Ralston, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Ralston is a city in Douglas County
, Nebraska
, United States
. The population was 6,314 at the 2000 census
. Ralston is geographically surrounded by Omaha, Nebraska
but is a separate city. Since Ralston's population is below 10,000, state law technically allows for Omaha to forcibly annex Ralston (as they did with Elkhorn
, another nearby city, in 2007, and had previously done with Millard
). Omaha officials have never expressed a desire to annex Ralston; an agreement had been signed with Ralston's then-mayor, Wendell Kronberg, in the late 1960s whereby Omaha would leave Ralston alone.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all of it land.
The nearest hospital is Bergan Mercy Hospital (3.7 miles) located in Omaha, Nebraska
. Omaha is also the location of the county courthouse.
of 2000, there were 6,314 people, 2,538 households, and 1,697 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,725.7 people per square mile (1,442.5/km²). There were 2,601 housing units at an average density of 1,534.8 per square mile (594.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.96% White, 1.24% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.16% Asian, Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races
, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.39% of the population.
There were 2,538 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,252, and the median income for a family was $58,360. Males had a median income of $35,898 versus $27,475 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $23,230. About 0.6% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
The Ralston Public Library opened in 1922 and was first located in the Stewart Real Estate Office. Two years later it was moved to the Centennial room in the basement level of City Hall. In 1963, the library moved to 7900 Park Lane. Facing Oak Park, the facility boasted a large children's collection located in the basement, a separate periodicals room, and large windows providing views of the park.
In May 1999, the Library returned to the downtown area and is currently housed in the Hollis and Helen Baright Public Library building, 5555 South 77th Street, across from town hall. The current building includes a computer lab, public meeting room, central fireplace, and a concrete frieze inspired by Oak Park. A 'tree and leaf' theme was adopted for decoration throughout the building, including "root-like" insets in the children's room carpeting, and leaf-adorned room plaques.
The Library sponsors annual events such as the Children and Teen Summer Reading Programs, participates in Ralston's Independence Day Parade, and hosts speakers for a Brown Bag Lunch program.
Ralston High School
opened in 1954, it was first placed on Lakeview Drive, but then relocated to its current address on 8969 Park Drive. The old high school building was converted to the middle school.
In 2006, Ralston High School's enrollment jumped from 850 students to 1090 students, and is also becoming a more diverse school.
In athetics, Ralston participates in Nebraska's second largest class, and has had the most success in Girl's Softball, where they've won three state titles ('97-'99) and two runner ups ('03, '06) and lead the Class B teams with 12 appearances in the state tournament which began in 1993. Ralston's baseball teams have experienced similar success, with 18 appearances in the state tournament, their most recent appearance was in 2006. They've been in the finals seven times, and captured the state title seven times, holding the second most state titles in baseball, behind Omaha Creighton Prep's 8. In Basketball, Ralston was named state champions as of 2009 under the coaching of Bill Heard.
The Ralston Performing Arts Centre is currently located inside Ralston High School. This stage is used once a year in the summer by the Ralston Community Theatre and it is used all throughout the school year by the Ralston Drama students. The theatre, along with the entire school, was recently renovated and now seats 600+ people. The "new theatre's" first show was Les Misérables in May 2005.
The Ralston Fine Arts Department has had success in recent years. The band has almost tripled in size, received numerous awards including best drumline, best drum major, and has had continuous success at competitions receiving all superior and excellent ratings.
Douglas County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile . There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 per square mile...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,314 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. Ralston is geographically surrounded by Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
but is a separate city. Since Ralston's population is below 10,000, state law technically allows for Omaha to forcibly annex Ralston (as they did with Elkhorn
Elkhorn, Nebraska
Elkhorn was a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States and is a present-day neighborhood on the western edge of Omaha. The population was 6,062 at the 2000 census and was estimated by the Census Bureau at 8,192 in 2005...
, another nearby city, in 2007, and had previously done with Millard
Millard, Nebraska
Millard is a former town and current neighborhood in southwest Omaha, Nebraska; the original downtown area is near 132nd St. and L St. After lengthy legal fights, the city of Millard was annexed by the city of Omaha in 1971...
). Omaha officials have never expressed a desire to annex Ralston; an agreement had been signed with Ralston's then-mayor, Wendell Kronberg, in the late 1960s whereby Omaha would leave Ralston alone.
Geography
Ralston is located at 41°12′8"N 96°2′14"W (41.202198, -96.037168).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all of it land.
The nearest hospital is Bergan Mercy Hospital (3.7 miles) located in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. Omaha is also the location of the county courthouse.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,314 people, 2,538 households, and 1,697 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,725.7 people per square mile (1,442.5/km²). There were 2,601 housing units at an average density of 1,534.8 per square mile (594.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.96% White, 1.24% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.16% Asian, Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.39% of the population.
There were 2,538 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,252, and the median income for a family was $58,360. Males had a median income of $35,898 versus $27,475 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $23,230. About 0.6% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
Historical Information
In 1987 a history of Ralston was published by the Ralston Historical Society. Early history of Ralston, Nebraska, 1865-1950 by Alice Shooter (58 pages, including photographs) chronicles the founding and development of the town. Ms Shooter was the archivist of the Historical Society for many years.The Ralston Public Library opened in 1922 and was first located in the Stewart Real Estate Office. Two years later it was moved to the Centennial room in the basement level of City Hall. In 1963, the library moved to 7900 Park Lane. Facing Oak Park, the facility boasted a large children's collection located in the basement, a separate periodicals room, and large windows providing views of the park.
In May 1999, the Library returned to the downtown area and is currently housed in the Hollis and Helen Baright Public Library building, 5555 South 77th Street, across from town hall. The current building includes a computer lab, public meeting room, central fireplace, and a concrete frieze inspired by Oak Park. A 'tree and leaf' theme was adopted for decoration throughout the building, including "root-like" insets in the children's room carpeting, and leaf-adorned room plaques.
The Library sponsors annual events such as the Children and Teen Summer Reading Programs, participates in Ralston's Independence Day Parade, and hosts speakers for a Brown Bag Lunch program.
Ralston High School
Ralston High School
Ralston High School is located in Ralston, a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska. The school opened in 1954, as a 7-12 building, when it was located at 82nd and Lakeview Drive, and relocated to its current address on 8969 Park Drive in 1969. Prior to 1954 Ralston students went to Omaha South High School as...
opened in 1954, it was first placed on Lakeview Drive, but then relocated to its current address on 8969 Park Drive. The old high school building was converted to the middle school.
In 2006, Ralston High School's enrollment jumped from 850 students to 1090 students, and is also becoming a more diverse school.
In athetics, Ralston participates in Nebraska's second largest class, and has had the most success in Girl's Softball, where they've won three state titles ('97-'99) and two runner ups ('03, '06) and lead the Class B teams with 12 appearances in the state tournament which began in 1993. Ralston's baseball teams have experienced similar success, with 18 appearances in the state tournament, their most recent appearance was in 2006. They've been in the finals seven times, and captured the state title seven times, holding the second most state titles in baseball, behind Omaha Creighton Prep's 8. In Basketball, Ralston was named state champions as of 2009 under the coaching of Bill Heard.
The Ralston Performing Arts Centre is currently located inside Ralston High School. This stage is used once a year in the summer by the Ralston Community Theatre and it is used all throughout the school year by the Ralston Drama students. The theatre, along with the entire school, was recently renovated and now seats 600+ people. The "new theatre's" first show was Les Misérables in May 2005.
The Ralston Fine Arts Department has had success in recent years. The band has almost tripled in size, received numerous awards including best drumline, best drum major, and has had continuous success at competitions receiving all superior and excellent ratings.