During its short period of influence the town grew quickly, outpacing other local settlements in the area including Omaha and Florence, and briefly considered as a candidate for the Nebraska Territorial capitol.

[3] The town's economy, including a hotel and several bars, relied on its connection to the Saratoga Bend on the Missouri River, less than one mile (1.6 km) away.

The site was also the grave of the daughter of Young Elk, an elder of the Omaha Tribe who advised Logan Fontenelle.

[citation needed] One historic report identifies a sulfur spring at the "foot of Grand Avenue", which is the location of "Bluff View Park", also called "Horseshoe Bend".

[4] Erastus F. Beadle (1821–1894), an agent for New York land speculators, was the impetus for the town's creation and growth.

This type of speculation relied on money from wildcat banks, which were shady investment schemes popular at the time.

After Beadle left in late 1857, the economic "Panic of '57" set in and greatly distressed Saratoga's economy; the Post Office closed in 1858, and the town then stagnated until it was absorbed by Omaha.