Blair is a part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Blair was platted in 1869 when the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad was extended to that point.

The father sued the railway for damages, leading all the way up to the Supreme Court of the United States in the 1873 case Sioux City & Pacific Railroad Co. v. Stout.

An organization, the Nebraska Relief and Aid Society was formed in order to help affected persons.

Both the newspapers and the railroads in the region helped transport supplies free of charge.

Construction of the Chicago and Northwestern Bridge across the Missouri River was authorized by an Act of Congress on June 27, 1882.

Construction began in September 1882, and it was open for rail traffic in November 1883.

[8][9] In 1916, Blair was awarded a $10,000 grant to build a Carnegie Library.

Unfortunately, an electrical fire occurred on the night of July 23, 1973, and the historic library was deemed a total loss.

On April 26, 2024, portions of Blair were struck by a large EF4 tornado, destroying or damaging dozens of homes.

The 2020 United States census[16] counted 7,790 people, 3,157 households, and 2,015 families in Blair.

31.8% of households consisted of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

At the 2010 census there were 7,990 people, 3,110 households, and 2,005 families living in the city.

Blair is served by the local weekly newspaper Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise.