Omaha, NE our gem in the Midwest is officially the 59th largest metropolitan area in the U.S.  In 2009 the Omaha- metro area reached 849,517 people – “the largest single -year increase of the decade” according to Jeffrey Robb’s article 60 Nebraska Counties Lost People.   While the title doesn’t spark the optimistic flare one would hope for, there is evidence that our strong economy and cost of living help keep us home and convince others to make Omaha their new home.  In 2009, we experienced a population increase of 10,252 more residents.  A growth rate that is manageable for our city’s services and infrastructure.   The more the merrier!