Nebraska        Email Print    Bookmark   Link	Nebraska   Home Discussion Definition     Topics Nebraska Topic Home Nebraska is a state U.S. state A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....  located on the Great Plains Great Plains The Great Plains are the broad expanse of prairie and steppe which lie west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada....  of the Midwestern United States Midwestern United States The Midwestern United States is one of the four geographic regions within the United States of America that are officially recognized by the United States Census Bureau....  and Western United States Western United States The Western United States—commonly referred to as the American West or simply The West—traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost U.S.... . Nebraska probably gets its name from the archaic Otoe Chiwere language Chiwere is a Siouan languages originally spoken by the Missouri tribe, Otoe tribe, and Iowa tribe peoples, who originated in the Great Lakes region but later moved throughout the midwest and plains....  words Ñí Brásge (contemporary Otoe Ñí Bráhge) or the Omaha Omaha-Ponca language Omaha-Ponca is a Siouan language spoken by the Ponca and Omaha people of Nebraska and the Ponca people of Oklahoma. There are today only 60 speakers of Omaha, and 25 fluent speakers, all over 60, and a handful of semi-fluent speakers of Ponca....  Ní Btháska meaning "flat water," after the Platte River Platte River The Platte River is an approximately . long river in the Western United States. It is a tributary to the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary to the Mississippi River....  that flows through the state. American Indian American Indian American Indian may refer to:* Native Americans in the United States* Any of the indigenous peoples of the Americas* Indian Americans, Americans of Indian parentage...  tribes in Nebraska have included the Iowas, Omahas, Missourias, Poncas, Pawnees, Otoes, and various branches of the Sioux Sioux Sioux are a Native Americans in the United States and First Nations people. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many dialects.... . Once considered part of the Great American Desert Great American Desert The Great American Desert is a term that was used in the 19th century to describe the High Plains east of the Rocky Mountain.Description... , it is now a leading farming Agriculture Agriculture refers to the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of civilization, with the animal husbandry of domestication animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more Population density and Social stratification societies....  and ranching Agriculture Agriculture refers to the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of civilization, with the animal husbandry of domestication animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more Population density and Social stratification societies....  state. ay 30, 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act Kansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories of Kansas Territory and Nebraska Territory, opened new lands, repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, and allowed settlers in those territories to determine if they would allow slavery within their boundaries....  created the Kansas Territory Kansas Territory The Territory of Kansas was an organized territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when Kansas became the 34th U.S....  and the Nebraska Territory Nebraska Territory The Territory of Nebraska was a historic organized territory of the United States from May 30, 1854 until March 1, 1867 when Nebraska became the 37th U.S.... , divided by the Parallel 40° North 40th parallel north The 40th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 40 degree true north of the Earth equator.Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 40? north passes through:... . Discussion Ask a question about 'Nebraska' Start a new discussion about 'Nebraska' Answer questions from other users Full Discussion Forum Encyclopedia Nebraska is a state U.S. state A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....  located on the Great Plains Great Plains The Great Plains are the broad expanse of prairie and steppe which lie west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada....  of the Midwestern United States Midwestern United States The Midwestern United States is one of the four geographic regions within the United States of America that are officially recognized by the United States Census Bureau....  and Western United States Western United States The Western United States—commonly referred to as the American West or simply The West—traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost U.S.... . Nebraska probably gets its name from the archaic Otoe Chiwere language Chiwere is a Siouan languages originally spoken by the Missouri tribe, Otoe tribe, and Iowa tribe peoples, who originated in the Great Lakes region but later moved throughout the midwest and plains....  words Ñí Brásge (contemporary Otoe Ñí Bráhge) or the Omaha Omaha-Ponca language Omaha-Ponca is a Siouan language spoken by the Ponca and Omaha people of Nebraska and the Ponca people of Oklahoma. There are today only 60 speakers of Omaha, and 25 fluent speakers, all over 60, and a handful of semi-fluent speakers of Ponca....  Ní Btháska meaning "flat water," after the Platte River Platte River The Platte River is an approximately . long river in the Western United States. It is a tributary to the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary to the Mississippi River....  that flows through the state. American Indian American Indian American Indian may refer to:* Native Americans in the United States* Any of the indigenous peoples of the Americas* Indian Americans, Americans of Indian parentage...  tribes in Nebraska have included the Iowas, Omahas, Missourias, Poncas, Pawnees, Otoes, and various branches of the Sioux Sioux Sioux are a Native Americans in the United States and First Nations people. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many dialects.... . Once considered part of the Great American Desert Great American Desert The Great American Desert is a term that was used in the 19th century to describe the High Plains east of the Rocky Mountain.Description... , it is now a leading farming Agriculture Agriculture refers to the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of civilization, with the animal husbandry of domestication animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more Population density and Social stratification societies....  and ranching Agriculture Agriculture refers to the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of civilization, with the animal husbandry of domestication animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more Population density and Social stratification societies....  state. History On May 30, 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act Kansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories of Kansas Territory and Nebraska Territory, opened new lands, repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, and allowed settlers in those territories to determine if they would allow slavery within their boundaries....  created the Kansas Territory Kansas Territory The Territory of Kansas was an organized territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when Kansas became the 34th U.S....  and the Nebraska Territory Nebraska Territory The Territory of Nebraska was a historic organized territory of the United States from May 30, 1854 until March 1, 1867 when Nebraska became the 37th U.S.... , divided by the Parallel 40° North 40th parallel north The 40th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 40 degree true north of the Earth equator.Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 40? north passes through:... . The territorial capital of Nebraska was Omaha Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County, Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River.... . In the 1860s, the first great wave of homesteader Homestead Act Homestead Act was a United States Federal law that gave an applicant freehold title to 160 acres -640 acres of undeveloped land outside of the original 13 colonies.... s poured into Nebraska to claim free land granted by the federal government. Many of the first farm settlers built their homes out of sod Sod Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of this material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns....  because they found so few trees on the grassy land. Nebraska became the 37th state in 1867, shortly after the American Civil War American Civil War The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States.... . At that time, the capital was moved from Omaha Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County, Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River....  to Lancaster, later renamed Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska The City of Lincoln is the Capital and the Nebraska#Important cities and towns of the United States U.S. state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County, Nebraska and the home of the University of Nebraska....  after the recently assassinated President of the United States President of the United States The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition....  Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States. He successfully led the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery.... . The Arbor Day Arbor Day Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. Arbor Day originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States and is celebrated in several countries....  holiday began in Nebraska, and the National Arbor Day Foundation National Arbor Day Foundation The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's oldest and largest tree-planting organization. Its million members plant millions of trees every year. New members receive 10 free trees....  is still headquartered in Nebraska City Nebraska City, Nebraska Nebraska City is a city in Otoe County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,228 at the 2000 United States Census. It is the county seat of Otoe County, Nebraska....  with some offices also located in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska has a long history of civil rights activism Civil rights movement in Omaha, Nebraska The American Civil Rights Movement in Omaha, Nebraska has roots that extend back until at least 1912. With a history of Racial Tension in Omaha, Nebraska that starts before the History of Omaha, Nebraska, Omaha has been the home of numerous overt efforts related to securing civil rights for African Americans in Omaha, Nebraska since at least... , starting in 1912 with the foundation of Omaha's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People National Association for the Advancement of Colored People The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP and pronounced N-double-A-C-P, is one of the oldest and most influential civil rights organizations in the United States....  chapter. Geography The state is bordered by South Dakota South Dakota South Dakota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States of the United States of America. It is named after the Lakota people and Sioux Sioux Native Americans in the United States tribes....  to the north; Iowa Iowa The State of Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It is bordered by Minnesota to the north, Wisconsin and Illinois to the east, Nebraska and South Dakota to the west, and Missouri to the south....  to the east and Missouri Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska....  to the southeast, across the Missouri River Missouri River The Missouri River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, and the longest river in the United States of America. The Missouri begins at the confluence of the Madison River, Jefferson River, and Gallatin River rivers in Montana, and flows through Missouri River Valley south and east into the Mississippi north of St.... ; Kansas Kansas The State of Kansas is a Midwestern U.S. state in the Central United States of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the United States "Heartland"....  to the south; Colorado Colorado The State of Colorado is a U.S. state located in the Mountain States of the United States of America. Colorado may also be considered to be a part of the Western United States and Southwestern United States regions of the United States....  to the southwest; and Wyoming Wyoming The State of Wyoming is a sparsely populated U.S. state in the Northwestern United States of the United States. The majority of the state is dominated by the mountain ranges and rangelands of the Rocky Mountains, while the easternmost section of the state is a high altitude prairie region known as the High Plains ....  to the west. The state has 93 counties List of counties in Nebraska The following is a list of the 93 county in the U.S. state of Nebraska, listed by name, Federal Information Processing Standard and US and Canadian license plates prefix:... ; it occupies the central portion of the Frontier Strip Frontier Strip The Frontier Strip refers to the six U.S. state in the United States forming a north-south line from North Dakota to Texas.... . Nebraska is split into two time zones. The Central Time zone comprises the eastern half of the state, while the western half observes Mountain Time. Three rivers cross the state from west to east. The Platte River Platte River The Platte River is an approximately . long river in the Western United States. It is a tributary to the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary to the Mississippi River....  runs through the heart, the Niobrara River Niobrara River The Niobrara River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 430 mi long, running through the U.S. states of Wyoming and Nebraska....  flows through the northern part of the state's region, and the Republican River Republican River The Republican River rises on the Great Plains of eastern Colorado in the United States. The two main tributaries, called the North and South forks, join at Benkelman, Nebraska....  traverses through the southern part of the state. Nebraska is composed of two major land regions: the Dissected Till Plains Dissected Till Plains The Dissected Till Plains are physiographic sections of the Central Lowlands province, which in turn is part of the Interior Plains physiographic division of the United States, located in southern and western Iowa, northeastern Kansas, the southwestern corner of Minnesota, northern Missouri, eastern Nebraska, and southeastern South Dakota....  and the Great Plains Great Plains The Great Plains are the broad expanse of prairie and steppe which lie west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada.... . The easternmost portion of the state was scoured by Ice Age Ice age The general term "ice age" or, more precisely, "glacial age" denotes a geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in an expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers....  glacier Glacier A glacier is a large, slow-moving mass of ice, formed from compacted layers of snow, that slowly deforms and flows in response to gravity and high pressure.... s; the Dissected Till Plains were left behind after the glaciers retreated. The Dissected Till Plains is a region of gently rolling hills; Omaha Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County, Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River....  and Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska The City of Lincoln is the Capital and the Nebraska#Important cities and towns of the United States U.S. state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County, Nebraska and the home of the University of Nebraska....  are located within this region. The Great Plains occupy the majority of western Nebraska. The Great Plains itself consists of several smaller, diverse land regions, including the Sandhills, the Pine Ridge Pine Ridge (region) The Pine Ridge is an escarpment between the Niobrara River and the White River in far northwestern Nebraska . The high tableland between the rivers has been eroded into a region of forested buttes, ridges and canyons.... , the Rainwater Basin Rainwater Basin The Rainwater Basin is a 4,200 mi.? region of shallow lakes, marshes and other wetlands located south of the Platte River in south-central Nebraska.... , the High Plains High Plains (United States) The High Plains are a subregion of the Great Plains in the central United States, generally encompassing the western part of the Great Plains before the region reaches the Rocky Mountains....  and the Wildcat Hills Wildcat Hills The Wildcat Hills are an escarpment between the North Platte River and Pumpkin Creek in the western Nebraska Nebraska Panhandle. Located in Banner County, Nebraska, Morrill County, Nebraska, and Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska counties, the high tableland between the streams has been eroded by wind and water into a region of forested buttes, r... . Panorama Point Panorama Point Panorama Point is the highest point in Nebraska, at an elevation of above sea level.It is located in southwest Kimball County, Nebraska, near the Nebraska/Colorado/Wyoming corner.... , at 5,424 feet (1,653 m), is the highest point in Nebraska; despite its name and elevation, it is merely a low rise near the Colorado and Wyoming borders. A past Nebraska tourism Tourism Tourism is travel for recreational or leisure purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from...  slogan was "Where the West Begins"; locations given for the beginning of the "West" include the Missouri River, the intersection of 13th and O Streets in Lincoln (where it is marked by a red brick star), the 100th meridian 100th meridian west The meridian 100? west of Prime Meridian is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole.... , and Chimney Rock Chimney Rock National Historic Site Chimney Rock is a famous, prominent geological formation in Morrill County, Nebraska in western Nebraska. Rising nearly 300 feet above the surrounding North Platte River valley, the peak of Chimney Rock is 4,226 feet above sea level.... . Nebraska is in fact a trebly landlocked state, as it does not border the ocean, nor do any of the states it borders, nor any that they border on. Nebraska also claims to have more miles of river than any other state. Federal land management Areas under the management of the National Park Service National Park Service The National Park Service is the List of United States federal agencies that manages all List of areas in the United States National Park System, many U.S....  include: Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is a U.S. National Monument near Harrison, Nebraska. The main feature of the Monument is a valley of the Niobrara River....  near Harrison Harrison, Nebraska Harrison is a village in Sioux County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 279 at the United States Census, 2000. It is the county seat of Sioux County, Nebraska.... California National Historic Trail Chimney Rock National Historic Site Chimney Rock National Historic Site Chimney Rock is a famous, prominent geological formation in Morrill County, Nebraska in western Nebraska. Rising nearly 300 feet above the surrounding North Platte River valley, the peak of Chimney Rock is 4,226 feet above sea level....  near Bayard Bayard, Nebraska Bayard is a city in Morrill County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,247 at the United States Census, 2000.... Homestead National Monument of America Homestead National Monument of America The Homestead National Monument of America commemorates the Homestead Act of 1862. Located west of Beatrice, Nebraska, Daniel Freeman's homestead was recognized by the United States Congress as the first homestead in the nation obtained through the Homestead Act....  in Beatrice Beatrice, Nebraska Beatrice is a city in Gage County, Nebraska, Nebraska, 40 miles south of Lincoln, Nebraska on the Big Blue River River. The surrounding region is rich agricultural country.... Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Missouri National Recreational River Missouri National Recreational River The Missouri National Recreational River is located on the border between Nebraska and South Dakota. The designation was first applied in 1978 to a 59-mile section of the Missouri River between Gavins Point Dam and Ponca State Park....  near Ponca Ponca, Nebraska Ponca is a city in Dixon County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, Iowa, Iowa–NE–South Dakota Sioux City metropolitan area.... Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail Niobrara National Scenic River Niobrara National Scenic River The Niobrara National Scenic River is located in north-central Nebraska, United States, approximately 300 miles northwest of Omaha, Nebraska. In 1991, U.S....  near Valentine Valentine, Nebraska Valentine is a city in Cherry County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,820 at the 2000 United States Census. It is the county seat of Cherry County, Nebraska.... Oregon National Historic Trail Pony Express National Historic Trail Scotts Bluff National Monument Scotts Bluff National Monument Scotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska includes an important 19th century landmark on the Oregon Trail and Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail....  at Gering Gering, Nebraska Gering is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Scottsbluff micropolitan area.... Areas under the management of the National Forest Service include: Nebraska National Forest Nebraska National Forest The Nebraska National Forest is a United States National Forest located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The total area of the national forest is .... Oglala National Grassland Oglala National Grassland The Oglala National Grassland is a United States National Grassland located in the northwest corner of Nebraska. It is located in northern Sioux County, Nebraska and northwestern Dawes County, Nebraska counties, on the borders with South Dakota and Wyoming.... Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest The Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest is located in the north-central Sandhills region of the U.S. state of Nebraska. Created on October 15, 1971, the forest is named after former List of Governors of Nebraska Samuel R.... Climate Two major climate Climate Climate encompasses the temperatures, humidity, atmospheric pressure, winds, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and numerous other Meteorology elements in a given region over long periods of time, as opposed to the term weather, which refers to current activity of these same elements.... s are represented in Nebraska: the eastern half of the state has a humid continental climate Humid continental climate The humid continental climate is a climate found over large areas of land masses in the temperate climates of the mid-latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between North Pole and Tropics air masses....  (Koppen climate classification Dfa), and the western half of the state has a semi-arid Semi-arid A Semi-arid climate or steppe climate generally describes climate regions that receive low annual rainfall . A more precise definition is given by the K?ppen climate classification that treats steppe climates as intermediates between the desert climates and humid climates in ecological characteristics and agricultural potential....  continental steppe Steppe In physical geography, a steppe , pronounced , is a grassland plain without trees . The prairie can be considered a steppe. It may be semi-desert, or covered with Poaceae or shrubs or both, depending on the season and latitude....  climate (Koppen BSk). The entire state experiences wide seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation. Average temperatures are fairly uniform across Nebraska with hot summers and generally cold winters, while average annual precipitation decreases east to west from about 31.5 inches (800 mm) in the southeast corner of the state to about 13.8 inches (350 mm) in the Panhandle Nebraska Panhandle The Nebraska Panhandle is an area in the west of the state of Nebraska. A panhandle is an area extending from the rest of a political unit; the Nebraska panhandle is two-thirds as broad as the rest of the state.... . Humidity also decreases significantly from east to west. Snowfall across the state is fairly even, with most of Nebraska receiving between 25 and 35 inches (650 to 900 mm) of snow annually. Nebraska is located in Tornado Alley Tornado Alley Tornado Alley is a colloquial term most often used in reference to the area of the United States in which tornadoes are most frequent. Although an official location is not defined, the areas in between the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains are the areas usually associated with it.... ; thunderstorm Thunderstorm File:FoggDam-NT.jpgA thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm or a lightning storm, is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its effect: thunder.... s are common in the spring and summer months. The chinook wind Chinook wind Chinook winds, often just called chinooks, commonly refers to foehn winds in the interior West of North America, where the Canadian Prairies and Great Plains meet various mountain ranges, although the original usage is in reference to wet, warm coastal winds in the Pacific Northwest.... s from the Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 4,800 kilometre from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in Canada, to New Mexico, in the United States....  provide a temporary moderating effect on temperatures in western Nebraska during the winter months. , Demographics As of 2008, Nebraska has an estimated population of 1,783,432, which is an increase of 8,891, or 0.5%, from the prior year and an increase of 72,169, or 4.2%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 77,995 people (that is 187,564 births minus 109,569 deaths) and a decrease due to net migration of 9,319 people out of the state. Immigration Immigration to the United States American immigration refers to the movement of World population to the United States. Immigration has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of history of the United States....  from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 27,398 people, and migration within the country produced a net loss of 36,717 people. The center of population Center of population In demographics, the center of population of a region is the geographical point nearest to all the inhabitants of that region, on average....  of Nebraska is located in Polk County Polk County, Nebraska Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2000, the population was 5,639. Its county seat is Osceola, Nebraska. The center of population of Nebraska is located in Polk County, near the village of Shelby, Nebraska .... , in the city of Shelby Shelby, Nebraska Shelby is a village in Polk County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 690 at the 2000 United States Census. The center of population of Nebraska is located near Shelby .... . As of 2004, the population of Nebraska included about 84,000 foreign-born residents (4.8% of the population). The five largest ancestry groups in Nebraska are German Germans The German people are an satanic group, in the sense of sharing a common evil culture, descent from Hades, and speaking the subhuman German language as a whore mother tongue....  (38.6%), Irish Irish American Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland. A total of 36,495,800 Americans reported Irish ancestry in the 2006 American Community Survey....  (12.4%), English English American English Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England. According to United States Census, 2000 data, Americans claiming English descent form the Ethnic groups in the United States#Racial makeup of the U.S....  (9.6%), Swedish Swedish American Swedish Americans are United States of Swedish descent, most often related to the large groups of immigrants from Sweden in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century....  (4.9%), and Czech Czech people Czechs are a West Slavs people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, United States, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries....  (4.9%). Nebraska has the largest Czech-American population (as a percentage of the total population) in the nation. German-Americans are the largest ancestry group in most of the state, particularly in the eastern counties. Thurston County Thurston County, Nebraska Thurston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2000, the population was 7,171. Its county seat is Pender, Nebraska....  (made up entirely of the Omaha Omaha (tribe) The Omaha tribe is a Native Americans in the United States tribe that currently resides on the Omaha Reservation in northeastern Nebraska and western Iowa, United States....  and Winnebago reservations) has an American Indian majority, and Butler County Butler County, Nebraska Butler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2000, the population was 8,767. Its county seat is David City, Nebraska....  is one of only two counties in the nation with a Czech-American plurality. Rural flight Eighty-nine percent of the cities in Nebraska have fewer than 3,000 people. Nebraska shares this characteristic with five other Midwest and Southern states (Kansas Kansas The State of Kansas is a Midwestern U.S. state in the Central United States of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the United States "Heartland".... , Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma is a U.S. state and a sovereignty located in the South Central United States and Southern United States of the United States of America .... , North North Dakota North Dakota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States and Western United States regions of the United States of America. North Dakota is the 19th largest state by area in the US; it is the 48th most populous, with just over 640,000 residents as of 2006....  and South Dakota South Dakota South Dakota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States of the United States of America. It is named after the Lakota people and Sioux Sioux Native Americans in the United States tribes.... , and Iowa Iowa The State of Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It is bordered by Minnesota to the north, Wisconsin and Illinois to the east, Nebraska and South Dakota to the west, and Missouri to the south.... ). Hundreds of towns have a population of fewer than 1,000. Fifty-three of Nebraska's 93 counties reported declining populations between 1990 and 2000, ranging from a 0.06% loss (Frontier County Frontier County, Nebraska Frontier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2000, the population was 3,099. Its county seat is Stockville, Nebraska.... ) to a 17.04% loss (Hitchcock County Hitchcock County, Nebraska Hitchcock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2000, the population was 3,111. Its county seat is Trenton, Nebraska .... ). While many areas of the state continue to suffer, others have experienced substantial growth. In 2000, the city of Omaha had a population of 390,007; in 2005, the city's estimated population was 414,521,(427,872 including the recently annexed city of Elkhorn Elkhorn, Nebraska Elkhorn was a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States and is a present-day neighborhood on the western edge of Omaha, Nebraska.... ) a 6.3% increase over five years. The city of Lincoln had a 2000 population of 225,581 and a 2005 estimated population of 239,213, a 6.0% change. This rural flight has also had an impact on schools with many schools needing to consolidate in order to survive. Religion The religious affiliations of the people of Nebraska are: Christian Christianity Christianity is a Monotheistic religion #Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as New Testament view on Jesus' life....  – 90% Protestant Protestantism Protestantism is a movement within Christianity that originated in the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It is considered to be one of the three principal traditions of Christianity, together with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy....  – 61% Lutheran Lutheranism Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century Germans Reformer Martin Luther....  – 16% Methodist Methodism Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by John Wesley and his younger brother Charles Wesley that sought to keep Methodism as a Revivalism movement within the Church of England....  – 11% Baptist Baptist A Baptist is a member of a Christian denomination characterized by the rejection of infant baptism in favor of believer's baptism by Baptism#Immersion....  – 9% Presbyterian Presbyterianism Presbyterianism is a group of Christian congregations adhering to the Calvinism theological tradition within Protestantism. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Bible and the necessity of Divine grace through faith in Christ....  – 4% Other Protestant – 21% Roman Catholic Roman Catholicism in the United States Roman Catholic Church in the United States has grown dramatically over the country's history, from being a tiny minority faith during the time of the Thirteen Colonies to being the country's largest minority profession of faith today....  – 28% Other Christian – 1% Other religions – 1% Non-religious – 9% The largest single denominations by number of adherents in 2000 were the Catholic Church (372,791), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestantism List of Christian denominations headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Formed in 1988 by the merging of three churches and currently having about 4.70 million baptized members, it is the largest of all the Lutheranism denominations in the Religion in the United States and t...  (128,570), the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod The Lutheran Church?Missouri Synod , founded in 1847 in Chicago, is the eighth largest Protestantism denomination in the United States, and the second-largest Lutheranism body in the U.S....  (117,419) and the United Methodist Church United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church is a Christian Church that understands itself to be a part of the one Holy catholic Church of Jesus Christ and the Communion of Saints....  (117,277). Economy The estimates of Nebraska's gross state product in 2004 was $68 billion. Per capita personal income in 2004 was $31,339, 25th in the nation. Nebraska has a large agriculture Agriculture Agriculture refers to the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of civilization, with the animal husbandry of domestication animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more Population density and Social stratification societies....  sector, and is an important producer of beef Beef Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle . Beef is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of Australia, European cuisine and the Americas, and is also important in Africa, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.... , pork Pork Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig . The word, pork, is often meant to denote specifically the fresh meat of the pig, but it can be used as an all-inclusive term, to include cured, smoked, or processed meats It is one of the most-commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig animal husbandry dating back... , corn (maize) Maize Maize , known as corn in some countries, is a cereal domesticated in Mesoamerica and subsequently spread throughout the American continents.... , and soybean Soybean The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia. The plant is classed as an oilseed rather than a Pulse . It is an annual plant that has been used in China for 5,000 years as a food and a component of drugs.... s. Other important economic sectors include freight transport Transport Transport or transportation is the movement of passenger and cargo from one location to another. Transport is performed by various modes of transport, such as aviation, rail transport, road transport, ship transport, cable transport, pipeline transport and space transport....  (by rail Rail transport Rail transport is the conveyance of passengers and goods by means of wheeled vehicles running along railways . Rail transport is part of the logistics chain, which facilitates international trade and economic growth....  and truck Truck File:Red truck USA.JPGA truck is a type of motor vehicle commonly used for carrying goods and materials. Some light trucks are relatively small, similar in size to a passenger automobile.... ), manufacturing Manufacturing Manufacturing is the use of machine, tool and labor to make things for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to Industry production, in which raw material are transformed into finished good on a large scale.... , telecommunications, information technology Information technology Information technology , as defined by the Information Technology Association of America , is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware." IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to data conv... , and insurance Insurance Insurance, in law and economics, is a form of risk management primarily used to Hedge against the risk of a contingent loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for a premium, and can be thought of as a guaranteed small loss to prevent a large, possibly devastating los... . Nebraska has four personal income tax Income tax An income tax is a tax levied on the financial income of people, corporations, or other legal entities. Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence....  brackets, ranging from 2.6% to 6.8%. Nebraska has a state sales tax Sales tax A sales tax is a consumption tax charged at the point of purchase for certain goods and services. The tax is usually set as a percentage by the government charging the tax....  of 5.5%. In addition to the state tax, some Nebraska cities assess a city sales and use tax, up to a maximum of 1.5%. One county in Nebraska, Dakota County Dakota County, Nebraska Dakota County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is part of the Sioux City, Iowa, Iowa–NE–South Dakota Sioux City metropolitan area.... , levies a sales tax. All real property Real property In the common law, real property refers to one of the two main classes of property, the other class being personal property . Real property generally encompasses Estate in land, land improvements resulting from human effort including buildings and machinery sited on land, and various property rights over the preceding....  located within the state of Nebraska is taxable unless specifically exempted by statute. Since 1992, only depreciable personal property is subject to tax and all other personal property is exempt from tax. Inheritance tax Inheritance tax Inheritance tax, estate tax and death duty are the names given to various taxes which arise on the death of an individual. It is a tax on the estate, or total value of the money and property, of a person who has died....  is collected at the county level. Industry Kool-Aid Kool-Aid Kool-Aid is a brand of artificially flavored drink mix owned by the Kraft Foods....  was created in 1927 by Edwin Perkins Edwin Perkins Edwin Elijah Perkins , born in Lewis, Iowa, Iowa, United States, invented the powder drink mix Kool-Aid in 1927 in Hastings, Nebraska after his family had moved there from Iowa in 1893....  in the city of Hastings Hastings, Nebraska Hastings is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 24,064 at the 2000 United States Census.... , which celebrates the event the second weekend of every August with . Kool-Aid is the official soft drink of Nebraska. CliffsNotes CliffsNotes CliffsNotes are a series of student study guides available primarily in the United States. The guides present and explain literary and other works in pamphlet form or online....  were invented in Rising City Rising City, Nebraska Rising City is a village in Butler County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 386 at the 2000 United States Census.... , Nebraska by Clifton Hillegass Clifton Hillegass Clifton K. Hillegass was the creator and publisher ofCliffsNotes.CliffsNotes are literary study guides in their familiar black and yellow covers that assist college and high school students in their literature course work.... . His pamphlets were based on the original Canadian Canada Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....  idea, "Coles Notes Coles (bookstore) Coles is a Canada bookstore chain owned by Indigo Books and Music. Coles currently serves as Indigo's brand for small-scale bookstores in locations such as shopping malls, although some locations are operated as SmithBooks.... ." Omaha is home to Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway is a list of conglomerates holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that oversees and manages a number of subsidiary companies.... , whose CEO Warren Buffett Warren Buffett Warren Edward Buffett is an American investor, businessman, and philanthropist. He is one of the world's most successful investors and the largest shareholder and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway....  was ranked in March 2008 by Forbes magazine as the richest person in the world. This city is also home to InfoUSA InfoUSA infoGROUP, formerly InfoUSA, is a provider of both business and consumer information and marketing solutions, which consists of data processing, database management and email marketing.... , TD Ameritrade TD Ameritrade TD Ameritrade is an online broker with over 6 million U.S. customers, and many more internationally, that has grown rapidly through acquisition, to become the 746th-largest US firm in 2008.... , West Corporation West Corporation West Corporation provides outsourced customer relationship management services based in the United States. West Corporation is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.... , Valmont Industries Valmont Industries Valmont Industries, Inc. is a large publicly held Nebraska-based manufacturer of Valley center pivot irrigation systems, windmill support structures, lighting and traffic poles, and steel utility poles.... , Woodmen of the World Woodmen of the World Woodmen of the World is a fraternal organization based in Downtown Omaha Omaha, Nebraska, United States that operates a large privately held insurance company for its members.... , Kiewit Corporation, and Union Pacific Railroad Union Pacific Railroad The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman.... . UNIFI Companies, Sandhills Publishing Company Sandhills Publishing Company Sandhills Publishing Company is a privately held United States of America magazine publishing company. It publishes trade and consumer publications for the computer, trucking, aircraft, and heavy machinery industries....  and Duncan Aviation reside in Lincoln while The Buckle is based out of Kearney. Sidney is the national headquarters for Cabela's Cabela's Cabela's is a Sidney, Nebraska-based direct marketer and specialty retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise.... , a specialty retailer of outdoor goods. The world's largest train yard, Union Pacific Union Pacific Railroad The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman.... 's Bailey Yard Bailey Yard Bailey Yard is the world?s largest railroad classification yard. Owned and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad, Bailey Yard is located in North Platte, Nebraska.... , is located in North Platte North Platte, Nebraska North Platte is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. It is located in the southwestern part of the state, along Interstate 80, at the confluence of the North Platte River and South Platte River Platte Rivers forming the Platte River.... . The Vise-Grip Pliers Sorry, no overview for this topic  was invented by William Petersen in 1924, and was manufactured in De Witt De Witt, Nebraska De Witt is a village in Saline County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 572 at the 2000 United States Census....  until the plant closed in late 2008. Memorial Stadium Memorial Stadium, Lincoln Memorial Stadium is located on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, just north of downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, Nebraska. It is the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team....  on the University of Nebraska campus in Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska The City of Lincoln is the Capital and the Nebraska#Important cities and towns of the United States U.S. state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County, Nebraska and the home of the University of Nebraska....  holds 85,157 people. During football games, it holds almost twice the population of Bellevue (47,954) the third-most populous city in the state. The second-largest Powerball Powerball Powerball is an United States lottery game sold through U.S. lotteries as a shared jackpot pool game. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association , a non-profit association formed by an agreement with member lotteries....  payout was on February 18, 2006. It was $365 million and was split 8 ways by workers from a Lincoln food Food Food is any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, that can be Eating or Drinking by an animal or human for nutrition or pleasure....  plant operated by ConAgra. Transportation Railroads Nebraska has a rich railroad history. The Union Pacific Railroad Union Pacific Railroad The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman.... , headquartered in Omaha, was incorporated on July 1, 1862, in the wake of the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 Pacific Railway Acts The Pacific Railway Act of 1862 , as enacted by the United States United States Congress, was approved and signed into law by the President, Abraham Lincoln, on July 1, 1862.... . Bailey Yard, located in North Platte, is the largest railroad classification yard in the world. The route of the original transcontinental railroad First Transcontinental Railroad The First Transcontinental Railroad is the popular name of the United States rail transport line completed in 1869 between Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska and Alameda, California....  runs through the state. Other major railroads with operations in the state are: Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 to provide Inter-city rail train#Passenger trains service in the United States.... ; Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway; Canadian Pacific Railway Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway , known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a Canada Class I railroad operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited.... ; and Iowa Interstate Railroad Iowa Interstate Railroad The Iowa Interstate Railroad is a Class II railroad operating in the central United States. The railroad is owned by Railroad Development Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.... . Roads and highways Interstate Highways through the State of Nebraska The U.S. Routes in Nebraska Law and government Nebraska's government operates under the framework of the Nebraska Constitution, adopted in 1875, and is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The head of the executive branch is the Governor List of Governors of Nebraska The following is a list of the Governors of the U.S. state of Nebraska.*Prior to becoming a territory, Nebraska Territory was part of Louisiana Territory from 1805 to 1821; see List of Governors of Missouri for this period....  Dave Heineman Dave Heineman David Eugene "Dave" Heineman is the governor of Nebraska. He is a Republican Party .... . Other elected officials in the executive branch are the Lieutenant Governor Lieutenant governor A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. In the United States and many Commonwealth of Nations systems, lieutenant governors are usually deputy heads of state....  Rick Sheehy Rick Sheehy Rick Sheehy is an United States United States Republican Party politician and the current Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska. He was appointed by Governor of Nebraska Dave Heineman on January 24, 2005, after Heineman became Governor upon Mike Johanns' appointment as United States Secretary of Agriculture in President George W Bush's cabinet....  (elected on the same ticket as the Governor), Attorney General Nebraska Attorney General The Nebraska Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer and lawyer for the U.S. state of Nebraska....  Jon Bruning Jon Bruning Jon Bruning is State Attorney General of the state of Nebraska.A Republican Party , Bruning was sworn into office as Nebraska's 31st Attorney General in 2003.... , Secretary of State Secretary of State Secretary of State is a commonly used title for a member of government. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the government....  John A. Gale John A. Gale John A. Gale, born October 23, 1940 is a Republican Party politician from North Platte, Nebraska, and is Nebraska 26th Secretary of State.Gale was born in Omaha, Nebraska and attended Omaha North High School, where he graduated from in 1958.... , State Treasurer State Treasurer In the state governments of the United States, 49 of the 50 U.S. state have the Executive position of treasurer. Texas abolished the position of Texas State Treasurer in 1996....  Shane Osborn Shane Osborn Shane Osborn is the Republican Party State Treasurer in Nebraska. Osborn is married to the former Teri Gallagher and together they have three children: Avery, Isabella, and Addison.... , and State Auditor State auditor State auditors are executive officers of U.S. states who serve as auditors and comptrollers for state funds.The office of state auditor is often a constitutional office ....  Mike Foley Mike Foley Mike Foley is Nebraska state auditor from Lincoln, Nebraska and formerly in the Nebraska Legislature. He is a registered appraiser.... . All elected officials in the executive branch serve four-year terms. Nebraska is the only state in the United States United States The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...  with a unicameral legislature; that is, a legislature with only one house. Although this house is officially known simply as the "Legislature Nebraska Legislature The Nebraska Legislature is the supreme legislative branch of the Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in the Lincoln, Nebraska, Lancaster County, Nebraska.... ", and more commonly called the "Unicameral", its members still call themselves "senators". Nebraska's Legislature is also the only state legislature 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 chairs are chosen at large, so that members of any party can be chosen for these positions. The Nebraska Legislature can also override a governor's veto with a three-fifths majority, in contrast to the two-thirds majority required in some other states. The Nebraska Legislature Nebraska Legislature The Nebraska Legislature is the supreme legislative branch of the Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in the Lincoln, Nebraska, Lancaster County, Nebraska....  meets in the third Nebraska State Capitol Nebraska State Capitol The Nebraska State Capitol, located in Lincoln, Nebraska, is the capitol and seat of the Nebraska Legislature and houses other offices of the government of the U.S....  building, built between 1922 and 1932. It was designed by Bertram G. Goodhue. Built from Indiana limestone, the Capitol's base in a cross within a square. A 400-foot domed tower rises from this base. The Golden Sower, a 19-foot bronze statue representing agriculture, crowns the Capitol. The state Capitol is considered an architectural achievement. It has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects. For years, United States Senator United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the Bicameralism United States Congress, the lower house being the United States House of Representatives....  George Norris and other Nebraskans encouraged the idea of a unicameral legislature, and demanded the issue be decided in a referendum Referendum A referendum , ballot question, or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire Constituency is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.... . Norris argued: Unicameral supporters also argued that a bicameral Bicameralism In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....  legislature had a significant undemocratic feature in the committees that reconciled Assembly and Senate legislation. Votes in these committees were secretive, and would sometimes add provisions to bills that neither house had approved. Nebraska's unicameral legislature today has rules that bills can contain only one subject, and must be given at least five days of consideration. Finally, in 1934, due in part to the budgetary pressure of the Great Depression Great Depression File:International depression.pngThe Great Depression was a worldwide economic Recession starting in most places in 1929 and ending at different times in the 1930s or early 1940s for different countries.... , Nebraska's unicameral legislature was put in place by a state initiative. In effect, the Assembly (the house) was abolished; as noted, today's Nebraska state legislators are commonly referred to as "Senators". The judicial system in Nebraska is unified, with the Nebraska Supreme Court Nebraska Supreme Court The Nebraska Supreme Court is the supreme court in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices....  having administrative authority over all Nebraska courts. Nebraska uses the Missouri Plan Missouri Plan The Missouri Plan , also known as the merit plan, or some variation, is a method for the selection of judges currently used in several other U.S....  for the selection of judges at all levels. The lowest courts in Nebraska are the county courts, above that are twelve district courts (containing one or more counties). The Court of Appeals hears appeals from the district courts, juvenile courts, and workers' compensation courts. The Nebraska Supreme Court is the final court of appeal. Nebraska currently has no active death-penalty law, due to a 2008 Nebraska Supreme Court ruling that declared the use of electrocution to be in conflict with the state constitution. (Prior to this ruling, Nebraska was the only place in the world that used electrocution as the sole method of execution.) However, executions in Nebraska had been infrequent; none had been carried out in the 21st century, and in the last few decades the state had strongly flirted with the idea of a moratorium on, or complete abolition of, capital punishment. Federal government representation Nebraska's U.S. senators United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the Bicameralism United States Congress, the lower house being the United States House of Representatives....  are Mike Johanns Mike Johanns Michael Owen Johanns is an United States Republican Party politician and the junior United States Senator from Nebraska. A former Governor of Nebraska, he served as the 28th United States Secretary of Agriculture, becoming the fourth Nebraskan to hold the position....  (R) and Ben Nelson Ben Nelson Earl Benjamin "Ben" Nelson is the Senior United States Senate from Nebraska, where he was born and has lived for most of his life. Nelson is a Methodist....  (D). Nebraska has three representatives in the House United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as "the House", is one of the bicameralism of the United States Congress; the other is the United States Senate.... . They are: Jeff Fortenberry Jeff Fortenberry Jeffrey Lane "Jeff" Fortenberry, born December 27, 1960 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a Republican Party United States House of Representatives from the Nebraska's 1st congressional district of Nebraska....  (R, NE-1); Lee Terry Lee Terry Lee Raymond Terry has been a member of US House of Representatives since 1999, representing the Omaha, Nebraska-area Nebraska's 2nd congressional district....  (R, NE-2); and Adrian Smith Adrian M. Smith Adrian M. Smith is an American politician from the state of Nebraska. A member of the Republican Party of the United States, he represents Nebraska Nebraska's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives....  (R, NE-3). Nebraska is one of two states (the other being Maine Maine The State of Maine is a U.S. state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, New Hampshire to the southwest, the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast.... ) that allow for a split in the electoral vote. Since 1991, two of Nebraska's five electoral votes are awarded based on the winner of the statewide election while the other three go to the highest vote-getter in each of the state's three congressional districts. In 2008, four of Nebraska's electoral votes went to Senator John McCain (R), while one electoral vote went to Senator Barack Obama (D) making the split the first in the 18-year old system. Nebraska politics For most of its history, Nebraska has been a solidly Republican state. Republicans have carried the state in all but one presidential election since 1940—the 1964 landslide election of Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States and List of Vice Presidents of the United States Vice President of the United States .... . In the 2004 presidential election, George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush served as the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States from 2001 to 2009. He was the 46th List of Governors of Texas from 1995 to 2000 before being United States presidential inauguration as President on January 20, 2001....  won the state's five electoral votes by a 33% margin (the fourth-most Republican vote among states) with 65.9% of the overall vote; only Thurston County Thurston County, Nebraska Thurston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2000, the population was 7,171. Its county seat is Pender, Nebraska.... , which includes two American Indian reservation Indian reservation An Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native Americans of the United States tribe under the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs.... s, voted for John Kerry John Kerry John Forbes Kerry is the Junior Senator United States Senate from Massachusetts and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.As the Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party , he was defeated by 34 electoral votes in the United States presidential election, 2004 by the Republican Party incumbent President of the United States... . Despite the current Republican domination of Nebraska politics, the state has a long tradition of electing centrist members of both parties to state and federal office; examples include George Norris (who served his last few years in the Senate as an independent), J. James Exon J. James Exon John James "Jim" Exon was an United States United States Democratic Party politician. He served as the List of Governors of Nebraska from 1971 to 1979, and as a United States Senate from Nebraska from 1979 to 1997.... , and Bob Kerrey Bob Kerrey Joseph Robert "Bob" Kerrey is a former Democratic Party Governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987 and a United States Senate from Nebraska . He was also an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 1992.... . This tradition is illustrated by Nebraska's current senators: former Senator Chuck Hagel Chuck Hagel Charles Timothy "Chuck" Hagel is a former United States Senate from Nebraska. A member of the Republican Party , he was first elected in 1996 and was reelected in 2002....  was considered a maverick within his party, while Ben Nelson Ben Nelson Earl Benjamin "Ben" Nelson is the Senior United States Senate from Nebraska, where he was born and has lived for most of his life. Nelson is a Methodist....  is arguably one of the most conservative members of his party in the Senate. Important cities and towns All population figures are 2006 Census Bureau United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data....  estimates. Largest cities 100,000+ population 10,000+ population Omaha Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County, Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River....  - 432,921 Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska The City of Lincoln is the Capital and the Nebraska#Important cities and towns of the United States U.S. state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County, Nebraska and the home of the University of Nebraska....  - 241,167 Bellevue Bellevue, Nebraska Bellevue is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 44,382 at the 2000 United States Census. Eight miles south of Omaha, Bellevue is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area....  - 47,594 Grand Island Grand Island, Nebraska Grand Island is a city in and the county seat of Hall County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 42,940 at the 2000 United States Census....  - 44,632 Kearney Kearney, Nebraska Kearney is a city in Buffalo County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 27,431 at the 2000 United States Census. It is the county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska and home to the University of Nebraska-Kearney....  - 29,385 Fremont Fremont, Nebraska Fremont is a city in and the county seat of Dodge County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States, near Omaha, Nebraska in the eastern part of the state....  - 25,417 Hastings Hastings, Nebraska Hastings is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 24,064 at the 2000 United States Census....  - 25,144 North Platte North Platte, Nebraska North Platte is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. It is located in the southwestern part of the state, along Interstate 80, at the confluence of the North Platte River and South Platte River Platte Rivers forming the Platte River....  - 24,386 Norfolk Norfolk, Nebraska Norfolk is a city in Madison County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States, 113 miles northwest of Omaha, Nebraska at the intersection of U.S. Routes U.S....  - 23,896 Columbus Columbus, Nebraska Columbus is a city in Platte County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States, 80 miles west by north of Omaha, Nebraska on the Loup River, a short distance above the confluence with the Platte River....  - 21,414 Papillion Papillion, Nebraska Papillion is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is the county seat of Sarpy County, Nebraska. Papillion is a suburb of neighboring Omaha, Nebraska....  - 21,271 La Vista La Vista, Nebraska La Vista is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 11,699 at the 2000 United States Census. The city was incorporated in 1960 and is the newest city in the state....  - 16,041 Scottsbluff Scottsbluff, Nebraska Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 14,732 at the United States Census, 2000. Scottsbluff is the largest city in Scotts Bluff County and the 12th largest city in Nebraska, as well as being the Nebraska Panhandle largest city....  - 14,738 Beatrice Beatrice, Nebraska Beatrice is a city in Gage County, Nebraska, Nebraska, 40 miles south of Lincoln, Nebraska on the Big Blue River River. The surrounding region is rich agricultural country....  - 12,921 South Sioux City South Sioux City, Nebraska South Sioux City is a city in Dakota County, Nebraska, Nebraska, in the United States. It is part of the Sioux City, Iowa, Iowa–NE–South Dakota Sioux City metropolitan area....  - 12,137 Lexington Lexington, Nebraska Lexington is a city in Dawson County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 10,011 at the 2000 United States Census. It is the county seat of Dawson County, Nebraska....  - 10,251 Urban areas
Metropolitan area Metropolitan area A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence, or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central city and their zone of influence.... s	Micropolitan areas
Omaha-Council Bluffs Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area The Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area is a United States metropolitan area comprising the cities of Omaha, Nebraska, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and surrounding areas....  - 700,991 (Nebraska portion); 822,549 (total for Nebraska and Iowa) Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska The City of Lincoln is the Capital and the Nebraska#Important cities and towns of the United States U.S. state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County, Nebraska and the home of the University of Nebraska....  - 283,970 Sioux City, Iowa Sioux City, Iowa Sioux City is a city in Plymouth County, Iowa and Woodbury County, Iowa counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,013 at the 2000 United States Census; census estimates showed a slight decline to 83,262 by 2006....  - 26,757 (Nebraska portion); 143,474 (total for Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota)	Grand Island Grand Island, Nebraska Grand Island is a city in and the county seat of Hall County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 42,940 at the 2000 United States Census....  - 70,245 Kearney Kearney, Nebraska Kearney is a city in Buffalo County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 27,431 at the 2000 United States Census. It is the county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska and home to the University of Nebraska-Kearney....  - 50,655 Norfolk Norfolk, Nebraska Norfolk is a city in Madison County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States, 113 miles northwest of Omaha, Nebraska at the intersection of U.S. Routes U.S....  - 49,413 Hastings Hastings, Nebraska Hastings is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 24,064 at the 2000 United States Census....  - 39,749 Scottsbluff Scottsbluff, Nebraska Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 14,732 at the United States Census, 2000. Scottsbluff is the largest city in Scotts Bluff County and the 12th largest city in Nebraska, as well as being the Nebraska Panhandle largest city....  - 37,329	North Platte North Platte, Nebraska North Platte is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. It is located in the southwestern part of the state, along Interstate 80, at the confluence of the North Platte River and South Platte River Platte Rivers forming the Platte River....  - 37,111 Fremont Fremont, Nebraska Fremont is a city in and the county seat of Dodge County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States, near Omaha, Nebraska in the eastern part of the state....  - 36,171 Columbus Columbus, Nebraska Columbus is a city in Platte County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States, 80 miles west by north of Omaha, Nebraska on the Loup River, a short distance above the confluence with the Platte River....  - 31,962 Lexington Lexington, Nebraska Lexington is a city in Dawson County, Nebraska, Nebraska, United States. The population was 10,011 at the 2000 United States Census. It is the county seat of Dawson County, Nebraska....  - 26,996 Beatrice Beatrice, Nebraska Beatrice is a city in Gage County, Nebraska, Nebraska, 40 miles south of Lincoln, Nebraska on the Big Blue River River. The surrounding region is rich agricultural country....  - 23,365

• Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney comprise the “Tri-Cities” area.
• The northeast corner of Nebraska is part of the Siouxland
  Siouxland
  
  Siouxland is a vernacular region that encompasses the entire Big Sioux River drainage basin.A "vernacular region" is a distinctive area where the inhabitants collectively consider themselves interconnected by a shared history, mutual interests, and a common identity....
   region.

Education

Colleges and universities

Culture

Sports

• Professional sports
  Professional sports
  
  Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are those in which Sportsperson receive payment for their performance. While men have competed as professional athletes throughout much of modern history, only recently has it become common for Women's professional sports to have the opportunity to become professional athletes....
  
• Lincoln Saltdogs
  Lincoln Saltdogs
  
  The Lincoln Saltdogs are a professional baseball team based in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the United States. The Saltdogs are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball....
   – American Association (independent minor league baseball
  Minor league baseball
  
  Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in North America that compete at levels below that of Major League Baseball....
  )
• Omaha Beef
  Omaha Beef
  
  The Omaha Beef are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the Indoor Football League. They play their home games at Omaha Civic Auditorium, which was also once the home of the American Hockey League's Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights....
   – United Indoor Football
  United Indoor Football
  
  United Indoor Football was an indoor football league that started in 2005. Ten owners from the National Indoor Football League, including one expansion and two from arenafootball2 took their franchises and formed their own league....
  
• Omaha Royals
  Omaha Royals
  
  The Omaha Royals are a minor league baseball team based in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club....
   – Pacific Coast League
  Pacific Coast League
  
  The Pacific Coast League is a minor league baseball league operating in the West, Midwest, and Southeast of the United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball....
   (AAA minor league baseball
  Minor league baseball
  
  Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in North America that compete at levels below that of Major League Baseball....
  ; affiliate of the Kansas City Royals
  Kansas City Royals
  
  The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the American League Central of Major League Baseball's American League....
  )
• NCAA
  National Collegiate Athletic Association
  
  The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a voluntary association of about 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and University in the United States ....
   Division I
  Division I
  
  Division I is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States....
   college sports
• Creighton Bluejays
  Creighton Bluejays
  
  The Creighton Bluejays, or Jays, are the athletic teams of Creighton University, a Jesuit/Catholic University located in Omaha, Nebraska. Creighton competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletics, competing in the Missouri Valley Conference....
  
• Nebraska Cornhuskers
  Nebraska Cornhuskers
  
  The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska?Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, fielding 21 Varsity team teams in 14 sports:...
  
• University of Nebraska at Omaha
  University of Nebraska at Omaha
  
  The University of Nebraska at Omaha is the Omaha, Nebraska campus of the University of Nebraska system, and is the third-largest institution of higher education in Nebraska, after the University of Nebraska?Lincoln and Metropolitan Community College....
   (Mavericks ice hockey only)
• NCAA
  National Collegiate Athletic Association
  
  The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a voluntary association of about 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and University in the United States ....
   Division II
  Division II
  
  Division II is an intermediate-level division of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It offers an alternative to both the highly competitive level of intercollegiate sports offered in NCAA Division I and to the non-scholarship level offered in Division III....
   college sports
• University of Nebraska at Kearney
  University of Nebraska at Kearney
  
  The University of Nebraska at Kearney , founded in 1905 as the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney, is the Kearney, Nebraska campus of the University of Nebraska system....
   Antelopes (Lopers)
• University of Nebraska at Omaha
  University of Nebraska at Omaha
  
  The University of Nebraska at Omaha is the Omaha, Nebraska campus of the University of Nebraska system, and is the third-largest institution of higher education in Nebraska, after the University of Nebraska?Lincoln and Metropolitan Community College....
   Mavericks (all sports except ice hockey)
• Wayne State College
  Wayne State College
  
  Wayne State College is a four-year public college in the Nebraska State College System in Wayne, Nebraska. The current enrollment is 3,356.The college opened as a State Normal School in 1910 after the State purchased the private Nebraska Normal College ....
   Wildcats
• Chadron State College
  Chadron State College
  
  Chadron State College is a four-year public college in the Nebraska State College System in Chadron, Nebraska, Nebraska. The college is located in the northern part of the Nebraska Panhandle, in the Pine Ridge area....
   Eagles
• Junior-level sports
• Lincoln Stars
  Lincoln Stars
  
  The Lincoln Stars are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League ....
   – United States Hockey League
  United States Hockey League
  
  The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 12 member teams located in Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger....
  
• Omaha Lancers
  Omaha Lancers
  
  The Omaha Lancers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League .Since 2002, the Lancers' home ice has been the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska....
   – United States Hockey League (home games played in Council Bluffs, Iowa
  Council Bluffs, Iowa
  
  Council Bluffs is a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River....
  )
• Tri-City Storm
  Tri-City Storm
  
  The Tri-City Storm is a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League ....
   – United States Hockey League

See also

• List of Nebraska-related topics
  List of Nebraska-related topics
  
  This is a list of topics related to the U.S. State of Nebraska....
  

Bibliography

Surveys

• Chokecherry Places, Essays from the High Plains, Merrill Gilfillan, Johnson Press, Boulder, Colorado, trade paperback, ISBN 1-55566-227-7.
• highly detailed history
• Creigh, Dorothy Weyers. Nebraska: A Bicentennial History (1977)
• Faulkner, Virginia, ed. Roundup: A Nebraska Reader (1957)
• Hickey, Donald R. Nebraska Moments: Glimpses of Nebraska's Past (1992).
• Luebke Frederick C. Nebraska: An Illustrated History (1995)
• Morton, J. Sterling, ed. Illustrated History of Nebraska: A History of Nebraska from the Earliest Explorations of the Trans-Mississippi Region. 3 vols. (1905-13)
• Wishart, David J. ed. Encyclopedia of the Great Plains (2004), 900 pages of scholarly articles

Scholarly special studies

• Barnhart, John D. "Rainfall and the Populist Party in Nebraska." American Political Science Review 19 (1925): 527-40. in JSTOR
• Beezley, William H. "Homesteading in Nebraska, 1862-1872," Nebraska History 53 (spring 1972): 59-75.
• Bentley, Arthur F. "The Condition of the Western Farmer as Illustrated by the Economic History of a Nebraska Township." Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and Political Science 11 (1893): 285-370.
• Bogue Allen G. Money at Interest: The Farm Mortgage on the Middle Border (1955)
• Brunner, Edmund de S. Immigrant Farmers and Their Children (1929)
• Chudacoff, Howard P. Mobile Americans: Residential and Social Mobility in Omaha, 1880-1920 (1972)
• Chudacoff, Howard P. "A New Look at Ethnic Neighborhoods: Residential Dispersion and the Concept of Visibility in a Medium-sized City." Journal of American History 60 (1973): 76-93. about Omaha; in JSTOR
• 3 vols. 1964-69.
• Dick, Everett. The Sod-House Frontier: 1854-1890 (1937)
• Farragher, John Mack. Women and Men on the Overland Trail (1979)
• Fuller, Wayne E. The Old Country School: The Story of Rural Education in the Midwest (1982)
• Grant, Michael Johnston. "Down and Out on the Family Farm" (2002)
• Harper, Ivy. Walzing Matilda: Life and Times of Nebraska Senator Robert Kerrey (1992).
• Holter, Don W. Flames on the Plains: A History of United Methodism in Nebraska (1983).
• Jeffrey, Julie Roy. Frontier Women: The Trans-Mississippi West, 1840-1880 (1979)
• Klein, Maury. Union Pacific: The Birth of a Railroad, 1862-1893 (1986)
• Klein, Maury. Union Pacific: The Rebirth, 1894-1969 (1989).
• Larsen, Lawrence H. The Gate City: A History of Omaha (1982)
• Lowitt, Richard. George W. Norris 3 vols. 1971.
• Luebke, Frederick C. Immigrants and Politics: The Germans of Nebraska, 1880-1900 (1969)
• Luebke, Frederick C. "The German-American Alliance in Nebraska, 1910-1917." Nebraska History 49 (1969): 165-85.
• Olson, James C. J. Sterling Morton (1942)
• Overton, Richard C. Burlington West: A Colonization History of the Burlington Railroad (1941)
• Parsons Stanley B. "Who Were the Nebraska Populists?" Nebraska History 44 (1963): 83-99.
• Pierce, Neal. The Great Plains States (1973)
• Pederson, James F., and Kenneth D. Wald. Shall the People Rule? A History of the Democratic Party in Nebraska Politics (1972)
• Riley, Glenda. The Female Frontier. A Comparative View of Women on the Prairie and the Plains (1978)
• Wenger, Robert W. "The Anti-Saloon League in Nebraska Politics, 1898-1910." Nebraska History 52 (1971): 267-92.

External links

• - History of Nebraska from Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska State Historical Society, and NET
• - Annotated list of searchable databases produced by Nebraska state agencies and compiled by the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association.