Ralston is a city in Douglas County,

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

, United States. The population was 6,494 at the 2020 census. A suburb of

Omaha Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

, Ralston is surrounded on three sides by the city of

(84th, 72nd, and L Streets), and by the county line of Sarpy County (Harrison Street) on the south side.

History

The area of the townsite was established on May 23, 1907, with the sale of of land owned by Omaha newspaper editor George L. Miller to the Ralston Investment Company. A year later the town was platted by future Omaha mayor Roy N. Towl. A petition to incorporate the property as a village was submitted to the Douglas County Board of Commissions on June 22, 1912, which was adopted by the Board two days later on June 24. The still nascent village experienced a devastating blow to its development on Easter, March 23, 1913, when a tornado tore through the downtown area. The 1913 Easter Tornado was part of a March 1913 tornado outbreak sequence that ripped through the Southern and Midwestern regions of the United States. In 1934, following a fire that destroyed half a city block, Ralston declared bankruptcy; it was one of the first cities in the United States to do so.

Geography

Ralston is located at (41.202198, -96.037168). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The nearest hospital is Bergan Mercy Hospital (3.7 miles) located in

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 6,494 people, 3,092 households, and 1,805 families in Ralston. The population density was . There were 3,237 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 78.66% (5,108)

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 3.73% (242) black or African-American, 0.91% (59) Native American, 1.74% (113) Asian, 0.05% (3)

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 6.19% (402) from other races, and 8.73% (567) from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race was 13.0% (953) of the population. Of the 3,092 households, 26.3% had children under the age of 18; 42.6% were married couples living together; 27.7% had a female householder with no husband present. 33.1% of households consisted of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.0. 23.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 95.6 males. The 2016-2020 5-year

American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...

estimates show that the median household income was $60,106 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,994) and the median family income $73,826 (+/- $7,307). Males had a median income of $41,763 (+/- $4,565) versus $34,464 (+/- $6,447) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $37,321 (+/- $4,055). Approximately, 4.4% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 10.1% of those under the age of 18 and 4.0% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

At the time of the 2010

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

, the city had a total population of 5,943 people. There was a total of 2,581 households, of which 1,560 households were made of families. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 2,711 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 89.7%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 2.6%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 4.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 10.0% of the population. There were 2,581 households, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age in the city was 40 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 27.7% were from 45 to 64; and 16.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 6,314 people, 2,538 households, and 1,697 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,601 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.96%

, 1.24%

, 0.16% Native American, 1.16% Asian,

, 1.58% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 4.39% of the population. There were 2,538 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were

living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $47,252, and the median income for a family was $58,360. Males had a median income of $35,898 versus $27,475 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $23,230. About 0.6% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the

, including none of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The local school district is Ralston Public Schools. Ralston High School originally opened on Lakeview Drive in 1954, and moved to its present location at 8969 Park Drive in 1969; the old high school building was subsequently converted into Ralston Middle School. In 2006, Ralston High School's enrollment jumped from 850 students to 1,090 students. The Ralston Public Library opened in 1922 and was first located in the Stewart Real Estate Office. Two years later it was moved to the Centennial room in the basement level of City Hall. In 1963, the library moved to 7900 Park Lane. In May 1999, it returned to the downtown area and was renamed the Baright Public Library; it is currently at 5555 South 77th Street.

Attractions

The Ralston Arena opened October 19, 2012 and serves as the home of the

Omaha Lancers The Omaha Lancers are a Junior ice hockey#Tier I, Tier I junior ice hockey team and are members of the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Founded in 1986, the Lancers play at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Ra ...

hockey team, the

Omaha Beef The Omaha Beef are a professional indoor American football, indoor football team based in Omaha, Nebraska. The Beef plays their home games at Liberty First Credit Union Arena in nearby Ralston, Nebraska, Ralston. The Beef competes in the National ...

indoor football team, and was the home of UNO Mavericks men's basketball team until Baxter Arena opened in 2015. On January 1, 2022, the arena's was officially renamed the Liberty First Credit Union Arena.

Transportation

Transit service to the city is provided by Metro Transit.

References

External links

*
Ralston Public Schools Website

Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce

Baright Public Library

Liberty First Credit Union Arena

U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Ralston City, Nebraska

{{authority control Cities in Douglas County, Nebraska Cities in Nebraska History of Omaha, Nebraska by community area 1912 establishments in Nebraska