Hastings has a successful blend of agricultural, manufacturing and service industries that contribute to its strong stable economy. The economy is further bulstered by a vibrant retail community that has helped establish Hastings as the trade center for south central Nebraska and northern Kansas. New businesses are thriving in Hastings. The city has two progressive industrial parks that are the homes of many new businesses with room for more. Companies located in Hastings also enjoy its centralized location, its convenient rail service, and its close proximity to major highways. In addition, the community is blessed with people who possess a superior work ethic. For those wanting to purchase a home, the real estate market is healthy and provides one of the more stable investments in the area. Hastings residents are seldom at a loss for things to do. Hastings offers recreational, athletic, and cultural opportunites that would rival any city in the state. If you like the great outdoors, Hastings offers 17 parks, 3 golf courses, tennis, swimming and lakes. The beauty of the Platte River and the central plains also awaits your enjoyment. Hunting and fishing is at its best and every spring, the skies come alive as thousands of ducks, geese and Sandhill cranes migrate through the community. Perhaps you'd like to spend an afternoon shopping and seeing a movie. How about the thrill of quarterhorse racing followed by a meal in one of Hastings' fine restaurants? For a fit mind and body, explore the many opportunites awaiting you at the modern YMCA and YWCA facilities. Hastings is home to the Lied Super Screen Theatre at Hastings Museum. The Lied Super Screen Theatre Experience draws well over 150,000 visitors each year, providing an unequalled sight and sound adventure. The Museum itself has earned national acclaim with its three floors of unique wildlife dioramas, natural history displays, and one-of-a-kind historical artifacts. The J.M. McDonald Planetarium inside Hastings Museum offers a stunning tour of the night sky and the wonders of the universe. For those who enjoy active participation, the 60-acre Prairie Ridge Park offers baseball fields, soccer fields and the Bill Smith Softball Complex and Sports Center. The Smith complex host national tournaments along with local league games, and is considered on of the finest softball facilities in the United States. Champions Sports and Recreation Center provides year-around fun with indoor water slides, tennis courts, and basketball and racquetball courts. The Hastings YMCA offers an indoor running/walking track, basketball courts, weight room, swimming pool and dozens of organized programs for kids. Hastings is the only community in greater Nebraska with its own symphony orchestra. Quality performances are standard at the Hastings Community Theatre. And to celebrate the community's dedication to the arts, Hastings will host its 12th annual Cottonwood Prairie Festival in June with the state's largest outdoor sculpture invitational. The educational opportunities offered in Hastings are unmatched for a city of its size in Nebraska. With a public school district which has received an AA designation for excellence, plus two parochial elementary schools, one parochial junior high and one parochial high school, Hastings believes in the welfare and education of its children. In addition, Hastings boasts two nationally known colleges and a school of nursing. Hastings College is a liberal arts college founded in 1882. The Hastings campus of the Central Community College was founded in 1966 and offers a wide spectrum of technical and vocational classes. The Creighton University School of Nursing-Mary Lanning Campus was founded in 1915. With opportunities for all ages, people of Hastings can truly enjoy its distinction for excellence in education. Hastings takes pride in the safety and comfort enjoyed by its residents. Medical care is excellent, with many specialists drawing patients from Central Nebraska and Northern Kansas. Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital provides state-of-the-art medical attention, including one of the state's finest regional cancer training centers. The Hastings Regional Center provides total patient care for psychiatric disorders and alcoholism. In addition, Hastings is served by over 100 agencies that promote care for a myriad of medical and emotional needs. Hastings offers abundant opportunities for those people seeking a place to retire. The city also boasts over 30 churches that serve the spiritual needs of the residents. Besides being one of the three stops in the state for the Amtrak Passenger Rail Service, Hastings is also home to one major network television station, two AM radio stations, two FM radio stations, and a daily newspaper. The city's police and fire department use state-of-the-art equipment and are manned by the best trained professionals.