Why visit Blair
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 13 parks and trails, 14 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Blair Bridge, Dana College, Blair High School and Washington County Courthouse.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 13°F.
Weather in Blair
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Blair
Blair is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2020 census, Blair had a population of 7,790. Blair is a part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From the Wikipedia article Blair, Nebraska (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Dana College
School · 1.3 mi
Former accredited college in Blair, Nebraska
Museums and landmarks7
Blair High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
High school in Nebraska, United States
Washington County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Courthouse in Blair, Nebraska
Abraham Castetter House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
C.C. Crowell Jr. House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds13
1 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes14
El Vallarta Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.5 mi
1995 Ridgeview Road, Blair
Red Brick Grill and Bar
Restaurant · Bar And Grill · 0.4 mi
1631 Washington Street, Blair
Burger King
Fast food · Burger · 0.7 mi
970 Washington Street, Blair
Mo-Sa 06:00-22:00; Su 07:00-22:00
2 more on the map.
History
Blair was platted in 1869 when the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad was extended to that point. It was named for railroad magnate John Insley Blair, who was credited with bringing the railroad to town. Blair was incorporated as a city in 1872. Within its first year, Blair was designated county seat.
In March 1869, a small child playing on a railroad turntable in town was injured on the turntable. The father sued the railway for damages, leading all the way up to the Supreme Court of the United States in the 1873 case Sioux City & Pacific Railroad Co. v. Stout.
In 1874, during the Panic of 1873, a grasshopper storm enveloped the region. Many Nebraskans were faced with starvation. An organization, the Nebraska Relief and Aid Society was formed in order to help affected persons. A law was passed by congress awarding $100,000 relief, and many Blair citizens were awarded money. Both the newspapers and the railroads in the region helped transport supplies free of charge. Both the Nebraska State Guard and the United States Army helped distribute food and clothing.
From the History section of Blair, Nebraska on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship16
Congregational Church of Blair
Church · National Register of Historic Places
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 1.3 mi
1002 Deerfield Boulevard, Blair
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries13
Healthcare2
Map of Blair
79 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 13°F | 0.8 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 17°F | 0.9 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 27°F | 1.8 in |
| Apr | 62°F | 38°F | 3.3 in |
| May | 73°F | 50°F | 5.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 5.1 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 3.9 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 4.2 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 54°F | 3.3 in |
| Oct | 65°F | 41°F | 2.4 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 28°F | 1.4 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 18°F | 1.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Blair (1 mi away), rain and snow from Ft Calhoun 4W, NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Washington County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2025-10-22: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-05-21: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-08-20: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-05-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Tornado)
- 2022-02-23: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Eppley Airfield (OMA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.
- Missouri Valley 12 mi east, about 20 min by car
- Omaha 19 mi south, about 31 min by car
- Fremont 19 mi west, about 31 min by car
- Logan 19 mi northeast, about 31 min by car
- Carter Lake 21 mi southeast, about 33 min by car
- La Vista 25 mi south, about 40 min by car
- Chalco 25 mi south, about 40 min by car
- Council Bluffs 26 mi southeast, about 41 min by car
- Papillion 27 mi south, about 44 min by car
- Bellevue 29 mi south, about 47 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Blair-Corp of Eng. 6-20-11-A 381, US Army Corps of Engineers (Omaha), Public domain
- Blair, Nebraska Congregational Church from SE 2, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Blair, Nebraska 1899 high school from S, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Washington County, Nebraska courthouse from SE, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Abraham Castetter house from N 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- C. C. Crowell, Jr. house from SE 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Dana College - Main Hall, Unknown author, Public domain
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