Quick Facts: Nebraska

Nebraska is a state that lies in both the Great Plains and the Midwestern United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwest; and Wyoming to the west.

ABBREVIATION: NE
NICKNAME: The Cornhusker State
POPULATION: 2,005,465 (2024 est.)
CAPITAL: Lincoln
STATE BIRD: Western Meadowlark
STATE FLOWER: Goldenrod
AREA: 77,354 sq. mi.
TIME ZONE: Most of state: Central – panhandle: Mountain
ENTERED UNION: Mar. 1, 1867
ALTITUDE: High, 5,424 ft. Panorama Point
CLIMATE: Hot summers, cold winters; semi-arid in the west, more rain in the east.

Here is the crucible in which the spirit of the western settlers received a severe test. With temperatures that soar to 110 degrees on the high dry plains of the west, Nebraska can be fearfully hot in the summer months. It can also be as icily cold as 30 below in winter on the sand hills of the north central region.

If it had not been for the fact that its rolling central plains were chosen for the route of the Union Pacific, Nebraska might have long remained, as an Army Engineer’s report described it in 1820, “the abode of perpetual desolation”. But the railroad brought homesteaders to take up the free lands laid out by government surveyors.

Once there, the settlers found water in the Platte Basin, and they managed to build homes of sod on the short grass plain.

But none of it was easy. In the 1870’s the state was plagued by swarms of grasshoppers which stripped bare the grain fields of the Midwest. Escaping to the East, many a defeated pioneer sang a wry paean to Nebraska-“Land of the bedbug, grasshopper, and flea…I’ll tell of its fame-while starving to death on my government claim”.

Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska

The earth itself is Nebraska’s most valuable resource. ‘Loess’-topsoil deposited by hard blowing winds-enriches the southern part of the state. On it Nebraska produces 60-80 million bushels each year and 1.61 billion bushels of corn.

Beef and cattle are raised in the west and fattened in the wetter east near the food-processing centers of Lincoln and Omaha, where corn and hogs flourish.

Fun Facts:

Fossils of prehistoric elephants called mammoths have been found in almost every county in Nebraska. The largest is on display at the University of Nebraska State Museum in Lincoln.
Nebraska has more miles of river within its boundaries than any other state.
The largest expanse of original native prairie in the United States is in the Sand Hills region. It is an important stopover for migrating Sandhill Cranes.
Nebraska was known as the tree planter’s state until 1945 when the Cornhusker State was adopted. The state has the only national forest that was planted by people.
The system of center pivot irrigation, which opens more land to crop production, originated in Nebraska. It is estimated that this method of irrigation currently water’s more than 72% of the state’s cropland (2015 est.).
Lincoln, Nebraska was the first to develop and use the 911 system of emergency communications.

History:

Nebraska, located in the heart of the Great Plains, has a long and diverse history shaped by Indigenous peoples, westward expansion, agriculture, and innovation. Its wide-open prairies, once home to massive bison herds, have witnessed the rise and transformation of cultures over thousands of years.

Long before European contact, Nebraska was home to many Native American tribes, including the Omaha, Ponca, Otoe, Pawnee, and later the Lakota Sioux. These tribes lived in complex societies, with many practicing agriculture and hunting bison across the plains.

The rivers and rich grasslands of Nebraska sustained their communities for generations. Native peoples built earth lodges, traded across large regions, and maintained spiritual traditions deeply tied to the land.

In 1803, the United States acquired the land that includes modern-day Nebraska through the Louisiana Purchase. The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed along the eastern edge of Nebraska in 1804, charting the territory and meeting local tribes. However, for decades afterward, the region remained primarily Indigenous land, visited mostly by fur trappers, traders, and explorers.

In the mid-1800s, Nebraska became a critical route for westward migration. Thousands of pioneers traveled through the state on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails, following the Platte River Valley. Fort Kearny, established in 1848, became a key military outpost and supply station for travelers heading west.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 officially organized the Nebraska Territory. This act allowed settlers to decide whether slavery would be permitted in their territory, reigniting national tensions and contributing to the onset of the Civil War. Nebraska remained a free territory, and settlement accelerated. Omaha was named the territorial capital, and railroads began expanding into the region.

Nebraska achieved statehood on March 1, 1867, becoming the 37th state in the Union. The state capital was moved to Lancaster and renamed Lincoln, in honor of President Abraham Lincoln. The Homestead Act of 1862 brought a wave of settlers to Nebraska, offering free land to those willing to farm it.

Immigrants from Germany, Scandinavia, and other parts of Europe played a major role in shaping the state’s culture and agricultural economy.

Agriculture became Nebraska’s backbone, with corn, wheat, and cattle dominating the economy. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw rapid development, though farmers faced hardships like droughts, grasshopper plagues, and economic depression.

During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, soil erosion devastated farms, but conservation efforts and federal aid helped the land recover.

In the 20th century, Nebraska modernized its economy, developing sectors in finance, insurance, manufacturing, and education. Omaha and Lincoln grew into vibrant urban centers, while rural communities remained strong in agriculture and local traditions. Nebraska also became known for its unique unicameral legislature—the only one in the nation.

Today, Nebraska is a state proud of its pioneer heritage, agricultural roots, and innovative spirit. Its history—from Native American civilizations to modern growth—reflects the resilience and determination of the people who have called it home for centuries.