Definition

Proper noun: * A city in the United States: Council Bluffs is a city located in southwestern Iowa, on the eastern bank of the Missouri River, directly opposite the city of Omaha, Nebraska.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • We drove from Omaha to Council Bluffs in just a few minutes.
  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed near the site of present-day Council Bluffs.
  • The railroad history of Council Bluffs is an important part of its identity.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The city's name originates from a council (meeting) held in 1804 between the Lewis and Clark Expedition and members of the Otoe and Missouria Native American tribes on the bluffs overlooking the river.
• Geographic Reference: The term is often used in the context of the larger Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, which spans two states.

Variants and Related Words

• Council Bluff (historical term): The singular form can refer to the specific bluff where the 1804 council was held, though the city's name is officially plural.

Synonyms

• City (in a general sense, though not a direct synonym)
• Municipality (in a general sense, though not a direct synonym)

Related Phrases

• Across the river from Omaha: A common descriptive phrase used to locate Council Bluffs.
• In southwestern Iowa: A common descriptive phrase used to locate Council Bluffs.

Noun

1. a town in southwest Iowa on the Missouri River across from Omaha