Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha
The Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha was a 90-year-old company first founded in South Omaha, Nebraska in 1878 by John A. Smiley. After being moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa and dissolved within a year, the company was reorganized and moved to South Omaha in 1883.Larsen, L. and Cottrell, B. (1997) The Gate City: A History of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. p. 72 Six local businessmen responded to a request by Wyoming cattle baron Alexander Swan showing interest in a livestock market closer than the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, Illinois.(nd) [http://www.nde.state.ne.us/SS/notables/paxton.html William A. Paxton] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812171930/http://www.nde.state.ne.us/SS/notables/paxton.html |date=August 12, 2007 }}. Nebraska Department of Education. Retrieved 6/21/07. The Company's Union Stockyards in South Omaha were once a fierce rival of Chicago's Union Stock Yards.Graham, J. (1999) [http://www.texnews.com/1998/1999/ads/farmranch/omaha0328.html "Omaha stockyards packing it in."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430112658/http://www.texnews.com/1998/1999/ads/farmranch/omaha0328.html |date=April 30, 2008 }} Chicago Tribune. 3/28/99. Retrieved 6/23/07. The Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha was bought out in 1973.
History
Six local businessmen, including William A. Paxton, Herman Kountze and John A. Creighton, formed the Union Stockyards on December 1, 1883 and purchased {{convert|2000|acre|km2}} of land.Omaha World-Herald. (1954) [http://www.historicomaha.com/ofcchap5.htm "V. — The Proud Era: Horse Cars, Street Lights, RR Bridge Were Added by '73. 1870-1885."] Omaha's First Century. HistoricOmaha.com. Retrieved 6/21/07. At that same point the businessmen formed the South Omaha Land Company, platting the city of South Omaha that same year over the remaining {{convert|1700|acre|km2}}.(nd) [http://www.ci.omaha.ne.us/parks/parks/springlakepark.htm Spring Lake Park] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070619022536/http://www.ci.omaha.ne.us/parks/parks/springlakepark.htm |date=June 19, 2007 }}. City of Omaha. Retrieved 6/21/07. The City of Omaha annexed South Omaha in 1915. At that time related businesses in South Omaha included the Union Stockyards Bank of South Omaha, South Omaha Terminal Railway, the Union Elevator, the Union Trust Company, and the South Omaha Land Syndicate.(nd) {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20061115224247/http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/timeline/paxton_william_a.htm William Paxton]}}. Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 6/22/07. In 1927 the Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha constructed the Livestock Exchange Building to house its operations.Larsen, L. and Cottrell, B. (1997) The Gate City: A History of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. p. 77
The meatpacking industry of South Omaha was closely reliant on the Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha, and South Omaha relied solely on both of those industries for its growth for more than 100 years. In 1957 it was estimated that combined the industries employed fully one-half of Omaha workers.Nolte, B.T. (1999) [http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.nebraska.counties.cass/82.2/mb.ashx "Stockyards to leave South Omaha after 115 Years."] Nebraska Farmer. 1/15/99. After a downturn in the market and changes in the livestock industry, the Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha lost value through the 1960s.
In 1973 the Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha was sold to the Canal Capital Corporation of New York. In 1999 the Union Stockyards were closed by the City of Omaha, and replaced with a business park.Biga, L. A. (1998) [http://www.enoa.org/publications/new_horizons/4thqtr98stockyards.html "How the Mighty Did Fall: The Stockyards Nears the End of an Era."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009161521/http://www.enoa.org/publications/new_horizons/4thqtr98stockyards.html |date=2007-10-09 }} New Horizons. 9/21/98. Eastern Nebraska Office of Aging. Retrieved 6/22/07.
See also
References
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External links
- [http://memories.ne.gov/cdm/search/searchterm/Union%20Stockyards%20Company%20of%20Omaha/field/subjec/mode/exact/conn/and/order/title Historic Photos] of the Stockyards.
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Category:Landmarks in Omaha, Nebraska
Category:History of South Omaha, Nebraska
Category:Switching and terminal railroads
Category:Defunct Nebraska railroads
Category:Defunct companies based in Nebraska
Category:Meatpacking industry in Omaha, Nebraska