Blackbird Bend is the name for areas in western

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...

along the Missouri River in

Monona County, Iowa Monona County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,751. The county seat is Onawa. History The area around present-day Onawa was a stopping point in 1804 for Meriwether Lewis and William C ...

that have been claimed by the

Omaha tribe The Omaha ( Omaha-Ponca: ''Umoⁿhoⁿ'') are a federally recognized Midwestern Native American tribe who reside on the Omaha Reservation in northeastern Nebraska and western Iowa, United States. There were 5,427 enrolled members as of 2012. The ...

of Nebraska and Iowa near

Onawa, Iowa Onawa is a city in, and the county seat of, Monona County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,906 at the time of the 2020 Census. It is the largest town on the Iowa side of the Missouri River between Council Bluffs and Sioux City. Histo ...

. The area is named for Chief Blackbird, an Omaha leader of the late 18th century. After lengthy court battles and several standoffs beginning in the 1960s, much of the area has been recognized as part Omaha tribal lands. The Blackbird Bend Casino is located on this reclaimed territory.

References

Native American history of Iowa Native American tribes in Iowa Omaha (Native American) people Monona County, Iowa {{MononaCountyIA-geo-stub