NEBRASKA - When tracing the history of the Cornhusker State, the timeline begins on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River at Bellevue. Established in 1822, it is the oldest continuous settlement in Nebraska, serving as a gateway to the West long before the territory was officially open to settlement.
The Founding: 1822
Bellevue's origins are rooted in the fur trade that dominated the early 19th-century economy of the Great Plains.
- The Trading Post: In 1822, the Missouri Fur Company, led by Joshua Pilcher, established a trading post at the site. It was originally called "Bellevue" (French for "Beautiful View"), a name, legend says, coined by the earlier explorer Manuel Lisa.
- Peter Sarpy: The settlement grew significantly under the leadership of Peter Sarpy, who took over the post in the 1830s. He became the town's most prominent citizen, operating a ferry across the river that helped thousands of pioneers begin their journey westward. Bellevue served as the seat of government for the territory briefly before the capital was moved to Omaha.
Indigenous Roots
Long before the fur trappers built their cabins, the bluffs were the domain of the Omaha, Otoe, and Pawnee peoples. The area was particularly significant to the Omaha tribe. Their great leader, Chief Big Elk, is buried on the bluffs above the city. The Omaha people lived in earth lodge villages nearby and maintained a complex trading network along the river. The establishment of the trading post was initially welcomed for access to European goods, but subsequent waves of settlers displaced the tribes to reservations.
A Technical Distinction: Fort Atkinson
While Bellevue is the oldest continuous town, it sits in the shadow of an earlier, though temporary, settlement: Fort Atkinson.
- Fort Atkinson (1820): Located near present-day Fort Calhoun, this was the first U.S. military post west of the Missouri River. It was a massive garrison with over 1,000 soldiers and a thriving agricultural community.
- The Abandonment: The fort was abandoned in 1827, and the site fell into ruin. Because it was not continuously inhabited, Bellevue (which survived and grew) remains the oldest town. Fort Calhoun was later established near the ruins in the 1850s.
Settlement vs. Incorporation
Bellevue holds the distinction of being the first settlement, but the race for legal incorporation was tight.
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1855: Following the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, the Nebraska Territorial Legislature began incorporating towns. Bellevue, Nebraska City, and Omaha were all incorporated in early 1855. However, Bellevue's physical existence as a community for 30 years before its founding cements its status as the oldest.
Bellevue is the oldest city in Nebraska, founded as a fur trading post in 1822. It was a vital hub for the fur trade and later for missionaries and Indian Agencies. While Fort Atkinson (1820) was the first American outpost, it was abandoned after seven years. Bellevue remains the oldest continuous community in the state.
Sources
- Nebraska State Historical Society. "Bellevue: The First City."
- City of Bellevue. "History of Bellevue."
- National Park Service. "Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail."
- Encyclopedia of the Great Plains. "Bellevue, Nebraska."
- Nebraska Department of Education. "Fort Atkinson."