Omaha, whose first residents were Native Americans, was founded on the Missouri River by speculators from neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa. Furthermore, being set on a crossing called Lone Tree Ferry earned the city its nickname, the "Gateway to the West," making it a major hub of transportation in later years. The city is home to five Fortune 500 companies and is known for its meat-packing industry and the Omaha Stockyards, its breweries and railroads.
