Welcome to Our Town

Access to natural resources, low cost of living, high quality healthcare, and celebrated cultural events are just some of what makes North Platte and Lincoln County a comfortable, energetic community in which to live.  In fact, Nebraska is routinely amoung the top ten "Most Livable States" in the country. To learn more about the quality of life in North Platte and Lincoln County, click on the following items of interest or simply scroll down the page.

Climate

Cost of Living

Our cost of living stands well below the national average.  Dollars simply go farther in North Platte and Lincoln County. North Platte/Lincoln County, Nebraska COST OF LIVING COMPARISONS                     US Average CA CO FL IL MO NE NY WA Gross Earnings: $24,000 Annually 100% 130.9% 112.2% 103.3% 107.8% 96.5% 92.7% 130.3% 108.5% Family Size: 2     House (Rent): 900 sq. ft.     Vehicles: 1 Valued @ $7,000         Los Angeles CA Denver CO Miami FL Chicago IL Kansas City MO North Platte NE New York* NY Seattle WA   167.7% 119.5% 112.5% 128.7% 108.8% 86.3% 228.0% 133.0%         US Average CA CO FL IL MO NE NY WA Gross Earnings: $48,000 annually 100% 165.4% 110.0% 117.5% 115.0% 97.5% 93.3% 140.8% 108.1% Family Size: 3     House (Own): 1,800 sq. ft.     Vehicles: 2 Valued @ $14,312         Los Angeles CA Denver CO Miami FL Chicago IL Kansas City MO North Platte NE New York* NY Seattle WA   203.8% 129.5% 166.8% 135.8% 98.5% 87.8% 276.9% 146.1%         Return to Top

Healthcare

Housing

North Platte offers smooth relocation across town or across the country with well-constructed, beautifully designed homes in a number of quiet, safe and friendly neighborhoods. A variety of price ranges and square footages are available to suit every household. National and local realtor offices can assist with buying or renting the right home for you. Choose from new developments in the western most part of North Platte, as well as south of North Platte near Lake Maloney, and from more historical homes in established neighborhoods throughout town. Opt for a more rural setting with new and historical homes, as well as available acreage, in several Lincoln County communities, such as Sutherland, Hershey and Maxwell—all within 15 minutes of North Platte. Return to Top

Education

North Platte has a strong public and private school education system staffed by involved administrators, dedicated teachers and qualified specialists committed to your child’s success in the areas of academics, the arts, athletics and social learning. The public school district  is comprised of ten elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. All elementary schools offer all-day kindergarten, and several operate after-school programs. North Platte also has private schooling options for pre-K through 12th grade. The city’s 270,000-square foot high school was completed in 2003. With an enrollment just over 1,200, the high school is rightfully proud of its graduates, who routinely score high on college entrance exams and are annually awarded $2-4 million in scholarships to colleges and universities across the country. North Platte is also home to one of seven Mid-Plains Community College (MPCC) campuses. The college offers affordable higher education and customized job training with hands-on, real world experience across a wide variety of majors, as well as on-campus living, intercollegiate athletic teams, intramurals, music, theater and more. MPCC has also partnered with several 4-year institutions to provide advanced degree opportunities, including BA, BS and MA degree programs in a number of fields. Distance learning courses via instructional television and personal computer are also available.      “I’m very impressed with the school system in this community. I feel that there’s an energy and commitment to the children and to providing an enthusiastic learning environment.” Ellen Taylor-Kennedy, VP of Investments, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. NYC native and mother of three who moved to North Platte in early 1990s Return to Top

Entertainment and Recreation

From community theater to townhall lectures, the symphony to motorsports, a writers guild to go-carts, North Platte and Lincoln County enjoy a wide array of entertaining recreational activities each year. Built in 1929 as a movie, stage and vaudeville theater, the Neville Center for the Performing Arts is one of several North Platte structures listed in the Nebraska National Register of Historic Sites. The 900-seat auditorium regularly hosts stage productions, lectures, concerts and other special events and performances.   North Platte Area Children’s Museum opened in 1998 and gives area children the opportunity to explore the wonders of science, technology, culture and art in an interactive, fun, learning environment. With over 30 exhibits—including the vet clinic, grocery store, post office, construction zone, and craft area, as well as the build-a-car, be-on-tv, space, dress up, and penquin rooms—the Museum welcomes children ages 6 months and up. In 2006, the Boys and Girls Club of Lincoln County opened in North Platte and has been enormously popular with nationally recognized programs that address pressing youth issues related to education, the environment, health, art, careers, leadership, alcohol/drug and pregnancy prevention, athletics, and more. Cody Go-Karts promises full-day fun with three go-cart tracks, waterslides, swimming pool, bumper boats, miniature golf, kiddie rides, gameroom, and fitness area. Lincoln County Raceway  hosts Mini-Sprints, Classic Modifieds, Late Models, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA Modifieds on a 3/8 mile semi-banked dirt track, located on the Lincoln County Fairgrounds on the west side of North Platte. The region also has several well-situated community parks, ball fields, swimming, pools, golf courses, lakes, rivers, streams, campgrounds and other recreation areas. Outdoor enthusiasts  will enjoy nature observing, hiking, canoeing, boating, sailing, fishing and hunting. Trout, walleye and small mouth bass are most common. Game varieties span elk, antelope, deer, coyote, bobcat, rabbits, squirrels, pheasant, quail, geese, ducks and turkeys.  Retun to Top

Food and Drink

North Platte’s downtown boasts several cozy eateries with gourmet selections at small town prices. From coffee and sandwiches at the Espresso Shoppe to hors d’oeuvres and wine tastings at The Wooden Butler, from the casual ambiance of the Depot to fine dining at the Canteen, from delicious Mexican food at La Hacienda to mouthwatering Japanese food at Tempura—a wide array of local establishments will tempt your palette. The area is also home to a number of unique, friendly taverns, including Butch’s in Hershey and Brothers, The House Bar and The Hub in North Platte. Wine lovers will be delighted to know that just south of the city lies Feather River Vineyard, the largest vineyard in the state of Nebraska. Nationally recognized establishments include Applebee’s, Perkins, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Village Inn and Whiskey Creek. By 2008, we will welcome Ruby Tuesdays, Cold Stone Creamery, and The Mongolian Grill. Retun to Top

Shopping

Celebrations

Each year, North Platte hosts several popular, citywide celebrations, including bluegrass festivals, Mexican fiestas, cowboy poetry readings, pageants, Native American pow-wows and more. North Platte is also the home of NEBRASKAland Days, the state’s official, 12-day celebration every second week of June. Join in one of the top 100 events in North America for PRCA rodeo, big name concert entertainment, carnival rides, sports tournaments and much more.  Return to Top

History and Tourism

Numerous museums and monuments tell the area’s stories. Just south of North Platte, a trail marker for the Oregon and Mormon Trails marks the byway taken by settlers. Some 2.5 million people traveled the valley from 1840 to 1866, engraving a wide, deep trail that persists today. During WWII, over six million soldiers passed through North Platte on the Union Pacific Railroad. Over a period of 51 months, each troop train—24 hours a day, 7 days a week—was met with home-cooked meals and encouraging words from an army of volunteers from rural Nebraska. North Platte’s Canteen Spirit lives on in the generosity and faithfulness of our residents. Beginning a heritage of hospitality, Buffalo Bill Cody hosted his Wild West Show near North Platte. The colorful showman, army scout and buffalo hunter’s elegant Victorian home and spacious barn, known as Scout’s Rest, are still standing and open for tours.     The largest railroad classification yard in the world is found in North Platte. Every 24 hours, 160 to 180 trains roll through Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard.. Visit the upcoming Golden Spike observation point to see the commotion for yourself.  This 15-story landmark attraction for train enthusiasts of all ages will include audiovisuals and historic artifacts.  Conceived and designed by veterans, North Platte’s 20th Century Veterans Memorial depicts soldiers’ bravery and struggle during five conflicts and stands as one of the most unique memorials dedicated to veterans in the United States. Return to Top