Nebraska City

City and seat of Otoe County, in southeastern Nebraska; population (1990) 6,500. Nebraska City is situated on the Missouri River and the border with Iowa, 64 km/40 mi south of Omaha.

Fort Kearney was established near here in 1846, but moved to Kearney two years later. Founded in 1854, Nebraska City first flourished as a river port, and is now a processing and shipping centre for livestock and grain producers. The city is a shopping outlet centre and manufactures tin cans and canned food, building materials, and clothing. It is the site of the mansion and arboretum of J Sterling Morton (1832–1902), who originated ‘Arbor Day’, a public holiday to encourage the planting of trees. ‘John Brown's Cave’, a stop on the Underground Railroad network for fugitive slaves, is also located here.