Train Town
Encyclopedia
Train Town, today called the Credit Foncier Addition, was a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska
owned by noted eccentric Union Pacific promoter George Francis Train
's company called Credit Foncier
. The area was 20 blocks
by 20 blocks, which was approximately the size of Omaha at the time. It was located from Pierce Street on the north to Izard, and from the Missouri River
on the west to 20th Street.
to help ease the housing shortage in the city. Train bought the area on the speculation that citizens would want to live near the old Union Pacific depot and the Union Pacific Missouri River Bridge
, which was built next to the neighborhood at Train's insistence. There was a public elementary school located at Sixth and Hickory Streets in the community that was named for Train, called "Train Elementary School".
According to journalist and African explorer Henry Morton Stanley
, Train made "a small fortune" by selling lots in Train Town. The remaining land was repossessed by creditors in the early 1870s, and today it is located immediately south of Downtown Omaha
. The tract is still referred to as the "Credit Foncier Addition." Credit Foncier
was Train's company that plat
ted the land in 1867. It still contains a number of original cottages, especially along Woolworth Avenue.
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...
owned by noted eccentric Union Pacific promoter George Francis Train
George Francis Train
George Francis Train was an entrepreneurial businessman who organized the clipper ship line that sailed around Cape Horn to San Francisco; he organized the Union Pacific Railroad and the Credit Mobilier in the United States, and a horse tramway company in England while there during the American...
's company called Credit Foncier
Credit Foncier
Credit Foncier is the name of* Crédit Foncier de France, a mortgage bank in France.* Credit Foncier of America, a defunct real estate company in the U.S....
. The area was 20 blocks
City block
A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city, they form the basic unit of a city's urban fabric...
by 20 blocks, which was approximately the size of Omaha at the time. It was located from Pierce Street on the north to Izard, and from the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
on the west to 20th Street.
History
Train bought the tract of land on what was then the southern edge of Omaha, and frequently claimed to own 5000 acres (20.2 km²) in the city. He eventually brought in prefabricated cottagesPrefabricated home
Prefabricated homes, often referred to as prefab homes, are dwellings manufactured off-site in advance, usually in standard sections that can be easily shipped and assembled....
to help ease the housing shortage in the city. Train bought the area on the speculation that citizens would want to live near the old Union Pacific depot and the Union Pacific Missouri River Bridge
Union Pacific Missouri River Bridge
The Union Pacific Missouri River Bridge is a rail truss bridge across the Missouri River connecting Council Bluffs, Iowa with Omaha, Nebraska.-History:...
, which was built next to the neighborhood at Train's insistence. There was a public elementary school located at Sixth and Hickory Streets in the community that was named for Train, called "Train Elementary School".
According to journalist and African explorer Henry Morton Stanley
Henry Morton Stanley
Sir Henry Morton Stanley, GCB, born John Rowlands , was a Welsh journalist and explorer famous for his exploration of Africa and his search for David Livingstone. Upon finding Livingstone, Stanley allegedly uttered the now-famous greeting, "Dr...
, Train made "a small fortune" by selling lots in Train Town. The remaining land was repossessed by creditors in the early 1870s, and today it is located immediately south of Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...
. The tract is still referred to as the "Credit Foncier Addition." Credit Foncier
Credit Foncier of America
Credit Foncier of America was a late 19th century financing and real estate company in Omaha, Nebraska. The company existed primarily to promote the townsites along the Union Pacific railroad, and was incorporated by a special act of the Nebraska Legislature in 1866...
was Train's company that plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted the land in 1867. It still contains a number of original cottages, especially along Woolworth Avenue.