Papillion, NE

Though its population of about 22,000 people might seem small, Papillion has a vibrant spirit emanating from every square mile, giving this city plenty of character. This suburb of Omaha is known for its high concentration of white-collar workers and college graduates; more than a third of adults have at least a bachelor's degree. It should come as no surprise, then, that the city's per capita income is higher than Nebraska's average. Papillion boasts the lowest crime rate in all of Nebraska, and its proximity to the big city makes commuting easy. Papillion is the county seat of Sarpy County, the fastest-growing county in the state.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Papillion has recently become a hot spot for new businesses, with nearly 200 businesses opening within the past few years. This makes sense, considering Papillion is the second fastest-growing city in the state. Retail, healthcare, and food service are among its major sectors. Some of its newest shopping centers, the Shoppes at Market Pointe and Shadow Lake Towne Center, provide proof of this growth.

Papillion's industries that employ the largest numbers of residents include health care, education, retail, social services, insurance, and real estate.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Nearly 75 percent of Papillion homes are occupied by their owner and about the same percentage of homes are single-family detached houses. About 20 percent of Papillion homes are located in high-rise apartment buildings, and about 40 percent have three bedrooms.

Only 3 percent of homes in Papillion are considered historic homes that were built before 1939; the majority, or nearly 70 percent, were built between 1970 and 1994. Just 11 percent were built after 1995.

BEST BETS

• Sumtur Amphitheater: Almost 400 people can sit comfortably at this outdoor entertainment venue. Up to 1,500 can gather on the surrounding lawn to watch plays, concerts, or other events.
• Papio Bay Aquatic Park: This park includes a large zero-depth swimming pool, diving boards, two water slides, beach volleyball, a snack bar, and a children's wading pool.
• Golf: Eagle Hills features 18 holes, plenty of hills and ponds, and a large pro shop. The other golfing option in Papillion is Tara Hills, which is about 20 years older than Eagle Hills but has been updated and is considered a more challenging course.
• Halleck Nature Trail: This path meanders through Papillion along Papio Creek. Residents can often be seen walking, jogging, or riding a bike along this serene trail.
• Halleck Park: This park offers residents diverse recreational opportunities, from hiking its many trails to playing tennis, volleyball, or any number of sports on one of its three ball fields.
• Papio Fun Park: This attraction strives to provide fun for the whole family, offering batting cages, go-karts, arcade games, water balloon competitions, and miniature golf.

EVENTS

The city hosts many outdoor events, including races, fairs, and concerts:

• Papillion Days Duathlon: Residents and visitors can team up or compete solo for this annual June race, in which participants run a total of four miles and ride a bike for ten miles.
• Concerts in the Park: Those who like to attend outdoor concerts during the summer months can enjoy the offerings in City Park or Papio Bay for free.
• Mayor's Triathlon: This triathlon is another of the city's annual races, held in July. Teams or individuals swim for 500 meters, run 3 miles, and ride a bike for 15 miles. This event begins and ends at Walnut Creek Lake & Recreation Area.

SPORTS TEAMS

Papillion's proximity to Omaha makes it only natural for residents to cheer on their sports teams:

• Baseball: The Omaha Royals play AAA minor-league baseball.
• Indoor Football: The Omaha Beef is the area's United Indoor Football team.
• Semi-pro Football: The Nebraska Extreme play in the American Professional Football League.

The Creighton Bluejays of Creighton University are also located in Omaha. The school has 14 men's and women's teams competing in 8 sports.

LOCAL MEDIA

Papillion obtains most of its media from Omaha and thus shares it with surrounding cities, but it does have one publication of its own, the suburban newspaper Papillion Times. The area has several television and radio stations:

• KMTV, Channel 3 (CBS)
• WOWT-TV, Channel 6 (NBC)
• KXVO, Channel 15 (The CW)
• KETV, Channel 7 (ABC)
• KMLV 88.1 FM (Christian music)
• KGOR 99.9 FM (hits)
• KIWR 89.7 FM (alternative)
• KOZN 1620 AM (sports)
• KCRO 660 AM (Christian talk radio)

FUN FACTS

• Papillion was ranked the sixth best place to live in the United States by Money magazine in 2007.
• Papillion is pronounced "papeeyon."
• This city has more than 600 acres of parks.
• The city's population has increased by about 30 percent since 2000.