Boys Town

Boys Town is a functioning village in Nebraska with its own police department, fire station, schools, churches, post office, and sports facilities spread across nearly 1 square mile (1.5 square kilometers). The village is home to approximately 400 young residents at any given time and provides specialized behavioral, emotional, and academic support services.

Father Edward J. Flanagan founded Boys Town on December 12, 1917, as a refuge for abandoned and orphaned children. The village was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985, marking its importance in the history of residential care for youth.

The village is home to children from many backgrounds who live together in residential homes with trained caregiving couples. This community operates through daily family structures where mentoring and peer relationships form the foundation of life here.

The village can be explored on foot since major facilities are relatively close together. Visitors should plan ahead and be aware that some areas may have restricted access since this is an active residential community for young people.

The village operates with its own police department and fire station that function like those in any regular town. This makes it a rare example of a fully operational municipality designed specifically as a treatment and educational community.