O’Neill
City of O’Neill Website: www.cityofoneillnebraska.com
City of O’Neill: (402) 336-3640
O’Neill Chamber of Commerce Website: www.oneillchamber.com
O’Neill is the county seat of Holt County and the largest of the county’s communities. With a population of around 3,500, O’Neill is a city of opportunity and is poised for growth and prosperity into the next century.
Designated the “Irish Capital of Nebraska,” O’Neill is home to the world’s largest shamrock, famous Irish Dancers, and the annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration.
Commercial Services
Machine shops in city: 2
Tool and die services in city: 1
Electric motor repair services in city: 3
Type of newspaper in city: Weekly
Local radio station(s): 3
Number of TV channels received without cable: 3
Cable antenna television serves city: Yes
Maximum number of cable channels received: 150
Number of protestant churches: 15
Number of catholic churches: 2
Number of motels and hotels in city: 4
Total number of rooms available: 184
Number of banks in city: 5
Chamber of Commerce: Yes
Chamber executive is full-time: Yes
Schools
| Public Schools | Number of Schools | Enrollment | Teacher / Student Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 1 | 476 | 1:12 |
| Jr/Sr. High | 1 | 353 | 1:10 |
| Private Schools | Number of Schools | Enrollment | Teacher / Student Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's Elementary | 1 | 128 | 1:9 |
| Word of Life Elementary | 1 | 26 | 1:3 |
| St. Mary's Jr / Sr High | 1 | 81 | 1:9 |
The O’Neill Public School District No. 7 covers approximately 114 square miles and serves the communities of Emmet, Inman, O’Neill, and Page. The Class 3 District is accredited by the State of Nebraska and North Central Association. The O’Neill Public Elementary was built in 1996 and the Junior-Senior High School was built in 1964. The O’Neill Elementary School serves students in kindergarten through sixth grade with three sections of each grade level. Students are provided with the latest curriculum materials, including new science, social studies, reading, and math text books, along with newly aligned curriculums. Students also have up-to-date technology including MacBooks, SMART Boards, Palm Pilots, iPads, and video equipment. Special service programs are also available to students including HAL, ELL, Special Education, and Title 1. The Developing Eagles Program is available to all students after school from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm during the school year and from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm during the summer. This program assists students in completing homework, playing educational games to reinforce classroom instruction, and physical activities to promote a healthy lifestyle. In cooperation with the Head Start Program and Chambers Public School, the O’Neill District opened a preschool program during the 2008-09 school year. O’Neill Junior-Senior High School provides a broad spectrum of courses. In addition to 13 core classes, high school students can follow a vocational program with 29 course offerings or a college preparatory curriculum with 31 courses.
Classes are also offered through a variety of post-secondary institutions during the regular school day. Students may enroll in TANN (Technology Academy of Northeast Nebraska) classes for both high school and college credit. O’Neill High School has had tremendous success in scholastic competition. During the last 20 years, students have won their division of the Chadron State College Scholastic Contest 16 times and have been overall champion several times. Students from O’Neill High School consistently score higher than the state average on the ACT.
St. Mary’s Catholic School, a Pre-K-12 school in O’Neill serves as a center for Christian education with St. Patrick’s Parish. St. Mary’s has 25 class rooms. In 2007 a $1 million renovation project was initiated. Through the generosity of friends, benefactors, parishioners, and alumni, St. Mary’s was able to renovate and add many areas to the school including the gym, classrooms, library, chapel, nurse’s station, office area, staff lounge, commons area, elevator, and paved parking.
Word of Life is a Pre-K-8 Christian School in O’Neill. The school has 6 classrooms.
Health Facilities
Health Facilities in the Community
| Number of Hospitals in Community | 1 |
| Number of Beds in Hospital(s) | 25 |
| Number of Outpatient Clinics | 27 |
Medical Personnel in the Community
| Full-Time Family Practice Physicians | 7 |
| Internal Medicine Physician | 1 |
| Full-Time General Surgeon | 1 |
| Full-Time Orthopedic Surgeon | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 2 |
| Full-Time Family Practice Advanced Practice Provider | 7 |
| Full-Time Emergency Department Advanced Practice Provider | 2 |
| Dentists / Orthodontists | 5 |
| Nurses (registered or practical) | 92 |
| Optometrists / Ophthalmologists | 5 |
| Veterinarians | 3 |
Information about Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital can be found at https://www.avera.org/locations/profile/avera-st-anthonys-hospital.
Housing
| Median Home Value | $153,049 |
| Total Housing Units | 1,714 |
| Owner Occupied Units | 974 |
| Renter Occupied Units | 519 |
| Vacant Units | 221 |
| Median Rent | $735 |
Largest Employers
| Rank | Business Name | Service Sector | Product / Service | Number Employed | Unions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avera St. Anthony's Hospital | Health Services | Hospital | 280 | No |
| 2 | O'Neill Public Schools | Education | School | 125 | Yes |
| 3 | Holt County | Government | Government | 100 | No |
| 4 | Elkhorn River Farms | Other Services | Potato Plant | 100 | No |
| 5 | Golden Living Center | Health Services | Nursing Home | 73 | No |
| 6 | O'Neill Ventures | Other Services | Vegetable Greenhouse | 60 | |
| 7 | Valley Hope | Health Services | Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center | 44 | No |
| 8 | City of O'Neill | Government | Government | 31 | No |
| 9 | St. Mary's School | Education | School | 30 | Yes |
| 10 | Shopko Hometown | Retail | Variety Store & Pharmacy | 29 | No |
Municipal Services
| Type of Government | Mayor-Council |
| Comprehensive City Plan | Yes, 2003 (year) |
| City Manager | No |
| City Engineer | Yes |
| City Zoning Ordinance in Effect | Yes |
| County Zoning Ordinance in Effect | Yes |
| Garbage Service Provider | City |
| Public Library in City | Yes |
| Percent of Streets Paved | 68% |
| Number Full-Time Fire Department Personnel | 0 |
| Number Volunteer Fire Department Personnel | 40 |
| Number Full-Time Police Officers | 7 |
| Fire Insurance Class | Inside City: 4, Outside City: 7 |
Zoning and subdivision codes are enforced within the city. They are as follows: General Agricultural District, Residential District, Residential Ranchette, Residential Office, Central Business, General Commercial, Light Industrial, and Industrial. The O’Neill Public Library contains 36,126 volumes and has an average annual circulation of 97,341. The library, with 2,493 patrons, is part of the Nebraska Interlibrary Book Loan Program. Story hour is held during the summer months and other special times during the year. Books and records for the blind are also provided. There are six computers with Internet access available, to library patrons. The O’Neill Volunteer Fire Department has 31 members of which 25 members are EMT certified. The department responds to mutual aid calls. There are 213 fire hydrants in O’Neill. The department has up-to-date equipment including 3 ambulances. O’Neill employs 7 full-time police officers and two support personnel. The police department has 4 fully equipped patrol units.
Population
General Population Stats
| Area | Projected Population 2028 | Population 2023 | Census Year: 2020 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Neill | 3,531 | 3,583 | 3,581 | 0.0% |
| Holt County | 9,903 | 10,022 | 10,403 | -1.1% |
| Esri forecasts for 2023 and 2028. U.S. Census Bureau 2000 and 2010 decennial Census data converted by Esri into 2020 geography. | ||||
County Age Distribution
| Age | 0-19 | 20-34 | 35-44 | 45-64 | 65+ | Total | % Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 1,163 | 759 | 506 | 1.467 | 1,163 | 5,058 | 50.5 % |
| Female | 1,092 | 695 | 447 | 1,440 | 1,340 | 4,964 | 49.5 % |
| Total | 2,255 | 1,454 | 953 | 2,907 | 2.503 | 10,022 | |
| Median Age (2023): 47.7 | |||||||
| Source: Esri forecasts for 2023 and 2028. U.S. Census Bureau 2000 and 2010 decennial Census data converted by Esri into 2020 geography. | |||||||
Tax Structure
Actual Valuation of City: $141,312,611 (Year 2015)
Real Property Tax Rates ($ per $100 of actual value)
| City | County | School | Other | Total Real Property |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.562835 | $0.261542 | $0.769999 | $0.195860 | $1.790236 |
Bond Indebtedness
| General Obligation | Revenue | County | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| $630,000.00 | $870,000.00 | None | $1,415,000.00 |
All real property is subject to tax at market value. Agricultural land is valued at 72 percent of its actual value. Personal property that is used in a trade or business and is depreciable is subject to tax at its “net book value.” All other personal property is exempt from taxation.
Transportation
Number & Type of Roads Serving Community
| Type of Road | Federal | State | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interstate Highways | 0 | ||
| Limited Access, Four-Lane Highways | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Improved Two-Lane Highways | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Nearest Highways
| Highway Name | Miles | |
|---|---|---|
| Miles to Nearest Interstate Highway | Interstate 80 | 115 |
| Miles to Nearest Four-Lane Highway | US Hwy 281 | 100 |
Motor Freight Carriers
More than 13,500 licensed motor carriers with worldwide connections are based in Nebraska and serve businesses throughout North America.
Transit Time for Carload or Truckload Lots
| Destination | Distance by Highway Miles | Days by Railroad | Days by Motor Freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 192 | N/A | 1 Day |
| Lincoln | 211 | N/A | 1 Day |
| Chicago | 661 | N/A | 1-2 Days |
| Dallas | 749 | N/A | 2-3 Days |
| Denver | 494 | N/A | 1-2 Days |
| Kansas City | 376 | N/A | 1-2 Days |
| Los Angeles | 1506 | N/A | 2-3 Days |
| Minneapolis | 432 | N/A | 1-2 Days |
| New York | 1425 | N/A | 3-5 Days |
| St. Louis | 626 | N/A | 2-3 Days |
O’Neill trucking firms include Brown Truck Line.
Air
| Distance to nearest public airport | 2 miles |
| Elevation | 2,031 feet |
| Length of longest runway | 4,400 feet |
| Runway lighted | Yes |
| Private aircraft storage available | Yes |
| Private aircraft maintenance available | Yes |
| Distance to nearest commercial air transportation | 112 minutes |
Distance to Nearest International Airport
| Community served by railroad? | Yes |
| Distance to Nearest Railroad | 0 Miles |
| Number of Freight Trains Per Day | 0 |
| Functional Piggyback Ramp Available | No |
| Distance to Nearest Piggyback Service | 76 miles |
| Name of Railroad Serving Community | Nebraska Northeastern Railway Company |
John Baker Field has 24-hour credit card pumps with 100 low-lead and Jet A fuel. The station is attended from 1 a.m. until 6 p.m. seven days a week. Please call (402) 336-3377 for further information.
Rail
| Name of Airport | Miles to Airport from Community |
|---|---|
| Omaha Eppley International | 196 |
| Kansas City International | 359 |
| Denver International | 450 |
Utilities
Electricity
| State electric power deregulated? | No |
| Wholesale Supplier | Nebraska Public Power District |
Electric System Operator
Nebraska Public Power District
Phone: Economic Development – (800) 282-6773 or 24-Hours – (877) 275-6773
Website: www.nppd.com
Email: econdev@nppd.com
Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), the state’s largest electric utility, has a diverse mix of generation, including nuclear, coal, hydro, gas and oil, and wind. NPPD delivers power to approximately 1 million Nebraskans and has ample capacity to meet the needs of new loads. Nebraska’s electric costs are among the lowest in the nation. NPPD’s professional Economic Development Team is available to assist with expansion and retention of existing business and new business locations. Contact the Economic Development Team by emailing econdev@nppd.com or by calling (800) 282-6773. Further information can be found online at www.nppd.com. Utility information can be found at www.nppd.com.
Additional Comments:
O’Neill is provided retail electric service by NPPD. Service is supplied by two 56 MVA, 115/69 kV transformers in the O’Neill substation. Alternate sources are available from the west, east, and north. All services are supplied from substations which are connected to the statewide grid system by 115,000 and 345,000 volt transmission lines. The distribution voltage is 12.5 kV wye with a total transformer capacity of 20 MVA in two distribution substations. O’Neill also has a retail customer in the northwest section of town that has a dedicated 12.5 kV wye circuit. This is fed by a 10 MVA, 69 kV transformer on the 69,000 volt line from O’Neill and an alternate 69,000 volt line from Ainsworth. Contact NPPD, 877-275-6773, www.nppd.com, for further information regarding electric rates and service.
Natural Gas
| Natural Gas Service Available | Yes |
| Supplier in Community | Black Hills Energy |
Water
| Provider | City of O'Neill |
| Major Source | Five wells |
| If Wells, Average Depth | 362 feet |
| Rated Capacity | 4.860 mgd |
| Average Capacity | 1.400 mgd |
| Peak Demand | 4.800 mgd |
| Storage Capacity | 750,000 gallons |
| Hardness | 116 ppm |
| Treated | No |
| Temperature Range | 40-58 (degrees Fahrenheit) |
Sanitation / Waste Water
| Name of Provider | City of O'Neill |
| Type of Service | Waste Treatment |
| Rated Capacity | 0.632 (mgd) |
| Average Daily Demand | 0.525 (mgd) |
| Peak Demand | 1.000 (mgd) |
| Sewer Connection Fee | Yes |
Telecommunications
| Name of Local Service Provider | CenturyLink |
| Number of Long Distance Service Providers | 5 |