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Nebraska Facts

Nebraska Facts
The State of Nebraska is located in the mid-western United States. It shares state borders with Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota and Wyoming. Nebraska is the 16th largest state with 77,354 square miles. It is the 37th most populated state with approximately 1,868,516 residents and it is ranked the 43rd most densely populated state. For thousands of years prior to European settlement, Nebraska's region was inhabited by various Native tribes including Omaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Ponca and Missouria. The region was not heavily settled until after the California Gold Rush in 1848. Before becoming the 37th U.S. state in 1867, the State of Nebraska was known as Nebraska Territory.
Interesting Nebraska Facts:
The name Nebraska is derived from an Oto Indian word meaning 'flat water'. This is in reference to Platte River meaning 'flat river' in French.
Nebraska's state nickname is the Cornhusker State or the Tree Planters State.
The state motto for Nebraska is 'Equality before the law'.
Nebraska's state song is 'Beautiful Nebraska'.
Nebraska's state flag was adopted in 1925, featuring the state seal which was designed Isaac Wiles in 1867.
Nebraska's residents are referred to as Nebraskans.
Nebraska's capital city is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha.
Nebraska's state bird is the western meadowlark and its state insect is the honeybee.
The state mammal for Nebraska is the white-tailed deer and the state fish is the channel catfish.
Nebraska's state flower is the goldenrod and the state tree is the cottonwood.
Nebraska's state beverage is milk the state soft drink is Kool-Aid.
The state dance is the square dance.
Nebraska's major lakes include Lake C.W. McConaughty, Lake Harlan County Lake and Lewis and Clark Lake.
Nebraska's major rivers include Republican River, Platte River, Niobrara River and Missouri River.
Nebraska has 93 counties and 87 state parks.
Major agriculture in Nebraska includes sorghum, wheat, soybeans and corn.
Major industry in Nebraska includes grain processing, cattle, hogs, meat packing, electronic components, pharmaceuticals, mobile homes and auto accessories.
Former United States President Gerald Rudolph Ford was born in 1913 in Omaha. He served from 1974 to 1977 as the 38th U.S. President.
At one time Nebraska was known as the 'Great American Desert'.
Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins of Hastings, Nebraska in 1927.
Arbor Day was founded in Nebraska City in 1872.
The largest ammunition plant in World War II in the U.S. was the Naval Ammunition Depot in Hastings, Nebraska. It provided the military with 40% of its ammunition during the war.
The world's largest indoor rainforest is located in Omaha and is called the Lied Jungle.
Fremont, Nebraska is where Spam is canned.
Henry Fonda was given acting lessons at Omaha's Community Playhouse by Marlon Brando's mom.
The world's largest porch swing is located in Hebron, Nebraska. It can hold 25 adults.
North Platte, Nebraska was home to the Buffalo Bill Cody's very first rodeo in 1882.
The largest hand-planted forest in the world is located near Thedford, Nebraska and is called Halsey National Forest.
There are more miles of river in Nebraska than in any other U.S. state.


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