the housing, with build dates ranging from before 1939 to this century. They even have farms here, but what do you expect from Nebraska? If you're looking for something unique to decorate your digs, check out Julie's Antiques, which claims to have "the largest selection of fine antiques in the Panhandle." After a long day of shopping, relax at the Log Cabin Restaurant, just a few blocks away. Its Monument Burger is enormous and the French dip is yummy.
McGrew/Melbeta: If you crave privacy, how does four people per square mile sound? This neighborhood manages that ratio by sprawling over an area that's many times larger than the city center. Here, it's all farmland surrounded by a hilly range. If you don't own a car, better spring for one, because that's the only way you can negotiate the vast distances. Skip this hood for your apartment search in Gering because you won't find any. If you end up with anything, it's most likely going to be a single-family house or a mobile home.
Top Apartment Complexes
Cottonwood Apartments: Apartment homes here start with one bedroom and move up to three. Your unit lets you step into the outdoors with a patio or balcony, and some models have hookups for your washer or dryer. You can also enjoy the manicured grounds by grilling on the BBQ or sending the kids to the playground.
Dome Rock Manor: Options at this complex start at a studio and go up to two-bedroom apartments with one bath. Your rent pays for all your utilities, including air conditioning and is very accommodating to any disabilities. You won't need your jalopy because the bus stop is just outside.
If you succumb to the National Monument's pleadings to stay outdoors, you can reach the landmark on foot or bicycle by taking the "U" Street Pathway, which starts on 10th Street. However, you don't have to go all the way to the Monument to have fun in the sun.
The city boasts at least 10 parks. The Oregon Trail Park Complex is the most comprehensive with its tennis courts, baseball diamonds, skateboard track, ice-skating rink and sand volleyball courts. The Gering Municipal Swimming Pool allows you to enjoy water without heading for the river. It features a diving board, water slides and a baby pool. You can also get swimming lessons here. Finally, the Monument Shadows Golf Course lets you play 18 holes in the shadow of Scotts Bluff.
Two more facilities will be sure to keep you entertained outdoors. The Five Rocks Amphitheater primarily hosts the Gering City Band and its eclectic selection of jazz and classical. Other musical groups occasionally find space on stage. Picnickers are encouraged and so is spending money at concessions. The Hiway 92 Raceway Park enthralls with Friday night auto races on one of the only two asphalt tracks in all of Nebraska.
For indoor diversion, the Legacy of the Plains Museum tells you all about the development of the High Plains with sections ranging from the first inhabitants to farming and livestock. Naturally, it also covers the Oregon Trail pioneers who settled in the area. The facility combines the Farm and Ranch Museum with the North Platte Valley Museum.
The big annual event in town is Oregon Trail Days, which is held in July. Over a weekend, you can gather with your neighbors to enjoy an art show, a car show and a five-mile run. You also get parades, a craft festival, carnival rides and a food fair. If you're a good cook, try entering the Chili Cook-Off.
