Nebraska

Nebraska is a landlocked state in the Midwestern United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north, Iowa and Missouri to the east, Kansas to the south, and Colorado and Wyoming to the west. The state sits on the Great Plains, with features such as the Platte River and the Sandhills. Its capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha. Nebraska’s nickname is the Cornhusker State and its motto is Equality Before the Law.

Indigenous peoples, including the Omaha and Santee Sioux, inhabited the region long before European contact. The Nebraska Territory was established in 1854, and the state was admitted to the Union in 1867 as the 37th state. Since 1937 Nebraska has had a unicameral, nonpartisan Legislature consisting of 49 senators; the city of Lincoln is the state capital.

The economy is rooted in agriculture, with corn, soybeans, and cattle as major drivers. The state also supports manufacturing, services, and energy production, notably wind power along the I-80 corridor. Nebraska’s population is about two million, with Omaha and Lincoln as the largest urban centers. The state is predominantly rural, with a growing urban economy and increasing racial and ethnic diversity.

Cultural life centers on collegiate athletics, especially football, and regional heritage. Notable sites include the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Chimney Rock National Historic Site, and Carhenge near Alliance. The University of Nebraska system, along with several public and private colleges, anchors higher education and research in the state.