Nebraska

Nebraska
State
Flag Seal
Nickname: The Cornhusker State
Motto: Equality before the law
Anthem:"Beautiful Nebraska"
Map of the United States with Nebraska highlighted
Country	United States
Before statehood	Nebraska Territory
Admitted to the Union	March 1, 1867 (37th)
Capital	Lincoln
Largest city	Omaha
Largest county or equivalent	Douglas
Largest metroandurbanareas	Omaha–Council Bluffs
Government
•Governor	Jim Pillen(R)
•Lieutenant Governor	Joe Kelly(R)
Legislature	Nebraska Legislature
Judiciary	Nebraska Supreme Court
U.S. senators	Deb Fischer(R) Pete Ricketts(R)
U.S. House delegation	1:Mike Flood(R) 2:Don Bacon(R) 3:Adrian Smith(R)(list)
Area
• Total	77,327[1]sq mi (200,356 km2)
• Land	76,796[1]sq mi (199,099 km2)
• Water	531[1]sq mi (1,247 km2) 0.7%
• Rank	16th
Dimensions
• Length	430 mi (690 km)
• Width	210 mi (340 km)
Elevation	2,600 ft (790 m)
Highest elevation ( Panorama Point [2] [a])	5,424 ft (1,654 m)
Lowest elevation ( Missouri Riverat Kansasborder [2] [a])	840 ft (256 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	1,961,504[3]
• Rank	38th
• Density	24.94/sq mi (9.62/km2)
• Rank	43rd
•Median household income	$59,970[4]
• Income rank	25th
Demonym	Nebraskan
Language
•Official language	English[5][6]
Time zones
most of state	UTC−06:00(Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−05:00(CDT)
Panhandle	UTC−07:00(Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00(MDT)
USPS abbreviation	NE
ISO 3166 code	US-NE
Traditional abbreviation	Neb., Nebr.
Latitude	40° Nto43° N
Longitude	95° 19′ W to 104° 03′ W
Website	nebraska.gov

State symbols of Nebraska

List of state symbols
Flag of Nebraska
Seal of Nebraska
Slogan	Welcome to NEBRASKAland where the West begins[7]
Living insignia
Bird	Western meadowlark[8]
Fish	Channel catfish
Flower	Tall Goldenrod[9]
Grass	Little bluestem[10]
Insect	Western honey bee[11]
Mammal	White-tailed deer[12]
Tree	Eastern Cottonwood[13]
Inanimate insignia
Beverage	Milk Soft drink:Kool-aid
Dance	Square dance
Fossil	Mammoth[14]
Gemstone	Blue agate[15]
Rock	Prairie agate[16]
River	Platte River
Soil	Holdrege series
State route marker
Lists of United States state symbols

Nebraska(/nəˈbræskə/^ⓘnə-BRASS-kə)^[17]is a triply landlockedstate^[18]in theMidwesternregion of theUnited States. It bordersSouth Dakotato the north;Iowato the east andMissourito the southeast, both across theMissouri River;Kansasto the south;Coloradoto the southwest; andWyomingto the west. Nebraska is the16th largest state by land area, with just over 77,220 square miles (200,000 km²). With a population of over 1.9 million, it is the38th most populous stateand the7th least densely populated. ItscapitalisLincoln, and itsmost populous cityisOmaha, which is on theMissouri River. Nebraska was admitted into the United States in 1867, two years after the end of theAmerican Civil War. TheNebraska Legislatureis unlike any other American legislature in that it isunicameral, and its members are elected without any official reference topolitical party affiliation.

Nebraska is composed of two major land regions: theDissected Till Plainsand theGreat Plains. The Dissected Till Plains region consists of gently rolling hills and contains the state's largest cities, Omaha and Lincoln. The Great Plains region, occupying most of western Nebraska, is characterized by treelessprairie. Eastern Nebraska has ahumid continental climatewhile western Nebraska is primarilysemi-arid. The state has wide variations between winter and summer temperatures; the variations decrease in southern Nebraska. Violentthunderstormsandtornadoesoccur primarily during spring and summer, and sometimes in autumn.Chinook windtends to warm the state significantly in the winter and early spring.

Indigenous peoples, includingOmaha,Missouria,Ponca,Pawnee,Otoe, and various branches of theLakota(Sioux) tribes, lived in the region for thousands of years beforeEuropean discovery and exploration. The state is crossed by many historic trails, including that of theLewis and Clark Expedition. The completion of theTranscontinental Railroadthrough Nebraska and passage of theHomestead Actsled to rapid growth in the population ofAmerican settlersin the 1870s and 1880s and the development of a large agriculture sector for which the state is known to this day.

Nebraska's name is the result ofanglicizationof the archaicOtoeÑí Brásge(contemporary Otoe:Ñíbrahge; pronounced[ɲĩbɾasꜜkɛ]), or theOmahaNí Btháska, (pronounced[nĩbɫᶞasꜜka]), meaning "flat water", after thePlatte Riverwhich flows through the state.^[19]

Indigenous peopleslived in the region of present-day Nebraska for thousands of years beforeEuropean colonization. The historic tribes in the state included theOmaha,Missouria,Ponca,Pawnee,Otoe, and various branches of theLakota(Sioux), some of which migrated from eastern areas into the region. When European exploration, trade, and settlement began, bothSpainandFrancesought to control the region. In the 1690s, Spain established trade connections with theApache, whose territory then included western Nebraska. By 1703, France had developed a regular trade with native peoples along theMissouri Riverin Nebraska, and by 1719 had signed treaties with several of these peoples. After war broke out between the two countries, Spaindispatched an armed expeditionto Nebraska under Lieutenant General Pedro de Villasur in 1720. The party was attacked and destroyed near present-dayColumbusby a large force of Pawnee and Otoe, both allied with the French. The massacre ended Spanish exploration of the area for the remainder of the 18th century.^[20][21][22]

In 1762, during theSeven Years' War, France ceded the Louisiana territory to Spain. This left Britain and Spain competing for dominance along the Mississippi River; by 1773, the British were trading with the native peoples of Nebraska. Spain dispatched two trading expeditions up the Missouri River in 1794 and 1795; the second, under James Mackay, established the first European settlement in Nebraska near the mouth of the Platte River. Later that year, Mackay's party built a trading post, dubbed Fort Carlos IV (Fort Charles), near present-dayHomer.^[20][23][24]

In 1819, the United States establishedFort Atkinsonas the first U.S. Army post west of the Missouri River, just east of present-dayFort Calhoun. The army abandoned the fort in 1827 as migration moved further west. European-American settlement was scarce until 1848 and theCalifornia Gold Rush. On May 30, 1854, the U.S. Congress created theKansasand theNebraskaterritories, divided by theParallel 40° North, under theKansas–Nebraska Act.^[25]The Nebraska Territory included parts of the current states ofColorado,North Dakota,South Dakota,Wyoming, andMontana.^[26]The territorial capital of Nebraska wasOmaha.^[27]

Late 19th century

In the 1860s, after the U.S. government forced many of theAmerican Indian tribesto cede their lands and settle onreservations, it opened large tracts of land to agricultural development byEuropeans immigrantsandAmericans settlers. Under theHomestead Act, thousands of settlers migrated into Nebraska to claim free land granted by the federal government. Because so few trees grew on theprairies, many of the first farming settlers built theirhomes of sod, as had Native Americans such as the Omaha. The first wave of settlement gave the territory a sufficient population to apply for statehood.^[28]Nebraska became the 37th state on March 1, 1867, and the capital was moved from Omaha to the center at Lancaster, later renamedLincolnafter the recently assassinated President of the United States,Abraham Lincoln. The battle ofMassacre Canyon, on August 5, 1873, was the last major battle between thePawneeand theSioux.^[29][30]

During the 1870s to the 1880s, Nebraska experienced a large growth in population. Several factors contributed to attracting new residents. The first was that the vast prairie land was perfect for cattle grazing. This helped settlers to learn the unfamiliar geography of the area. The second factor was the invention of several farming technologies. New agricultural innovations such as barbed wire, windmills, and the steel plow, combined with fair weather, enabled settlers to transform Nebraska into prime farming land. By the 1880s, Nebraska's population had soared to more than 450,000 people.^[31]TheArbor Dayholiday was founded inNebraska Cityby territorial governorJ. Sterling Morton. TheNational Arbor Day Foundationis still headquartered inNebraska City, with some offices in Lincoln.

In the late 19th century,African Americans migratedfrom the South to Nebraska as part of theGreat Migration. Eventually, they lived primarily toOmahawhich offered working-class jobs inmeat packing, the railroads and other industries. Omaha has a long history ofcivil rightsactivism. Blacks encountered discrimination from other Americans in Omaha and especially from recent European immigrants who were also competing for the same jobs as well.^[32]

During the early 20th century, In 1912, African Americans founded the Omaha chapter of theNational Association for the Advancement of Colored Peopleto work for improved conditions in the city and state. During theOmaha Race Riots in 1919, many white rioters protested throughout Omaha due to there being an incident in which a black man was accused of sexually assaulting a white women.The Great Depressionalso had greatly affected the residents of Nebraska at the time. From 1930 to 1936 the dust bowl was common in the state due to there being a drought, wind, and dirt being dug up throughout all of theMidwestern United States. Residents in Nebraska had passed an initiative in 1934, then the first session in theunicameralwas held in 1937.Kay Orrwas Nebraska's first female governor on Nov 4, 1986.^[33]

The state is bordered bySouth Dakotato the north;Iowato the east andMissourito the southeast, across theMissouri River;Kansasto the south;Coloradoto the southwest; andWyomingto the west. The state has93 countiesand is split between twotime zones, with the majority of the state observingCentral Timeand thePanhandleand surrounding counties observingMountain Time. Three rivers cross the state from west to east. ThePlatte River, formed by the confluence of theNorth Platteand theSouth Platte, runs through the state's central portion, theNiobrara Riverflows through the northern part, and theRepublican Riverruns across the southern part.

The first Constitution of Nebraska in 1866 described Nebraska's boundaries as follows (The description of the Northern border is no longer accurate, since theKeya Paha Riverand theNiobrara Riverno longer form the boundary of the state of Nebraska. Instead, Nebraska's Northern border now extends east along the forty-third degree of north latitude until it meets theMissouri Riverdirectly.):

The State of Nebraska shall consist of all the territory included within the following boundaries, to-wit: Commencing at a point formed by the intersection of the western boundary of the State of Missouri, with the fortieth degree of north latitude; extending thence due west along said fortieth degree of north latitude, to a point formed by its intersection with the twenty-fifth degree of longitude west from Washington [the Southern border]; thence north along said twenty-fifth degree of longitude, to a point formed by its intersection with the forty-first degree of north latitude; thence west along said forty-first degree of north latitude to a point formed by its intersection with the twenty-seventh degree of longitude west from Washington; thence north along said twenty-seventh degree of west longitude, to a point formed by its intersection with the forty-third degree of north latitude [the Western border, which is the Panhandle]; thence east along said forty-third degree of north latitude to the Keya Paha river; thence down the middle of the channel of said river, with its meanderings, to its junction with the Niobrara River; thence down the middle of the channel of said Niobrara River, and following the meanderings thereof to its junction with the Missouri River [the Northern border]; thence down the middle of the channel of said Missouri River, and following the meanderings thereof to the place of beginning [the Eastern border, which is the Missouri River].^[34]

Nebraska is composed of two major land regions: theDissected Till Plainsand theGreat Plains. The easternmost portion of the state was scoured byIce Ageglaciers; the Dissected Till Plains were left after the glaciers retreated. The Dissected Till Plains is a region of gently rolling hills;OmahaandLincolnare in this region. The Great Plains occupy most of western Nebraska, with the region consisting of several smaller, diverse land regions, including theSandhills, thePine Ridge, theRainwater Basin, theHigh Plainsand theWildcat Hills.Panorama Point, at 5,424 feet (1,653 m), is Nebraska's highest point; though despite its name and elevation, it is a relatively low rise near theColoradoandWyomingborders. A past tourism slogan for the state of Nebraska was "Where the West Begins" (it has since been changed to "Honestly, it's not for everyone").^[35]Locations given for the beginning of the "West" in Nebraska include the Missouri River, the intersection of 13th and O Streets in Lincoln (where it is marked by a red brick star), the100th meridian, andChimney Rock.

Areas under the management of theNational Park Serviceinclude:

• Agate Fossil Beds National MonumentnearHarrison
• California National Historic Trail
• Chimney Rock National Historic SitenearBayard
• Homestead National Monument of AmericainBeatrice
• Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
• Missouri National Recreational RivernearPonca
• Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
• Niobrara National Scenic RivernearValentine
• Oregon National Historic Trail
• Pony Express National Historic Trail
• Scotts Bluff National MonumentatGering

Areas under the management of theNational Forest Serviceinclude:

• Nebraska National Forest
• Oglala National Grassland
• Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest

Two major climatic zones are represented in Nebraska. The eastern two-thirds of the state has ahumid continental climate(KöppenDfa), although the southwest of this region may be classed as ahumid subtropical climate(Cfa) using the −3 °C or 26.6 °F near the Kansas state line, analogous to the predominantlyhumid subtropicalclimate of Kansas andOklahoma. Western Nebraska, includingThe Panhandleand adjacent areas bordering Colorado have asemi-arid climate(KöppenBSk). The entire state experiences wide seasonal variations in both temperature and precipitation. Average temperatures are fairly uniform across Nebraska, with hot summers and generally cold winters. However,chinook windsfrom theRocky Mountainsprovide a temporary moderating effect on temperatures in the state's western portion during the winter.^[36][37]Thus, average January maximum temperatures are highest at around 43 °F or 6.1 °C in southwesternDundy County, and lowest at about 30 °F or −1.1 °C aroundSouth Sioux Cityin the northeast.

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. 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 (0.64 and 0.89 m) of snow each year.^[38]Nebraska's highest-recorded temperature was 118 °F (48 °C) inMindenon July 24, 1936. The state's lowest-recorded temperature was −47 °F (−44 °C) inCamp Clarkeon February 12, 1899.

Nebraska is located inTornado Alley.Thunderstormsare common during both the spring and the summer. Violent thunderstorms andtornadoeshappen primarily during those two seasons, although they also can occur occasionally during the autumn.

Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected cities in Nebraska ^[39]

Location	July (°F)	July (°C)	January (°F)	January (°C)
Omaha	87/66	30/19	33/13	1/−10
Lincoln	89/66	31/19	35/14	2/−10
Grand Island	87/64	31/17	36/14	2/−10
Kearney	90/63	32/17	36/12	2/−11
North Platte	88/60	31/16	39/11	4/−11
Papillion	87/66	31/19	32/12	0/−11

Eighty-nine percent of the cities in Nebraska have fewer than 3,000 people. Nebraska shares this characteristic with five other Midwestern states:Kansas,Oklahoma,North DakotaandSouth Dakota, andIowa. Hundreds of towns have a population of fewer than 1,000. Regional population declines have forced many rural schools to consolidate.

Fifty-three of Nebraska's 93 counties reported declining populations between 1990 and 2000, ranging from a 0.06% loss (Frontier County) to a 17.04% loss (Hitchcock County).

More urbanized areas of the state have experienced substantial growth. In 2000, the city ofOmahahad a population of 390,007; in 2005, the city's estimated population was 414,521 (427,872 including the recently annexed city ofElkhorn), a 6.3% increase over five years. The 2010 census showed that Omaha has a population of 408,958. The city ofLincolnhad a 2000 population of 225,581 and a 2010 population of 258,379, a 14.5% increase.

As of the 2010 census, there were 530 cities and villages in the state of Nebraska. There are five classifications of cities and villages in Nebraska, which are based upon population. All population figures are 2017Census Bureauestimates unless flagged by a reference number.

Metropolitan Class City (300,000 or more)

• Omaha466,893^[40]

Primary Class City (100,000–299,999)

• Lincoln284,736^[40]

First Class City (5,000–99,999)

Second Class Cities (800–4,999) and Villages (100–800) make up the rest of the communities in Nebraska. There are 116 second-class cities and 382 villages in the state.

Other areas

• Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney comprise the "Tri-Cities" area, with a combined population of 168,748
• The northeast corner of Nebraska is part of theSiouxlandregion.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	28,841		—
1870	122,993		326.5%
1880	452,402		267.8%
1890	1,062,656		134.9%
1900	1,066,300		0.3%
1910	1,192,214		11.8%
1920	1,296,372		8.7%
1930	1,377,963		6.3%
1940	1,315,834		−4.5%
1950	1,325,510		0.7%
1960	1,411,330		6.5%
1970	1,483,493		5.1%
1980	1,569,825		5.8%
1990	1,578,385		0.5%
2000	1,711,263		8.4%
2010	1,826,341		6.7%
2020	1,961,504		7.4%
2023 (est.)	1,978,379		0.9%
Source: 1910–2020[41]

The2020 United States Censusreported that the population of Nebraska was 1,961,504 on April 1, 2020, a 7.4% increase since the2010 United States census.^[41]Thecenter of populationof Nebraska is inPolk County, in the city ofShelby.^[42]

According toHUD's 2022Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 2,246homeless people in Nebraska.^[43][44]

The table below shows the racial composition of Nebraska's population as of 2022.

Nebraska racial composition of population ^[45]

Race	Population (2022 est.)	Percentage
Total population	1,967,923	100%
White	1,543,454	78.4%
Black or African American	92,208	4.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native	19,656	1.0%
Asian	49,557	2.5%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	1,239	0.1%
Some other race	87,534	4.4%
Two or more races	174,275	8.9%

Nebraska historical racial composition

Racial composition	1990[46]	2000[47]	2010[48]	2020[49]
White	93.8%	89.6%	86.1%	78.4%
Black	3.6%	4.0%	4.5%	4.9%
Asian	0.8%	1.3%	1.8%	2.7%
Native	0.8%	0.9%	1.0%	1.2%
Native Hawaiianand other Pacific Islander	–	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Other race	1.0%	2.8%	4.3%	5.4%
Two or more races	–	1.4%	2.2%	7.3%

According to the 2016American Community Survey, 10.2% of Nebraska's population were ofHispanic or Latinoorigin (of any race):Mexican(7.8%),Puerto Rican(0.2%),Cuban(0.2%), and other Hispanic or Latino origin (2.0%).^[50]The largest ancestry groups were:German(36.1%),Irish(13.1%),English(7.8%),Czech(4.7%),Swedish(4.3%), andPolish(3.5%).^[51]

Nebraska has the largestCzech Americanand non-MormonDanish Americanpopulation (as a percentage of the total population) in the nation. Nebraska is also home to the largestPolish Americanpopulation in the Great Plains.German Americansare the largest ancestry group in most of the state, particularly in the eastern counties.Thurston County(made up entirely of theOmahaandWinnebagoreservations) has anAmerican Indianmajority, andButler Countyis one of only two counties in the nation with a Czech-American plurality.

In recent years, Nebraska has become home to many refugee communities. In 2016, it welcomed more refugees per capita than any other state.^[52]Nebraska, and in particular Lincoln, is the largest home ofYazidisrefugees andYazidi Americansin the United States.^[53][54][55]

Notably, Nebraska was the last of all 50 states to maintain a ban on the issuance of driver's licenses toadults who had entered the United States illegally as children(also known as Dreamers). The state legislature lifted the ban in December 2016.^[56]

Mexico,India,China,Guatemala, andEl Salvadorare top countries of origin for Nebraska's immigrants.^[57]

As of 2011, 31.0% of Nebraska's population younger than ageone were minorities.^[58]

Live Births by Single Race/Ethnicity of Mother

Race	2013[59]	2014[60]	2015[61]	2016[62]	2017[63]	2018[64]	2019[65]	2020[66]	2021[67]	2022[68]
White:	22,670 (86.9%)	23,178 (86.5%)	23,126 (86.7%)	...	...	...	...	...	...	...
Non-Hispanic White	19,237 (73.7%)	19,471 (72.6%)	19,201 (72.0%)	18,729 (70.4%)	17,827 (69.0%)	17,645 (69.2%)	16,930 (68.4%)	16,433 (67.7%)	16,767 (68.1%)	16,120 (66.2%)
Black	1,979 (7.6%)	2,015 (7.5%)	2,009 (7.5%)	1,685 (6.3%)	1,688 (6.5%)	1,739 (6.8%)	1,654 (6.7%)	1,631 (6.7%)	1,533 (6.2%)	1,597 (6.6%)
Asian	854 (3.3%)	1,048 (3.9%)	987 (3.7%)	894 (3.4%)	861 (3.3%)	925 (3.6%)	857 (3.5%)	870 (3.6%)	861 (3.5%)	816 (3.4%)
American Indian	592 (2.3%)	553 (2.1%)	557 (2.1%)	353 (1.3%)	399 (1.5%)	342 (1.3%)	341 (1.4%)	284 (1.2%)	248 (1.0%)	298 (1.2%)
Hispanic(of any race)	3,895(14.9%)	4,143(15.6%)	4,249(15.9%)	4,282(16.1%)	4,382(17.0%)	4,155(16.3%)	4,345(17.6%)	4,393(18.1%)	4,440(18.0%)	4,815(19.8%)
Total Nebraska	26,095(100%)	26,794(100%)	26,679(100%)	26,589(100%)	25,821(100%)	25,488(100%)	24,755(100%)	24,291(100%)	24,609(100%)	24,345(100%)

Note: For 2013–2015, births in table don't add up, because Hispanics are counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number. Since 2016, data for births ofWhite Hispanicorigin are not collected, but included in oneHispanicgroup; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

The religious affiliations of the people of Nebraska are predominantly Christian, according to a 2014 survey by the Pew Research Center. At the 2020 Public Religion Research Institute survey, 73% of the population identified as Christian.^[70]At the 2014 Pew Research Center's survey, 20% of the population were religiously unaffiliated; in 2020, the Public Religion Research Institute determined 22% of the population became religiously unaffiliated.

The largest single denominations by number of adherents in 2010 were theRoman Catholic Church(372,838), theLutheran Church–Missouri Synod(112,585), theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America(110,110) and theUnited Methodist Church(109,283).^[71]

Nebraska has aprogressive income tax. The portion of income from $0 to $2,400 is taxed at 2.56%; from $2,400 to $17,500, at 3.57%; from $17,500 to $27,000, at 5.12%; and income over $27,000, at 6.84%. The standard deduction for a single taxpayer is $5,700; the personal exemption is $118.^[72]

Nebraska has a state sales and use tax of 5.5%. In addition to the state tax, some Nebraska cities assess a city sales and use tax, in 0.5% increments, up to a maximum of 1.5%.Dakota Countylevies an additional 0.5% county sales tax.^[73]Food and ingredients that are generally for home preparation and consumption are not taxable.^[74]Allreal propertywithin the state of Nebraska is taxable unless specifically exempted by statute. Since 1992, only depreciablepersonal propertyis subject to tax and all other personal property is exempt from tax.Inheritance taxis collected at the county level.

• Total employment (2016): 884,450^[75]
• Total employer establishments: 54,265

TheBureau of Economic Analysisestimates of Nebraska'sgross state productin 2010 was $89.8 billion.^[76]Per capita personal incomein 2004 was $31,339, 25th in the nation. Nebraska has a large agriculture sector, and is a major producer ofbeef,pork,wheat,corn (maize),soybeans, andsorghum.^[77]Other important economic sectors includefreighttransport (by rail and truck),manufacturing,telecommunications,information technology, andinsurance.

In October 2021, Nebraska recorded an unemployment rate of 1.9%, the lowest ever recorded for any state.^[78]

Kool-Aidwas created in 1927 byEdwin Perkinsin the city ofHastings, which celebrates the event the second weekend of every August with Kool-Aid Days,^[79][80]and Kool-Aid is the official soft drink of Nebraska.^[81][82]CliffsNoteswere developed byClifton HillegassofRising City. He adapted his pamphlets from the Canadian publications,Coles Notes.

Omahais home toBerkshire Hathaway, whosechief executive officer(CEO),Warren Buffett, was ranked in March 2009 byForbesmagazine as thesecond-richest person in the world. The city is also home toMutual of Omaha, InfoUSA,West Corporation,Valmont Industries,Woodmen of the World,Kiewit Corporation,Union Pacific Railroad, andGallup.Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.,Nelnet,Sandhills Publishing Company, Duncan Aviation, andHudlare based inLincoln.The Buckleis based inKearney.Sidneyis the national headquarters forCabela's, a specialty retailer of outdoor goods now owned byBass Pro Shops.Grand Islandis the headquarters ofHornady, a manufacturer ofammunition.

The world's largesttrain yard,Union Pacific'sBailey Yard, is inNorth Platte. TheVise-Gripwas invented by William Petersen in 1924, and was manufactured inDe Wittuntil the plant was closed and moved to China in late 2008.^[83]

Lincoln's Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing is the only Kawasaki plant in the world to produce theJet Ski,all-terrain vehicle(ATV), andMULEproduct lines. The facility employs more than 1,200 people.

TheSpade Ranch, in theSandhills, is one of Nebraska's oldest and largest beef cattle operations.

Nebraska has been the nation's second-largest producer of ethanolbiofuels. It has few fossil-fuel resources except for crude oil from theNiobrara Formationwhich underlays a portion of the state's western region. It hosts one uranium leach mining operation near its northwest border with Wyoming. It has an abundance of renewable generation resources, including untapped biomass generation potential from its productive agriculture industry. It has been a top-ten state for per-capita energy consumption due in large part to its energy-intensive agriculture, meat packing, and food processing industries.^[84]

Nebraska is the only state in the US where allelectric utilitiesarepublicly owned.^[85]Half of its electricity is generated from coal and the fastest-growing source in recent years has been wind. Nebraska has norenewable portfolio standardwhile supportingnet metering.^[84]

TheUnion Pacific Railroad, headquartered in Omaha, was incorporated on July 1, 1862, in the wake of thePacific Railway Act of 1862.^[86][87]Bailey Yard, in North Platte, is the largest railroadclassification yardin the world. The route of theoriginal transcontinental railroadruns through the state.

Other major railroads with operations in the state are:Amtrak;BNSF Railway;Canadian National Railway; andIowa Interstate Railroad.

• Lincoln StarTran
• Omaha Metro Transit
• Scottsbluff Tri-City Roadrunner
• Sioux City Transit

• Burlington Trailways
• Express Arrow
• Jefferson Lines
• Panhandle Trails

United States presidential election results for Nebraska ^[88]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	556,846	58.22%	374,583	39.17%	24,954	2.61%
2016	495,961	58.75%	284,494	33.70%	63,777	7.55%
2012	475,064	59.80%	302,081	38.03%	17,234	2.17%
2008	452,979	56.53%	333,319	41.60%	14,983	1.87%
2004	512,814	65.90%	254,328	32.68%	11,044	1.42%
2000	433,862	62.25%	231,780	33.25%	31,377	4.50%
1996	363,467	53.65%	236,761	34.95%	77,187	11.39%
1992	344,346	46.58%	217,344	29.40%	177,593	24.02%
1988	398,447	60.15%	259,646	39.20%	4,279	0.65%
1984	460,054	70.55%	187,866	28.81%	4,170	0.64%
1980	419,937	65.53%	166,851	26.04%	54,066	8.44%
1976	359,705	59.19%	233,692	38.46%	14,271	2.35%
1972	406,298	70.50%	169,991	29.50%	0	0.00%
1968	321,163	59.82%	170,784	31.81%	44,904	8.36%
1964	276,847	47.39%	307,307	52.61%	0	0.00%
1960	380,553	62.07%	232,542	37.93%	0	0.00%
1956	378,108	65.51%	199,029	34.49%	0	0.00%
1952	421,603	69.15%	188,057	30.85%	0	0.00%
1948	264,774	54.15%	224,165	45.85%	1	0.00%
1944	329,880	58.58%	233,246	41.42%	0	0.00%
1940	352,201	57.19%	263,677	42.81%	0	0.00%
1936	247,731	40.74%	347,445	57.14%	12,847	2.11%
1932	201,177	35.29%	359,082	62.98%	9,878	1.73%
1928	345,745	63.19%	197,959	36.18%	3,440	0.63%
1924	218,585	47.09%	137,289	29.58%	108,299	23.33%
1920	247,498	64.66%	119,608	31.25%	15,637	4.09%
1916	117,771	40.99%	158,827	55.28%	10,717	3.73%
1912	54,226	21.74%	109,008	43.69%	86,249	34.57%
1908	126,997	47.60%	131,099	49.14%	8,703	3.26%
1904	138,558	61.38%	52,921	23.44%	34,253	15.17%
1900	121,835	50.46%	114,013	47.22%	5,582	2.31%
1896	103,064	46.18%	115,007	51.53%	5,111	2.29%
1892	87,213	43.56%	24,943	12.46%	88,036	43.98%
1888	108,425	53.51%	80,552	39.75%	13,655	6.74%
1884	76,912	57.31%	54,391	40.53%	2,899	2.16%
1880	54,979	62.87%	28,523	32.62%	3,950	4.52%
1876	31,915	64.70%	17,413	35.30%	0	0.00%
1872	18,329	70.68%	7,603	29.32%	0	0.00%
1868	9,772	63.91%	5,519	36.09%	0	0.00%

The Government of Nebraskaoperates under the framework of theNebraska Constitution, adopted in 1875,^[89]and is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

The head of the executive branch isGovernorJim Pillen(Republican).^[90]The Governor of Nebraska is thehead of governmentof theU.S. stateof Nebraska as provided by the fourth article of theConstitution of Nebraska. Other elected officials in the executive branch^[91]areLieutenant GovernorJoe Kelly,^[92]Attorney GeneralMike Hilgers,^[93]Secretary of StateBob Evnen,^[94]State TreasurerJohn Murante,^[95]andState AuditorMike Foley.^[96]All elected officials in the executive branch serve four-year terms.

Nebraska is the only state in the United States with a 'single-house'unicamerallegislature.^[97]Although this house is officially known simply as the "Legislature", and more commonly called the "Unicameral", its members call themselves "senators". Nebraska's Legislature is also the onlystate legislaturein the United States that is officiallynonpartisan. The senators are elected with no party affiliation next to their names on the ballot, and members of any party can be elected to the positions of speaker and committee chairs.^[98]The Nebraska Legislature can also override the governor's veto with a three-fifths majority, in contrast to the two-thirds majority required in some other states.

When Nebraska became a state in 1867, its legislature consisted of two houses: a House of Representatives and a Senate. For years, U.S. SenatorGeorge Norris(Senator 1913–1943) and other Nebraskans encouraged the idea of a unicameral legislature and demanded the issue be decided in areferendum. Norris argued:^[97]

The constitutions of our various states are built upon the idea that there is but one class. If this be true, there is no sense or reason in having the same thing done twice, especially if it is to be done by two bodies of men elected in the same way and having the same jurisdiction.

Unicameral supporters also argued that abicamerallegislature had a significant undemocratic feature in the committees that reconciled House and Senate legislation. Votes in these committees were secretive, and would sometimes add provisions to bills that neither house had approved.^[99]Nebraska's unicameral legislature today has rules that bills can contain only one subject,^[100]and must be given at least five days of consideration. In 1934, due in part to the budgetary pressure of theGreat Depression, Nebraska citizens ran a state initiative to vote on a constitutional amendment creating a unicameral legislature, which was approved, which, in effect, abolished the House of Representatives (the lower house).^[97]

The Legislature meets in the thirdNebraska State Capitolbuilding, built between 1922 and 1932. It was designed byBertram G. Goodhue. Built from Indiana limestone, the capitol's base is a cross within a square. A 400-foot (122 m) domed tower rises from this base. The Sower, a 19-foot (5.8 m) bronze statue representing agriculture, crowns the building.

The judicial system in Nebraska is unified, with theNebraska Supreme Court^[101]having administrative authority over all the courts within the state.^[102]Nebraska uses theMissouri Planfor the selection of judges at all levels, includingcounty courts(as the lowest-level courts)^[103]and twelvedistrict courts,^[104]which contain one or more counties. TheCourt of Appealshears appeals from the district courts,^[105]juvenile courts,^[106]and workers' compensation courts.^[107]

Nebraska is represented in theU.S. SenatebyRepublicanDeb Fischer,^[108]who was first elected in2012.^[109]Nebraska's other Senate seat is currently held byPete Ricketts, who took office on January 23, 2023.^[110]

Nebraska has three representative seats in theU.S. House of Representatives.^[108]Until the next election, Nebraska's representatives areMike Flood(R) of the1st district,^[111]Don Bacon(R) of the2nd district,^[112]andAdrian Smith(R) of the3rd district.^[113]

Nebraska is one of two states (Maineis the other) that allow for a split in the state's allocation ofelectoral votesinpresidential elections.^[114]Under a 1991 law, two of Nebraska's five votes are awarded to the winner of the statewide popular vote, while the other three go to the highest vote-getter in each of the state's threecongressional districts.

For most of its history, Nebraska has been a solidlyRepublicanstate. Republicans have carried the state in all but one presidential election since1940: the1964 landslide electionofLyndon B. Johnson. In the2004 presidential election,George W. Bushwon the state's five electoral votes by a margin of 33 percentage points (making Nebraska's the fourth-strongest Republican vote among states) with 65.9% of the overall vote; onlyThurston County, which is majority-Native American, voted for hisDemocraticchallengerJohn Kerry. In2008, the state split its electoral votes for the first time: RepublicanJohn McCainwon the popular vote in Nebraska as a whole and two of its three congressional districts; the second district, which includes the city of Omaha, went for DemocratBarack Obama. Since then, the state has split its electoral vote once, with the second district going for DemocratJoe Bidenin2020.

Despite the current Republican domination of Nebraska politics, the state has a long tradition of electingcentristmembers of both parties to state and federal office; examples includeGeorge W. Norris(who served a few years in the Senate as an independent),J. James Exon,Bob Kerrey, andChuck Hagel. Voters have tilted to the right in recent years, a trend evidenced when Hagel retired from the Senate in 2008 and was succeeded by conservative RepublicanMike Johannsto the U.S. Senate, as well as with the 2006 re-election ofBen Nelson, who was considered the most conservative Democrat in the Senate until his retirement in 2013. Johanns retired in 2015 and was succeeded byBen Sasse, while Nelson retired in 2013 and was succeeded byDeb Fischer, both conservative Republicans.

Though its politics are generally conservative, the state also has a history of progressive reform. Nebraska was the first U.S. state tooutlaw sexual assault within a marriage, in 1975.^[115]In 1980 it became the first U.S. state todivest from South Africato protest the racist system ofapartheid.^[116]

Former PresidentGerald Fordwas born in Nebraska but moved away shortly after birth.IllinoisnativeWilliam Jennings Bryanrepresented Nebraska in Congress, served asU.S. Secretary of Stateunder PresidentWoodrow Wilson, and unsuccessfully ran for president three times. Former Vice PresidentDick Cheneywas born inLincolnbut moved toCasper.

Party registration as of August 1, 2024[117]
Party		Total voters	Percentage
	Republican	610,038	49.18%
	Democratic	330,742	26.66%
	Nonpartisan	273,360	22.04%
	Libertarian	17,927	1.44%
	Other/minor parties	8,322	0.67%
Total		1,240,389	100.00%

Museums

Performing arts

• Lied Center for Performing Arts, in Lincoln
• Orpheum Theatre, in Omaha
• Holland Performing Arts Center, in Omaha
• Omaha Community Playhouse, in Omaha
• Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center, in Omaha
• Blue Barn Theatre, in Omaha
• Omaha Symphony

Team	Home	First game	Sport	League
Omaha Supernovas	Omaha	January 24, 2024	Volleyball	Pro Volleyball Federation
Union Omaha	Omaha	July 25, 2020	Soccer	USL League One
Omaha Storm Chasers	Omaha	1969	Baseball (minor league)(Triple-A)	International League
Nebraska Stampede	Ralston	April 10, 2010	Football (women's)	Women's Football Alliance
Lincoln Saltdogs	Lincoln	May 2001	Baseball (independent)	American Association
Omaha Beef	Omaha	May 2000	Football (indoor)	Champions Indoor Football

Club	Sport	League	Founded
Lincoln Stars	Ice hockey	United States Hockey League	1996
Omaha Lancers			1986
Tri-City Storm			2000
No Coast Derby Girls	Roller derby	Women's Flat Track Derby Association	2005
Omaha Rollergirls			2006

Nebraska is currently home to seven member schools of theNCAA, eight of theNAIA, seven of theNJCAA, one of theNCCAA, and one independent school.

TheCollege World Serieshas been held inOmahasince 1950. It was held atRosenblatt Stadiumfrom 1950 through 2010, and has been domiciled atCharles Schwab Field Omahasince 2011.

• Index of Nebraska-related articles
• Outline of Nebraska
• Nebraska portal

• Nebraska state governmentArchivedFebruary 22, 2011, at theWayback Machine
• Nebraska Division of Travel and TourismArchivedDecember 27, 2021, at theWayback Machine
• Energy Profile for Nebraska
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of NebraskaArchivedDecember 30, 2006, at theWayback Machine
• Nebraska State Facts from USDAArchivedJuly 14, 2014, at theWayback Machine
• Nebraska Frequently Asked QuestionsArchivedOctober 16, 2020, at theWayback Machine
• Nebraska State Publications OnlineArchivedMay 11, 2011, at theWayback Machine
• Nebraska city-dataArchivedJuly 19, 2006, at theWayback Machine
• NebraskaatCurlie
• nebraskastudies.orgArchivedAugust 19, 2001, at theWayback MachineHistory of Nebraska from Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska State Historical Society, and NET
• Nebraska State DatabasesAnnotated list of searchable databases produced by Nebraska state agencies and compiled by the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association.
• Geographic data related toNebraskaatOpenStreetMap

Preceded by Nevada

List of U.S. states by date of statehood Admitted on March 1, 1867 (37th)

Succeeded by Colorado