Carter Lake is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States.

A suburb of Omaha, Nebraska, it sits surrounding the south and west sides of the region's major airport, Eppley Airfield.

[3] Carter Lake is an example of the border irregularities of the United States, being the only city in Iowa located west of the Missouri River.

It included "a boathouse at the foot of Locust street, hotels and club houses were numerous and the lake was the scene of many a pleasant rowing and fishing party.

[9] Although Carter Lake was legally considered part of Council Bluffs, residents paid city taxes but lacked the basic city services enjoyed by residents east of the Missouri River.

[citation needed] On July 2, 1930, Carter Lake was incorporated as a city, in the state of Iowa.

In 1945, one of the brothers donated the rides from the old parks to the World War II metal drives.

[12] In the 1930s and '40s, Carter Lake became a gambling hot spot, as law enforcement was limited and because of its important location.

At The Chez Paree, you "could listen to Sophie Tucker, have the best prime rib in town and enjoy a gambling raid or two."

Patrons could "bet on any horse race in the United States," and the business was described as "the most active casino between Chicago and the West Coast.

"[13][11]: 66 The mistaken belief that a defendant corporation located in Carter Lake was a legal resident of Nebraska resulted in another U.S. Supreme Court case, Owen Equipment & Erection Co. v. Kroger, 437 U.S. 365 (1978).

[17] Carter Lake creates a geographic oddity for travelers going to Eppley Airfield, which it surrounds on the south and west.

Consequently, travelers going to Eppley Airfield from anywhere except North Omaha will go through Carter Lake, Iowa.