Nebraska

Nebraska is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north, Wyoming to the west, Colorado to the southwest, Kansas to the south, and Missouri and Iowa to the east across the Missouri River. With an area of over 77,000 square miles, Nebraska is the 16th-largest state by land area. As of 2025, it is home to around 2 million people, with Lincoln as its capital and Omaha as its most populous city.

Nebraska became a state in 1867, two years after the American Civil War ended. One unique feature of Nebraska is its unicameral legislature, which is unlike any other state legislature in the United States. Nebraska also divides its electoral college votes by district, unlike most states.

The state consists of two main land regions: the Dissected Till Plains with gently rolling hills, where Omaha and Lincoln are located, and the Great Plains, which are mostly treeless prairie in the west. Nebraska experiences a range of weather, from humid continental climates in the east to semi-arid conditions in the west, with thunderstorms and tornadoes common in spring and summer. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples such as the Omaha, Ponca, Pawnee, and Lakota lived in the area before European explorers arrived. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and the Homestead Acts brought many American settlers to Nebraska in the late 1800s, leading to its famous agricultural industry.

Etymology

Nebraska's name comes from the words of the Otoe and Omaha peoples. It means "flat water", named after the Platte River that runs through the state.

History

Main article: History of Nebraska

Early history

Indigenous peoples lived in the area of Nebraska for thousands of years before European colonization. Important tribes included the Omaha, Missouria, Ponca, Pawnee, Otoe, and parts of the Lakota (Sioux). When Europeans arrived, Spain and France both wanted control. In the 1690s, Spain traded with the Apache, while France traded with local tribes along the Missouri River. Spain sent an expedition in 1720, but it was attacked near Columbus. In 1762, France gave the Louisiana Territory to Spain. Later, Spain set up the first European settlement in Nebraska.

American settlement and statehood

In 1819, the United States built Fort Atkinson, the first U.S. Army post west of the Missouri River, near Fort Calhoun. Settlement grew after the California Gold Rush in 1848. In 1854, Congress created the Nebraska Territory, which included parts of modern Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. The capital was Omaha.

Late 19th century

In the 1860s, after many American Indian tribes were moved to reservations, settlers came to farm. Under the Homestead Act, they claimed free land. Nebraska became a state on March 1, 1867, with its capital moved to Lancaster, later renamed Lincoln after Abraham Lincoln. New farming tools helped turn Nebraska into great farming land. By the 1880s, Nebraska’s population grew to over 450,000. The holiday Arbor Day began in Nebraska City.

20th century

African Americans moved to Omaha for jobs, facing some unfair treatment. In 1912, they started the Omaha branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl brought hard times. In 1934, Nebraska changed its legislature to a single chamber. Kay Orr became the first woman governor in 1986.

Geography

Further information: List of counties in Nebraska, List of rivers of Nebraska, and Geography of Omaha

Nebraska is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwest; and Wyoming to the west. It is the only state in the United States that is surrounded by three other states on all sides. Nebraska has 93 counties and uses two different time zones, with most of the state following Central Time and the western part using Mountain Time.

Three main rivers flow through Nebraska from west to east:

• The Niobrara River runs through the northern part of the state.
• The Platte River, formed by the joining of the North Platte and the South Platte, flows through the central part.
• The Republican River runs across the southern part.

Nebraska has two main land areas. The eastern part, shaped by ancient Ice Age glaciers, has gently rolling hills where cities like Omaha and Lincoln are located. The western part, known as the Great Plains, includes many different landscapes such as the Sandhills, the Pine Ridge, and the Wildcat Hills. Panorama Point is the highest spot in Nebraska, standing at 5,424 feet (1,653 m) near the borders with Colorado and Wyoming.

Federal land management

Nebraska has several important natural and historic sites managed by the government, including:

• Agate Fossil Beds National Monument near Harrison
• Chimney Rock National Historic Site near Bayard
• Homestead National Monument of America in Beatrice
• Niobrara National Scenic River near Valentine
• Scotts Bluff National Monument at Gering

It also includes areas managed for forests and grasslands such as:

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

Climate

Further information: Climate change in Nebraska

Nebraska has two main climate types. The eastern part has warm summers and cold winters with plenty of rain, while western Nebraska is drier with hotter summers and colder winters. The state can see big changes in temperature and weather throughout the year. Strong winds called chinook winds from the Rocky Mountains can make winter temperatures feel a bit warmer in the west.

Nebraska gets between 25 and 35 inches (0.64 and 0.89 m) of snow each year. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 118 °F (48 °C) in Minden in 1936, and the coldest was −47 °F (−44 °C) in Camp Clarke in 1899.

The state is part of Tornado Alley, so thunderstorms and tornadoes are common in the spring and summer.

Settlements

Most towns in Nebraska are small, with 89% having fewer than 3,000 people. Many rural areas are shrinking, which has led some small schools to combine.

Some cities are growing. In 2024, Omaha had about 489,265 people and Lincoln had about 300,619 people.

As of 2024, Nebraska has 528 cities and villages. Cities are grouped by size:

Metropolitan Class City (400,000 or more)

• Omaha 489,265

Primary Class City (100,000–399,999)

• Lincoln 300,619

First Class City (5,000–99,999)

• Bellevue 64,777
• Grand Island 53,250
• Kearney 34,741
• Fremont 28,190
• Norfolk 26,162
• Papillion 25,248
• Hastings 25,152
• Columbus 25,126
• North Platte 22,549
• Many more cities with populations between 5,000 and 99,999

Second Class Cities (800–4,999) and Villages (100–799) make up the rest of Nebraska’s communities.

Metropolitan areas

• Omaha-Council Bluffs 878,138 (Nebraska portion); 1,001,010 (total for Nebraska and Iowa)
• Lincoln 350,626
• Sioux City, Iowa 26,861 (Nebraska portion); 145,994 (total for Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota)
• Grand Island 77,278

Micropolitan areas

• Kearney 57,905
• Norfolk 48,669
• Columbus 46,325
• Hastings 40,625
• Fremont 37,884
• Scottsbluff 36,399
• North Platte 34,013
• Lexington 26,362
• Beatrice 21,687

Other areas

• Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney are known together as the "Tri-Cities" area.
• The northeast corner of Nebraska is part of the Siouxland region.

Demographics

As of the 2024 American Community Survey, Nebraska is home to around 824,012 households, with an average of 2.38 people in each home. The state's median household income is $76,376, and about 10.9% of people live below the poverty line. Nebraska has an employment rate of 65.9%, and many residents have completed high school or college education.

In 2024, Nebraska's population was estimated at 2,005,465 people. The state is mostly made up of White residents, with smaller groups of African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people. About 13.6% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. The most common languages spoken are English and Spanish.

The largest ancestry groups in Nebraska include German, Irish, English, Czech, Swedish, and Polish. The state also has notable communities of people from other backgrounds, including refugees. Nebraska has a strong Christian population, with many people identifying as Roman Catholic, Lutheran, or part of other Christian denominations.

Taxation

Nebraska has a system where people pay more taxes as they earn more money. The tax rates change depending on how much money a person makes. There is also a sales tax of 5.5% on things people buy. Some cities add a little more tax to this.

Not all things are taxed. For example, food for home use does not have to pay sales tax. Only certain types of property pay taxes, and there are rules about what is taxed and what is not. The state also collects taxes on gasoline, which costs about 49.70 cents for every gallon as of July 2025.

Economy

See also: Nebraska locations by per capita income

• Total employment (2023): 923,066
• Total employer establishments: 56,503

In 2025, the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimated Nebraska's gross state product was $198 billion. Nebraska's per capita personal income was $75,858 in 2025, ranked 19th in the nation. Nebraska has a large farming sector and is a major producer of beef, pork, wheat, corn (maize), soybeans, and sorghum. Other important jobs come from freight transport, manufacturing, telecommunications, information technology, and insurance.

Small businesses made up 99.1% of Nebraska's businesses in 2025 and employed 47.5% of the state's workers.

In October 2021, Nebraska recorded an unemployment rate of 1.9%, the lowest ever for any state. As of May 2025, the unemployment rate was 3%.

Industry

Kool-Aid was created in 1927 by Edwin Perkins in the city of Hastings. Omaha is home to Berkshire Hathaway, where Warren Buffett is the leader. The city is also home to many other big companies.

Lincoln's Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing is the only factory in the world to make Jet Ski watercraft, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and MULE vehicles.

Energy

See also: List of power stations in Nebraska

Nebraska makes a lot of ethanol biofuels. It has some crude oil and one uranium mining operation. The state has lots of chances to use renewable energy from its strong farming. Nebraska uses coal for half of its electricity and wind is growing fast. All of Nebraska's electric companies are owned by the public.

Transportation

Railroads

Further information: List of Nebraska railroads

The Union Pacific Railroad, based in Omaha, started on July 1, 1862, after the Pacific Railway Act of 1862. Bailey Yard in North Platte is the biggest railroad sorting area in the world. The path of the first train that crossed the country goes through Nebraska.

Other important railroads in the state are Amtrak; BNSF Railway; Canadian National Railway; and Iowa Interstate Railroad.

Roads and highways

Further information: List of Nebraska numbered highways

Public transit

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

Intercity bus service

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

Law and government

Main article: Government of Nebraska

The Government of Nebraska follows the rules set in the Nebraska Constitution, which was created in 1875. It has three parts: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Executive branch

Further information: Governor of Nebraska

The leader of Nebraska’s government is Governor Jim Pillen (Republican). He is in charge, as described in the fourth part of Nebraska’s Constitution. Other important leaders elected to help run the state include the Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, Secretary of State Bob Evnen, State Treasurer John Murante, and State Auditor Mike Foley. They all serve for four years.

Legislative branch

Nebraska is special because it has only one group of lawmakers, called a “single-house” legislature. This group is often called the “Unicameral.” Its members are called “senators,” and they are elected without any party name next to their names. Nebraska’s legislature makes and changes state laws. It can also override the governor’s decision to not sign a bill with a vote of three out of five.

Judicial branch

Further information: Courts of Nebraska

Nebraska’s court system is led by the Nebraska Supreme Court. Judges are chosen using the Missouri Plan for all levels, from small county courts to twelve bigger district courts. The Court of Appeals reviews decisions from these courts.

Federal representation

Nebraska’s two leaders in the U.S. Senate are Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts. The state also has three representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives: Mike Flood from the 1st district, Don Bacon from the 2nd district, and Adrian Smith from the 3rd district.

Politics

Further information: Political party strength in Nebraska

Nebraska has mostly voted for Republican leaders in elections. The state usually supports Republican candidates, but sometimes its votes are split. Nebraska is one of two states that can split its votes in presidential elections.

Education

Colleges and universities

See also: List of colleges and universities in Nebraska, List of high schools in Nebraska, and List of school districts in Nebraska

Culture

Arts

Museums

Main article: List of museums in Nebraska

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

Sports

Main article: Sports in Nebraska

Professional sports

Junior-level sports

College sports

Main article: List of college athletic programs in Nebraska

Nebraska has many schools that compete in sports. There are seven schools in the NCAA, eight in the NAIA, seven in the NJCAA, one in the NCCAA, and one independent school.

The College World Series, a big baseball tournament, has been held in Omaha since 1950. It was at Rosenblatt Stadium from 1950 to 2010 and now takes place at Charles Schwab Field Omaha since 2011.