Beatrice, NE

Livability

City of Beatrice

The City of Beatrice is in the center of Gage County and is the county seat, with a population of 12,496. In addition to Gage County's population of 21,806, the community draws from a nine-county adjacent area with available labor force of 214,646. This labor force figure is significant since Lincoln is just 35 miles to the north of Beatrice. With a solid base of manufacturers present and manufacturing history in the community, there is an excellent pool of experienced workforce to draw from.

Roads connecting to Beatrice and the Gage County Industrial Park site are excellent. Interstate 80 is just 39 miles to the north of Beatrice on Highway 77 which is a four lane expressway. Beatrice and Gage County are in the center of the country with great accessibility and outstanding transportation infrastructure here.  

Beatrice offers local incentives for businesses that have an interest in moving or growing here. Direct loans or grants are available to qualifying businesses through the Local Option Municipal Act fund and Community Development Block Grant funds. The county implemented a new fund to be used as needed for businesses interested in this area and tax increment financing is available for improvements. 

The Beatrice area community has superb quality of living amenities including an excellent school system, ample recreation venues and activities, including hiking and biking trails, theaters, good medical care with a new state of the art hospital, historical sites and attractions, community celebrations, and many churches. The area is rich in culture and history, as it is the home of the Homestead National Monument. 

Click here for the 2016 Beatrice Community Guide.  

Recent and significant local investments have been made to:

• The Beatrice Community Hospital opened its new facility on the north edge of Beatrice in February of 2012.  In 2016, a $7.2M clinical services expansion was completed.   
• A new sports complex near the Beatrice High School facility. 
• Recent improvements nearly complete to enhance the Beatrice Public Library facility. 
• Restoration in 2012 of the Historic Carnegie Building (housing NGage, the Chamber, and Gage County Tourism offices). 
• Renovation and restoration of the Gage County Courthouse. 
• A two-phase downtown revitalization project, including street paying, sidewalks, concrete planters and historical lighting along 5th St. 

City of Beatrice website www.beatrice.ne.gov

City of Beatrice Facebook Page

City of Beatrice Twitter 

Educational Facilities

School District 15 in Gage County covers 158 square miles. This Class 3 district is accredited "AA" by the Nebraska Department of Education and North Central Association. The public High School, built in 1998, has a maximum capacity of 900 and houses the Hevelone Center, a community performing arts facility. Beatrice High School seniors achieved a high score of 94.1 per cent in their writing assessment skills, out performing the statewide average of 93.9 per cent. Vocational courses offered in the High School include family science, auto mechanics, welding, wood working, drafting, electronics, and business classes. Southeast Community College through collaboration with the Beatrice High School has formed a Career Academy Partnership that will provide high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college-level classes.

Recreational Facilities

Beatrice currently has 16 parks, including the Veteran's Memorial Park and the Skate Park. There are 12 ball diamonds, in which 6 are lighted, and Christenson Field. Recreational facilities include bowling, roller skating, miniature golfing, and a full-service YMCA facility. Through the direction of Beatrice Youth Recreation, softball, baseball, and midget football programs are available. Annual celebrations within Beatrice include the Gage County Fair in July and a Homestead Days Celebration with a parade the last weekend in June. Other recreational activities include golfing, a hike and bike trail, movie theatres, and a gun club.

Housing

Average Cost Per Square Foot of Single Units Built in Last 2 Years: $125
Average Monthly Rental - 3 Bedroom House: $610
Average Monthly Rental - 2 Bedroom Apartment: $460
Average Cost of Houses Sold (last 2 years): $90,700

Health Faciities

The Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, with 18 active medical staff and about 100 consulting, affiliate and courtesy medical staff. The hospital employs four hospitalists and four emergency room doctors. The hospital provides a full range of services, including inpatient medical, surgical and intensive care, labor and delivery, outpatient surgery, monthly specialty clinics, physical, occupational and speech therapies, a laboratory, diagnostic imaging, a sleep study lab, a wellness center, a children’s clinic and a women’s clinic with two female OB-GYNs. Of the 18 active medical staff working at the hospital and living in Beatrice, there are: 9 Family Practice Physicians, 2 Internists, 2 OB-GYNs, 4 Hospitalists, and 1 General Surgeon. The Beatrice Community Hospital and Healthcare Center will be the first tenant in the Northgate Crossing development.

Commercial Services

Basic economic activities of Beatrice, the county seat, include manufacturing,retail and wholesale sales, tourism, and agricultural enterprises. Beatrice now has over 500 businesses, ranging from financial institutions, retail shops, restaurants, industry and services. Because Beatrice is the hub for Gage County, it has an extended primary trade area.

Labor Stats

Local Manufacturing Characteristics

Gage Area Growth Enterprise (NGage) promotes business development to enhance economic opportunities, amenities, and quality of life for the benefit of the residents of Beatrice and the surrounding communities of Gage County, Nebraska. NGage staff and Board collaborates with private, local, regional, and state organizations to form strategic alliances for building economic growth in Beatrice, Gage County, and Nebraska. The Beatrice area's top private industries are manufacturing, trade, transportation, and utilities; which makeup over one-third of the area's employment. The largest non-manufacturers include government, healthcare services, and utilities. Diversity in employment is the key to our success now and in the future.

Number of Manufacturing Plants in Community: 16
Number of Manufacturing Plants with Unions: 0
Number of Manufacturing Employees: 1,165

The Beatrice area's top private industries are manufacturing, trade, transportation, and utilities; which make up over one-third of the area's employment. The largest non-manufacturers include government, health care services, and utilities. Diversity in employment is the key to our success now and in the future.

Business Climate

Leading Employers in Community

Tax Structure

Actual valuation of City of Beatrice for 2014:  576,030,067.00

All real property is subject to be taxed at its actual value. Agricultural land is valued at 75 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.

Municipal Services

Beatrice, a first-class city, has a mayor-council form of government and a city administrator.

Statewide

Monthly Not Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment data in Nebraska for October 2012

Gage County

Monthly Not Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment data in the Gage County, NE region for October 2012

Southeast Nebraska

Monthly Not Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment data in the Southeast Region for October 2012

Assets

Available Buildings

Beatrice has buildings ranging in size from 10,000 s/f. to 274,000 s/f.

Details Available Online: Yes
Details Available in Print: Yes

Sites

Beatrice has four sites totaling 237.15 acres.

1) The Gage County Industrial Park is located in northwest Beatrice adjacent to the Beatrice Airport, with access off of U.S. Highway 77 a four-lane (north/south) expressway. A total of 74-acres are available in the Gage County Industrial Park. The 74-acre site is shovel ready (EAS Phase I and Geo Tech Study completed).

2) The Airport site has three 1.55 acre lots available. The Airport lots are prime/frontage property, as they face U.S. Highway 77.

3) The 155 acre multi use development, Northgate Crossing, is located in northwest Beatrice off of U.S. Highway 77.

Controlled  Sites Available in Community: 3

Suggested links for further information on available sites:
74 acre industrial site »

Infrastructure

Air

The Beatrice Airport, located in north Beatrice, is adjacent to the Industrial Parks which is just off U.S. Highway 77. The Beatrice Airport is a fully equipped airport for corporate jet traffic. The airport, covering 600 acres, is in a continuous expansion program. It has two lighted 100' wide concrete runways, one 5,600' long and the other 4,400' long. The airport has 100 Octane Low Lead Fuel, Jet Fuel, storage hangers, and transportation services available. Elevation is 1,318 feet. The Lincoln Commercial Airport is within 39 miles north of Beatrice. The Omaha Eppley Airport is 80 minutes from Beatrice and the Kansas City International Airport is just over 2 hours from Beatrice. All are served by most major airlines. Duncan Aviation, located adjacent to the Lincoln Airport, provides corporate jet services within 39 miles north of Beatrice.

Barge

Beatrice is served by a branch line of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, with one freight train daily. Amtrak provides Lincoln, 39 miles north of Beatrice, with rail passenger service east to Chicago and west to Denver and San Francisco/Oakland. The Superliner features coach and first-class accommodations and dining car service. Travel time is l0 1/2 hours to Chicago and 39 hours to the West Coast. Amtrak has one train each way daily.

Utilities

Water: Rated Capacity 9.5 mgd, Ave demand 4.2 mgd

Sewer: Rated Capacity 5.0 mgd, Ave demand 2.4 mgd

Rail: BNSF (sites can be optioned if rail service is required)

Electricity

State Electric Power Deregulated: No

Electric System Operator: City of Beatrice
phone -    (402) 228-5211

Wholesale Supplier: Nebraska Public Power District
Econ Dev: 800-282-6773 or 24-Hours: 877-275-6773
website »
e-mail »

Comments: 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 » or by calling (800) 282-6773. Further information can be found online »  Utility information can be found online »

Additional Comments: The City of Beatrice Board of Public Works retails power purchased from Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) to the citizens of Beatrice. The city is provided with three alternate 34,000-volt feeder lines from a 115,000-volt substation located on the northwest edge of the city. An additional 34,500-volt alternate feeder line is provided from a new 115,000-volt substation southeast of the city. Total transmissions system capacity is approximately 112 MVA. NPPD's 115,000-volt substations are an integral part of a 115,000-volt statewide system, which is supported with interconnections with the Southwest Area Power Pool. A portion of the distribution system is 12.5 kV with the remainder at 4.16 kV. The distribution system has a total transformer capacity of approximately 62.5 MVA.

Natural Gas

Natural Gas Service Available: Yes    
Supplier in Community: Black Hills Energy

Black Hills Energy is the retail supplier of natural gas in Beatrice. The transmission provider is Northern Gas Pipe Line. Black Hills Energy is a full-service natural gas distribution company with Nebraska headquarters in Lincoln. Natural gas with an average value of 1,000 BTU per cubic foot is available for residential, commercial, and industrial customers for base and peak use on a firm basis. Interruptible service is available for commercial and industrial customers with alternate fuel capability. Annual curtailment of interruptible customers varies with the type of service selected by the customer. Rates vary slightly due to seasonal and commodity price fluctuation. Current rates for the commercial/light industrial class customer, as well as one year’s history for the Nebraska Area 3, can be found on Black Hills’ website » Black Hills Energy has open transportation access on their system allowing for other providers (marketers) on their system. All marketers must be certified by the Nebraska Public Service Commission. Presently the Nebraska Public Service Commission's web site indicates tweleve certified marketers. Black Hills Energy's transportation rates are negotiated on a case-by-case basis for industrial customers with large usage. For further information, contact: Cheryl Brandenburgh, External Affairs Manager for Black Hills Energy-Nebraska at 402-437-1850 or e-mail »

Water

Provider: Beatrice Board of Public Works    
Major Source: wells    
If Wells, Average Depth: 225 feet
Rated Capacity: 9.5 mgd
Average Capacity: 4.200 mgd
Peak Demand: 8.900 mgd
Storage Capacity: 9,500,000 gallons
Hardness: 261 ppm
Treated: No    
Temperature Range: 54-70 (degrees Fahrenheit)

The municipal water system in Beatrice is supplied by 12 ground wells that range in depth from 95 - 225 feet. The system, serving 100 percent of the city's population, has a combined pumping capacity of 7,000 gallons per minute. Two elevated storage tanks have capacity for 1.5 million gallons of water and two underground storage reservoirs have a capacity of 8 million gallons for a total of 9.5 million gallons. The average daily water demand for the city is 2.4 million gallons, the historic peak demand is 6.7 million gallons, and the maximum daily capacity is 19.6 million gallons. The static pressure averages 60 pounds and the residual pressure averages 50 pounds per square inch.

Sanitation/Waste Water

Name of Provider: Beatrice Board of Public Works    
Type of Service: primary/secondary    
Rated Capacity: 5.000 (mgd)
Average Daily Demand: 1.2 (mgd)
Peak Demand: 4.400 (mgd)
Sewer Connection Fee: Yes

Beatrice has a municipal sanitary sewerage system consisting of a combination RBC and trickling filter system. The treatment plant, built in 1983, has a daily capacity of 5.0 million gallons. The average daily flow is 1.2 million gallons and the histroic peak daily discharge is 4.4 million gallons. An Ultraviolet Disinfection System was added to the plant in 1997 to help ensure safe discharge water.

Telecommunications

Name of Local Service Provider: Windstream Communications    
Number of Long Distance Service Providers: 2

Windstream Communications serves the Beatrice area with a digital central office fed by a self-healing fiber ring. DMS 100, fiber optic, T-carrier, ISDN, and DSL are provided as well as dialup and wireless 1+data. Dual feed from two switching offices is available. Fiber redundant diverse routing is available. A full-service retail and customer service center is located in Beatrice, providing customer's personal access to service representatives. Installation and maintenance personnel are also headquartered in Beatrice. Extended local calling area service to all communities in Gage County is available.