About Gretna

Gretna is in Sarpy County, south-west of Omaha, and functions as part of the Omaha metropolitan area. The 2020 census counted 5,083 residents, up from 4,441 in 2010, and later estimates put the figure considerably higher. The city covers about seven square miles at an elevation near 1,112 feet.

History

An earlier settlement called Forest City stood nearby, started by Irish immigrants who built dugouts and log cabins. When the Burlington Railroad built its line between Omaha and Ashland, the tracks missed Forest City, and residents moved over to the right of way. A new plat was surveyed and recorded on 9 August 1886. The name recalls Gretna Green in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and was chosen for Scottish settlers in the area. The village incorporated on 10 July 1889. Before the bridges went in, Jake Palmer ran a ferry and charged a dollar for a team and wagon.

Growth

Gretna put up its first school building in 1898. The district now runs thirteen schools, including two high schools. A fish hatchery established here in the early 1900s became an important state facility.

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