Nebraska
(In Detail) (Full size) ''State_nickname: Cornhusker State'' Other U.S. States Capital Lincoln Largest City Omaha Governor Mike_Johanns Area - Total - Land - Water - % water Ranked 16th 200,520 km² 19,275 km² 1,247 km² 0.6% Population - Total (2000) - Density Ranked 38th 1,711,263 8.5/km2 Admittance into Union - Order - Date 37th March_1, 1867 Time_zone Central: -5 Mountain: -6 Eastern NE is Central, Western NE is Mountain Latitude Longitude 40°N to 43°N 95°25'W to 104°W Width Length Elevation -Highest -Mean -Lowest 340 km 690 km 1,653 meters 790 meters 256 meters ISO_3166-2:US-NE Nebraska is a Midwestern State of the United_States. Nebraska gets its name from a Native_American word meaning "flat water", after the Platte_River that flows through the State. Once considered part of the Great_American_Desert, it is now a leading farming state. Nebraskans have practiced scientific farming to turn the Nebraska prairie into a land of ranches and farms. Much of the history of the State is the story of the impact of the Nebraska farmer.History
The Kansas-Nebraska_Act became law on May_30, 1854 which established the US territories of Nebraska and Kansas. The territorial capital of Nebraska was Omaha. In the 1860s, the first great wave of homesteaders poured into Nebraska to claim free land granted by the federal government. Many of the first farm settlers built their homes out of sod because they found so few trees on the grassy land. Nebraska became the 37th state in 1867, shortly after the Civil War. At that time, the capital was moved from Omaha to a town that was renamed Lincoln after the recently assassinated President Abraham_Lincoln. Arbor_Day began in Nebraska. The National_Arbor_Day_Foundation is still headquartered in Nebraska City.Law and Government
Nebraska is the only state in the United States with a unicameral legislature, that is a legislature with only one house. Although this house is known simply as the "Legislature", its members still call themselves "senators". Nebraska's Legislature is also the only one in the United States that is nonpartisan. The senators are elected with no party affiliation next to their names on the ballot, and the speaker and committee chairpersons are chosen at large, so that members of any party can be (and often are) chosen for these positions. See List_of_Nebraska_Governors.Geography
Nebraska is bordered by South_Dakota to the north; Iowa and Missouri to the east, across the Missouri_River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwest, and Wyoming to the west. The largest city in Nebraska is Omaha, and the capital is Lincoln. The state has 93 counties; see List_of_Nebraska_counties. In regional terms, Nebraska is located in the Great_Plains, at the westernmost extent of the Grain_Belt. The eastern portion of the State can be considered part of the "Midwest", while the western and central portions are part of the "West", although the distinction between these regions is somewhat fluid. Indeed, one of Nebraska's mottos is "Where the West begins", and a local legend even has it that the West begins precisely at the intersection of 13th and O Streets in Lincoln (where it is marked by a red brick star).Economy
Nebraska is known for its agriculture, especially beef and corn (aka maize).Demographics
Nebraska's population as of 2000 is 1,711,263.Important cities and towns
Largest cities and towns
Largest urban areas
Education
Colleges and universities
Sports teams
Miscellaneous information
The USS ''Nebraska'' was named in honor of this State. ''Nebraska'' is also the name of a 1982 album by Bruce_Springsteen, widely considered one of his best. Kool-Aid was created by Edwin_Perkins in Hastings,_Nebraska. The world's largest train yard, Union Pacific's Bailey_Yard, is located in North_Platte,_NebraskaFurther reading
External links
Original, History and Authors:
en-wikipedia-org/wiki/Nebraska | History and Authors | Edit Content
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