Scriptown was the name of the first subdivision in the history of
Omaha
Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest city ...
, which at the time was located in
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska ...
. It was called "Scriptown" because
scrip
A scrip (or ''chit'' in India) is any substitute for legal tender. It is often a form of credit. Scrips have been created and used for a variety of reasons, including exploitive payment of employees under truck systems; or for use in local comme ...
was used as payment, similar to how a company would pay employees when regular money was unavailable. Its original survey placed the location from the
Missouri River to North 30th Street, Cuming to Fort Street.
About
The
Omaha Land Company The Omaha Claim Club, also called the Omaha Township Claim Association(1954 ''Omaha's First Century''. Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 7/14/07. and the Omaha Land Company, was organized in 1854 for the purpose of "encouraging the building of a city"Mo ...
, made of businessmen including representatives from the Lone Tree Ferry Company that founded Omaha City, "secured" land around the city of Omaha in late 1854. This was quickly subdivided and lots were quickly distributed to persuade influential legislators who supported Omaha City becoming the territorial capitol.
Colonel
Lorin Miller Lorin is a masculine given name. The meaning of Lorin derives from a bay or laurel plant; of Laurentum (wreathed/crowned with laurel). Laurentum, in turn is from laurus (laurel), from the place of laurel trees, laurel branch, laurel wreath. Laurent ...
, later mayor of Omaha, surveyed Scriptown in the spring and summer of 1855. It was bound by 16th street on the east, 24th on the west and Cuming Street on the south to Fort Street on the north.
The area was developed quickly, and included a number of prominent homes. Neighborhoods eventually formed from Scriptown included
Gifford Park Gifford Park is a historic neighborhood in midtown Omaha, Nebraska. It is roughly bounded by the North Freeway on the east, North 38th Street on the west, Dodge Street on the south and Cuming Street on the north. Its namesake park was added to th ...
,
Kountze Place The Kountze Place neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska is a historically significant community on the city's north end. Today the neighborhood is home to several buildings and homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located betw ...
,
Prospect Hill,
Saratoga and the
Near North Side. These areas were incorporated into the city of Omaha in 1877.
[(nd]
Annexation and growth page
. Retrieved 6/7/07.
See also
*''
Baker v. Morton
''Baker v. Morton'', 79 U.S. (12 Wall.) 150 (1870), was the second of two land claim suits to come out of Omaha, Nebraska Territory, filed in September 1860, prior to statehood. A claim jumper filed suit against local land barons to stake out a h ...
''
External links
Map showing Scriptown's boundaries
References
Pioneer history of Omaha, Nebraska
Neighborhoods in Omaha, Nebraska
Populated places established in 1855
1855 establishments in Nebraska Territory
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