Ralston is a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 6,494 at the 2020 census. A suburb of Omaha, Ralston is surrounded on three sides by the City of Omaha on its north, east, and west sides; and by La Vista in Sarpy County on its south side.
In the 1700s and 1800s, the Omaha Tribe was the primary Native American tribe along the Missouri River. Although there were no known Indigenous settlements within the boundaries of today's Ralston, the area was used as hunting grounds for regional tribes including the Omaha, Otoe-Missouria, Pawnee, and Ponca Peoples.[3]. After extensive political, economic, and social pressure, the Omahas signed the 1854 Treaty of Washington in which they ceded their lands in what is today eastern Nebraska to the US Government. The Omahas were then relocated to a reservation in Thurston County, Nebraska.[4]
The area of the townsite was established on May 23, 1907, with the sale of 282.7 acres (114.4ha; 1,144,000m2) 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.[5] 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.[5]
The still nascent village experienced a devastating blow to its development on Easter, March 23, 1913, when a tornado tore through the downtown area.[5] 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.[6]
In 1967, as Omaha was annexing towns and county land to its west, Ralston Mayor Wendell Kronberg negotiated a gentlemen's agreement with the City of Omaha where Ralston would be able to continue its existence without fear of annexation. [7]
Ralston Non-Annexation Plaque on City Hall, Downtown Ralston, NE
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.65 square miles (4.27km2), of which 1.64 square miles (4.25km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03km2) is water.[9]
The nearest hospital is Bergan Mercy Hospital (3.7 miles) located in Omaha.
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[13] 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, 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,[14] 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 was 3,623.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,399.2/km2). There were 2,711 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 89.7% White, 2.6% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 4.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic 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 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 census of 2000, there were 6,314 people, 2,538 households, and 1,697 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,725.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,438.5/km2). There were 2,601 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 95.0% White, 1.24% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, Pacific Islander, 1.6% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.4% 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 married couples 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 for the city was $23,230. About 0.6% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, 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. The district serves about 3,400 students between kindergarten and 12th grade throughout Ralston and two sections of Omaha on Ralston's northeast and northwest corners.[15]
The Ralston Public Library has had 4 different homes throughout its lifetime. The library opened in 1922, located in the Stewart Real Estate Office. In 1924, it moved to the Centennial Room in the basement level of City Hall. In 1963, the library moved to 7900 Park Lane. It's current location was built as of 1999, is next to City Hall. The library was also renamed the Baright Public Library after its last move.
123Shooter, Alice (1987). Early history of Ralston, Nebraska. Second Edition. NE: A. Shooter. Reprinted by the Ralston Centennial Committee. pp.12–14, 30–32, 35–38, 50–51.
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