Last weekend, we flew in and out of Omaha, Nebraska on Southwest Airlines.
As we were driving the 2.4 miles from downtown Omaha to the city’s Epply Airfield (OMA), I was surprised to see a “Welcome to Iowa” sign. Omaha’s airport is located in Nebraska.
Curious, I had to investigate.
I learned that we passed through Carter Lake, Iowa, a city of 3,784 residents that is surrounded by Omaha, Nebraska and the Missouri River.
It turns out that a flood in 1877 redirected the course of the Missouri River by 1.25 miles, suddenly leaving the Saratoga Bend– land that had been a part of Iowa – now on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River.
Omaha developers were quick to claim the land and resulting oxbow lake that had been “cut off” from the Missouri river –calling it Cutoff Lake. They constructed hotels, vacation cabins and a boathouse that attracted rowing and fishing parties, and eventually became the town of Carter Lake.
The state of Iowa, however, was not willing to cede the land. In 1892, after extensive litigation between the two states, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Carter Lake belonged to Iowa. In Nebraska v. Iowa, 143 U.S. 359 (1892), the court found that when rivers gradually change course, state lines should shift, except when a river avulses or suddenly changes its course overnight.
On July 2, 1930, Carter Lake was incorporated as a city in the state of Iowa.
Although it is not connected by land, Carter Lake is a part of Iowa’s Pottawattamie County. The city covers a total area of 2.02 square miles, of which 1.87 square miles is land and 0.15 square miles is water.
Jeopardy! legend Ken Jennings has written about this complicated Iowa-Nebraska border for CondeNast Traveler.
In his book Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks Jennings shares his love affair with geography and explores why maps have always been so fascinating to him and to fellow enthusiasts.
There’s even a book on the subject Carter Lake: A Slice of Iowa in Nebraska
After going down many internet rabbit holes while researching this border issue, I learned many interesting things about the city of Omaha, Nebraska — from its railroad and meatpacking history to its unique attractions.
Coming Soon: 99 Interesting Facts to Know About Omaha, Nebraska
Have you visited Omaha? Did you fly out of Epply Field?
Please share your comments or questions via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram.