Nebraska 21647 225881545 2008-07-15T21:02:30Z Rjwilmsi 203434 gen fixes + link/fix date fields in cite templates (explanation [[User:Rjwilmsi#My_correction_of_citation_templates|here]]) using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] <!-- Here is a table of data; skip past it to edit the text. --> {{Otheruses}} {{Infobox U.S. state | Name = Nebraska | Fullname = State of Nebraska | Flag = Flag of Nebraska.svg | Flaglink = [[Flag of Nebraska]] | Seal = Seal of Nebraska.svg | Map = Map of USA NE.svg| Nickname = Cornhusker State | Motto = Equality before the law | Capital = [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]] | OfficialLang = [[English language|English]] | Demonym = Nebraskan | LargestCity = [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]] | LargestMetro = [[Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area|Omaha-Council Bluffs]] | Governor = [[Dave Heineman]] (R)| Lieutenant Governor = [[Rick Sheehy]] (R) | Senators = [[Chuck Hagel]] (R)<br />[[Ben Nelson]] (D) | Representatives = [[Jeff Fortenberry]] (R)<br />[[Lee Terry]]<br />[[Adrian Smith]]| PostalAbbreviation = NE | AreaRank = 16<sup>th</sup> | TotalAreaUS = 77,421 | TotalArea = 200,520 | LandAreaUS = 76,873 | LandArea = 199,099 | WaterAreaUS = 481 | WaterArea = 1,247 | PCWater = 0.7 | PopRank = 38<sup>th</sup> | 2000Pop = 1,711,263 | DensityRank = 42<sup>nd</sup> | 2000DensityUS = 22.3 | 2000Density = 8.6 | MedianHouseholdIncome = $44,623 | IncomeRank = 20<sup>th</sup> | AdmittanceOrder = 37<sup>th</sup> | AdmittanceDate = [[March 1]], [[1867]] | TimeZone = [[Central Standard Time Zone|Central]]: [[UTC]]-6/[[Daylight saving time|-5]] | TZ1Where = most of state | TimeZone2 = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|Mountain]]: [[UTC]]-7/[[Daylight saving time|-6]] | TZ2Where = [[Nebraska Panhandle|panhandle]] | Latitude = 40° N to 43° N | Longitude = 95°&#8202;19' W to 104°&#8202;03' W | WidthUS = 210 | Width = 340 | LengthUS = 430 | Length = 690 | HighestPoint = [[Panorama Point]]<ref name=usgs>{{cite web| date =[[29 April]] [[2005]] | url =http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest| title =Elevations and Distances in the United States| publisher =U.S Geological Survey| accessmonthday = November 6 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> | HighestElevUS = 5,424 | HighestElev = 1,653 | MeanElevUS = 2,592 | MeanElev = 790 | LowestPoint = [[Missouri River]]<ref name=usgs /> | LowestElevUS = 840| LowestElev = 256 | ISOCode = US-NE | Website = www.nebraska.gov | }} '''Nebraska''' ({{IPAEng|nəˈbræskə}}) is a [[U.S. state|state]] located on the [[Great Plains]] of the [[Midwestern United States]]. Nebraska gets its name from a [[Chiwere language|Chiwere]] word meaning "flat water," after the [[Platte River]] that flows through the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spot.colorado.edu/~koontz/faq/etymology.htm |title=Etymology |accessdate=2006-11-28 |author=Koontz, John |work=Siouan Languages}}</ref> Once considered part of the [[Great American Desert]], it is now a leading [[agriculture|farming]] and [[agriculture|ranching]] state. The native peoples to be counted as "Cornhuskers" (the name given to Nebraska citizens) included the Iowas, Omahas, Missourias, Poncas, Pawnees, Otoes, and various branches of the Sioux. == History == {{mainarticle|History of Nebraska}} On [[May 30]], [[1854]], the [[Kansas-Nebraska Act]] created the [[Kansas Territory]] and the [[Nebraska Territory]], divided by the [[40th parallel north|Parallel 40° North]]. The territorial capital of Nebraska was [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]]. In the 1860s, the first great wave of [[Homestead Act|homesteader]]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]] because they found so few trees on the grassy land. Nebraska became the 37th state in 1867, shortly after the [[American Civil War]]. At that time, the capital was moved from [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]] to Lancaster, later renamed [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]] after the recently assassinated [[President of the United States]] [[Abraham Lincoln]]. The [[Arbor Day]] holiday began in Nebraska, and the [[National Arbor Day Foundation]] is still headquartered in [[Nebraska City, Nebraska|Nebraska City]]. Nebraska has a long history of [[Civil Rights Movement in Omaha, Nebraska|civil rights activism]], starting in 1912 with the foundation of Omaha's [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] chapter. == Geography == {{see|List of counties in Nebraska|List of Nebraska rivers}} 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. 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. The state has [[List of counties in Nebraska|93 counties]]; it occupies the central portion of the [[Frontier Strip]]. Three rivers cross the state from east to west. The [[Platte River]] runs through the heart, the [[Niobrara River]] flows through the northern part of the state's region, and the [[Republican River]] traverses through the southern part of the state. Nebraska is composed of two major land regions: the [[Dissected Till Plains]] and the [[Great Plains]]. The easternmost portion of the state was scoured by [[Ice Age]] [[glacier]]s; the Dissected Till Plains were left behind after the glaciers retreated. The Dissected Till Plains is a region of gently rolling hills; [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]] and [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]] 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 (Nebraska)|Sandhills]], the [[Pine Ridge (region)|Pine Ridge]], the [[Rainwater Basin]], the [[High Plains (United States)|High Plains]] and the [[Wildcat Hills]]. [[Panorama Point]], 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. [[Image:Nebraska.JPG|thumb|Nebraska state welcome sign]] A past Nebraska [[tourism]] 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 west|100th meridian]], and [[Chimney Rock National Historic Site|Chimney Rock]]. Nebraska, a [[doubly landlocked]] state, claims to have more miles of river than any other state. ===Highest elevations=== #[[Panorama Point]] #[[Hogback Mountain (Nebraska)|Hogback Mountain]] #[[Mount Edna]] #[[Lovers Leap Butte]] #[[Table Top Mountain]] #[[Lone Pine Butte]] #[[Gabe Rock]] #[[Pants Butte]] #[[Eagle Nest (Nebraska)|Eagle Nest]] #[[Wildcat Hills]] #[[Squaw Mound]] #[[The Hat (mountain)|The Hat]] #[[Bighorn Mountain]] #[[Chalk Buttes]] ===Federal land management=== Areas under the management of the [[National Park Service]] include: *[[Agate Fossil Beds National Monument]] near [[Harrison, Nebraska|Harrison]] *[[California National Historic Trail]] *[[Chimney Rock National Historic Site]] near [[Bayard, Nebraska|Bayard]] *[[Homestead National Monument of America]] in [[Beatrice, Nebraska|Beatrice]] *[[Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail]] *[[Missouri National Recreational River]] near [[Ponca, Nebraska|Ponca]] *[[Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail]] *[[Niobrara National Scenic River]] near [[Valentine, Nebraska|Valentine]] *[[Oregon National Historic Trail]] *[[Pony Express National Historic Trail]] *[[Scotts Bluff National Monument]] at [[Gering, Nebraska|Gering]] Areas under the management of the [[National Forest Service]] include: *[[Nebraska National Forest]] *[[Oglala National Grassland]] *[[Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest]] ===Climate=== Two major [[climate]]s are represented in Nebraska: the eastern half of the state has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Koppen climate classification]] ''Dfa''), and the western half of the state has a [[semi-arid]] continental [[steppe]] climate (Koppen ''BSk''). The entire state experiences wide seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation. Average temperatures are fairly uniform across Nebraska, while average annual precipitation decreases west to east from about 31.5 [[inch]]es (800&nbsp;[[metre|mm]]) in the southeast corner of the state to about 13.8 inches (350&nbsp;mm) in the [[Nebraska Panhandle|Panhandle]]. Snowfall across the state is fairly even, with most of Nebraska receiving between 25 and 35 inches (650 to 900&nbsp;mm) of snow annually. [http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/products/atlas.html] [[Image:National-atlas-nebraska.PNG|thumb|Map of Nebraska]] Nebraska is located in [[Tornado Alley]]; [[thunderstorm]]s are common in the spring and summer months. The [[chinook wind]]s from the [[Rocky Mountains]] provide a temporary moderating effect on temperatures in western Nebraska during the winter months. [http://www.nebraskaclimateoffice.unl.edu/weather.summary.Dec99], [http://www.tcdne.org/climate.htm] <!-- Removed; this is not really relevant to the state as a whole. Monthly temperature and precipitation data for two cities in Nebraska are shown in the tables below ([http://www.nebraskaclimateoffice.unl.edu/normals.htm source]): {| class="wikitable" align="left" |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" ! colspan="5" | [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]] |- ! rowspan="2" | Month ! colspan="3" | Temperature ! rowspan="2" | Precipitation |- ! Mean !! Maximum !! Minimum |- | January || -5.9 °C (21.3 °F) || 0.2 °C (32.4 °F) || -12.2 °C (10.1 °F) || 14 mm (0.54 in) |- | February || -3.0 °C (26.6 °F) || 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) || -9.4 °C (15.1 °F) || 18 mm (0.72 in) |- | March || 3.7 °C (38.6 °F) || 10.2 °C (50.3 °F) || -2.9 °C (26.8 °F) || 53 mm (2.09 in) |- | April || 10.9 °C (51.7 °F) || 18.0 °C (64.4 °F) || 3.8 °C (38.9 °F) || 70 mm (2.76 in) |- | May || 16.7 °C (62.1 °F) || 23.4 °C (74.2 °F) || 10.0 °C (50.0 °F) || 99 mm (3.90 in) |- | June || 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) || 29.3 °C (84.7 °F) || 15.7 °C (60.2 °F) || 99 mm (3.89 in) |- | July || 25.7 °C (78.2 °F) || 32.2 °C (90.0 °F) || 19.1 °C (66.3 °F) || 81 mm (3.20 in) |- | August || 23.9 °C (75.0 °F) || 30.4 °C (86.7 °F) || 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) || 87 mm (3.41 in) |- | September || 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) || 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) || 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) || 88 mm (3.48 in) |- | October || 12.0 °C (53.6 °F) || 19.3 °C (66.7 °F) || 4.7 °C (40.5 °F) || 54 mm (2.12 in) |- | November || 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) || 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) || -2.6 °C (27.3 °F) || 32 mm (1.27 in) |- | December || -3.6 °C (25.6 °F) || 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) || -9.2 °C (15.4 °F) || 22 mm (0.88 in) |- | '''Annual''' || '''10.5 °C (50.9 °F)''' || '''17.0 °C (62.7 °F)''' || '''3.9 °C (39.0 °F)''' || '''718 mm (28.26 in)''' |} <br clear="all"> {| class="wikitable" align="left" |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" ! colspan="5" | [[Scottsbluff, Nebraska|Scottsbluff]] |- ! rowspan="2" | Month ! colspan="3" | Temperature ! rowspan="2" | Precipitation |- ! Mean !! Maximum !! Minimum |- | January || -3.9 °C (24.9 °F) || 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) || -11.2 °C (11.8 °F) || 13 mm (0.50 in) |- | February || -1.0 °C (30.2 °F) || 6.4 °C (43.6 °F) || -8.4 °C (16.8 °F) || 12 mm (0.47 in) |- | March || 2.3 °C (36.2 °F) || 10.2 °C (50.3 °F) || -5.5 °C (22.1 °F) || 28 mm (1.09 in) |- | April || 8.1 °C (46.5 °F) || 16.3 °C (61.4 °F) || -0.3 °C (31.5 °F) || 40 mm (1.58 in) |- | May || 13.6 °C (56.4 °F) || 21.6 °C (70.9 °F) || 5.4 °C (41.8 °F) || 70 mm (2.77 in) |- | June || 19.6 °C (67.3 °F) || 27.8 °C (82.0 °F) || 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) || 67 mm (2.64 in) |- | July || 23.4 °C (74.2 °F) || 32.1 °C (89.7 °F) || 14.8 °C (58.7 °F) || 52 mm (2.06 in) |- | August || 22.0 °C (71.6 °F) || 30.7 °C (87.2 °F) || 13.3 °C (56.0 °F) || 27 mm (1.07 in) |- | September || 16.3 °C (61.4 °F) || 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) || 7.5 °C (45.6 °F) || 28 mm (1.10 in) |- | October || 9.8 °C (49.6 °F) || 18.6 °C (65.5 °F) || 0.9 °C (33.7 °F) || 21 mm (0.81 in) |- | November || 2.4 °C (36.3 °F) || 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) || -5.3 °C (22.4 °F) || 16 mm (0.62 in) |- | December || -3.2 °C (26.2 °F) || 4.2 °C (39.5 °F) || -10.6 °C (12.9 °F) || 14 mm (0.56 in) |- | '''Annual''' || '''9.2 °C (48.5 °F)''' || '''17.2 °C (63.0 °F)''' || '''1.1 °C (33.9 °F)''' || '''388 mm (15.27 in)''' |} <br clear="all"> --> == Demographics == {{USCensusPop |1860 = 28841 |1870 = 122993 |1880 = 452402 |1890 = 1062656 |1900 = 1066300 |1910 = 1192214 |1920 = 1296372 |1930 = 1377963 |1940 = 1315834 |1950 = 1325510 |1960 = 1411330 |1970 = 1483493 |1980 = 1569825 |1990 = 1578385 |2000 = 1711263 |estyear = 2007 |estimate = 1774571 }} As of 2007, Nebraska has an estimated population of 1,774,571, which is an increase of 10,806, or 0.6%, from the prior year and an increase of 63,306, or 3.7%, 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 to the United States|Immigration]] 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.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.census.gov/popest/states/tables/NST-EST2007-04.csv |title=Cumulative Estimates of the Components of Population Change for the United States, Regions, and States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (NST-EST2007-04) |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| format=[[Comma-separated values|CSV]] |date=2007-12-27| accessdate=2007-12-27}}</ref> The [[center of population]] of Nebraska is located in [[Polk County, Nebraska|Polk County]], in the city of [[Shelby, Nebraska|Shelby]] [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt]. As of 2004, the population of Nebraska included about 84,000 foreign-born residents (4.8% of the population). {{US Demographics}} The five largest ancestry groups in Nebraska are [[Germans|German]] (38.6%), [[Irish American|Irish]] (12.4%), [[English American|English]] (9.6%), [[Swedish American|Swedish]] (4.9%), and [[Czech people|Czech]] (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, Nebraska|Thurston County]] (made up entirely of the [[Omaha (tribe)|Omaha]] and [[Winnebago (tribe)|Winnebago]] reservations) has a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] majority, and [[Butler County, Nebraska|Butler County]] is one of only two counties in the nation with a Czech-American plurality. ===Rural flight=== [[Image:Nebraska population map.png|right|thumb|400px|Population density of Nebraska]] Eighty-nine percent of the cities in Nebraska have fewer than 3,000 people. Nebraska shares this characteristic with five other Midwest states ([[Kansas]], [[Oklahoma]], [[North Dakota|North]] and [[South Dakota]], and [[Iowa]]). 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, Nebraska|Frontier County]]) to a 17.04% loss ([[Hitchcock County, Nebraska|Hitchcock County]]). 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, Nebraska|Elkhorn]]) 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: *[[Christianity|Christian]] – 90% **[[Protestantism|Protestant]] – 61% ***[[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] – 16% ***[[Methodism|Methodist]] – 11% ***[[Baptist]] – 9% ***[[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] – 4% ***Other Protestant – 21% **[[Roman Catholicism in the United States|Roman Catholic]] – 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]] 128,570, the [[Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod]] 117,419 and the [[United Methodist Church]] 117,277[http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/state/31_2000.asp]. == Economy == [[Image:Nebraska quarter, reverse side, 2006.jpg|left|50px]] The [http://www.bea.gov/ Bureau of Economic Analysis] 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]] sector, and is an important producer of [[beef]], [[pork]], [[maize|corn (maize)]], and [[soybean]]s.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Ag_Overview/AgOverview_NE.pdf |title=Nebraska State Agriculture Overview - 2006 |accessdate=2007-10-17 |format=PDF |publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]] }}</ref> Other important economic sectors include [[freight]] [[transport]] (by [[Rail transport|rail]] and [[truck]]), [[manufacturing]], [[telecommunications]], [[information technology]], and [[insurance]]. Nebraska has four personal [[income tax]] brackets, ranging from 2.56% to 6.84%. Nebraska has a state [[sales 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, Nebraska|Dakota County]], levies a sales tax. All [[real property]] 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]] is collected at the county level. ===Industry=== [[Kool-Aid]] was created in 1927 by [[Edwin Perkins]] in the city of [[Hastings, Nebraska|Hastings]], which celebrates the event the second weekend of every August with [http://www.kool-aiddays.com Kool-Aid Days]. Kool-Aid is the official soft drink of Nebraska.<ref>[http://www.hastingsmuseum.org/koolaid/kahistory.htm History: Kool-Aid: Hastings Museum<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[CliffsNotes]] were invented in [[Rising City, Nebraska|Rising City]], Nebraska by [[Clifton Hillegass]]. His pamphlets were based on the original [[Canada|Canadian]] idea, "[[Coles (bookstore)|Coles Notes]]." Omaha is home to [[Berkshire Hathaway]], whose CEO [[Warren Buffett]] was ranked in March 2008 by Forbes magazine as the [[List of billionaires (2008)|richest person in the world]]. This city is also home to [[InfoUSA]], [[TD Ameritrade]], [[West Corporation]], [[Valmont Industries]], [[Woodmen of the World]], Kiewit Corporation, and [[Union Pacific Railroad]]. [[Ameritas Life Insurance Company|UNIFI Companies]], [[Sandhills Publishing Company]] and Duncan Aviation reside in Lincoln while [[Buckle (store)|The Buckle]] is based out of Kearney. Sidney is the national headquarters for [[Cabela's]], a specialty retailer of outdoor goods. The world's largest train yard, [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]]'s [[Bailey Yard]], is located in [[North Platte, Nebraska|North Platte]]. The [[Pliers|Vise-Grip]] was invented and is still manufactured in [[De Witt, Nebraska|De Witt]]. [[Memorial Stadium, Lincoln|Memorial Stadium]] on the [[University of Nebraska]] campus in [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]] 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]] payout was on [[February 18]] [[2006]]. It was $365 million and was split 8 ways by workers from a Lincoln [[food]] plant operated by [[ConAgra]]. == Transportation == === Railroads === {{further|[[List of Nebraska railroads]]}} Nebraska has a rich railroad history. The [[Union Pacific Railroad]], headquartered in Omaha, was incorporated on [[July 1]], [[1862]], in the wake of the [[Pacific Railway Acts|Pacific Railway Act of 1862]]. The route of the [[First Transcontinental Railroad|original transcontinental railroad]] runs through the state. Other major railroads with operations in the state are: [[Amtrak]]; [[BNSF Railway]]; [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]; and [[Iowa Interstate Railroad]]. === Roads and highways === {{further|[[List of Nebraska numbered highways]]}} <center> '''[[Interstate Highway]]s through the State of Nebraska''' <br/> {{Click-Inline|image=I-76.svg|link=Interstate 76 (west)|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=I-80.svg|link=Interstate 80|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=I-129.svg|link=Interstate 129|width=55px}} {{Click-Inline|image=I-180.svg|link=Interstate 180 (Nebraska)|width=55px}} {{Click-Inline|image=I-480.svg|link=Interstate 480 (Iowa-Nebraska)|width=55px}} {{Click-Inline|image=I-680.svg|link=Interstate 680 (Iowa-Nebraska)|width=55px}} <br/> '''The [[U.S. Route system|U.S. Routes]] in Nebraska''' <br/> {{Click-Inline|image=US 6.svg|link=U.S. Route 6|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 20.svg|link=U.S. Route 20|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 26.svg|link=U.S. Route 26|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 30.svg|link=U.S. Route 30|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 34.svg|link=U.S. Route 34|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 73.svg|link=U.S. Route 73|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 75.svg|link=U.S. Route 75|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 77.svg|link=U.S. Route 77|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 81.svg|link=U.S. Route 81|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 83.svg|link=U.S. Route 83|width=44px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 136.svg|link=U.S. Route 136|width=55px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 138.svg|link=U.S. Route 138|width=55px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 159.svg|link=U.S. Route 159|width=55px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 183.svg|link=U.S. Route 183|width=55px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 275.svg|link=U.S. Route 275|width=55px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 281.svg|link=U.S. Route 281|width=55px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 283.svg|link=U.S. Route 283|width=55px}} {{Click-Inline|image=US 385.svg|link=U.S. Route 385|width=55px}} </center> == Law and government == {{wikisourcepar|Nebraska Constitution}} Nebraska's government operates under the framework of the Nebraska Constitution, adopted in 1875 and is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. {{further|[[Governor of Nebraska]]}} The head of the executive branch is the [[List of Governors of Nebraska|Governor]] [[Dave Heineman]]. Other elected officials in the executive branch are the [[Lieutenant Governor]] [[Rick Sheehy]] (elected on the same ticket as the Governor), [[Nebraska Attorney General|Attorney General]] [[Jon Bruning]], [[Secretary of State]] [[John A. Gale]], [[State Treasurer]] [[Shane Osborn]], and [[State Auditor]] [[Mike Foley]]. All elected officials in the executive branch serve four-year terms. {{further|[[Nebraska Legislature]] and [[Nebraska State Capitol]]}} Nebraska is the only state in the [[United States]] with a [[unicameral]] legislature; that is, a legislature with only one house. Although this house is officially known simply as the "[[Nebraska Legislature|Legislature]]", and more commonly called the "Unicameral", its members still call themselves "senators". Nebraska's Legislature is also the only [[State legislature (United States)|state legislature]] in the United States that is [[nonpartisan system|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]] meets in the third [[Nebraska State Capitol]] building, built between 1922 and 1932. {{US state insignia | Name = Nebraska | Motto = ''Equality Before the Law'' | Slogan = ''Nebraska, possibilities...endless'' | Bird = [[Western meadowlark]] | Animal = [[White-tailed deer]] | Fish = [[Channel catfish]] | Insect = [[Western honey bee|European honey bee]] | Flower = [[Goldenrod]] | Tree = [[Cottonwood]] | River = [[Platte River]] | Song = "[[Beautiful Nebraska]]" | Fossil = [[Mammoth]] | Dance = [[Square dance]] | Gemstone = [[Chalcedony|Blue agate]] | Rock = [[Agate|Prairie agate]] | Grass = [[Little bluestem]] | Soil = [[Holdrege series]] | Beverage = [[Milk]] | Soft Drink = [[Kool-aid]] | Quarter = Nebraska quarter, reverse side, 2006.jpg | QuarterReleaseDate = Released [[April 7]], [[2006]] }} For years, [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] [[George Norris]] and other Nebraskans encouraged the idea of a unicameral legislature, and demanded the issue be decided in a [[referendum]]. Norris argued: {{cquote|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 a [[bicameralism|bicameral]] 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]], 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." {{further|[[Nebraska Supreme Court]]}} The judicial system in Nebraska is unified, with the [[Nebraska Supreme Court]] having administrative authority over all Nebraska courts. Nebraska uses the [[Missouri Plan]] 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 [[Nebraska State Court of Appeals|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 [[death penalty|abolition]] of, capital punishment. === Federal government representation === [[Image:DSCN5022 nebraskacapitolwithfountain e.jpg|right|thumb|150px|The [[Nebraska State Capitol]] in [[Lincoln, Nebraska]]]] {{further|[[U.S. Congressional Delegations from Nebraska]]}} Nebraska's [[United States Senate|U.S. senators]] are [[Chuck Hagel]] (R) and [[Ben Nelson]] (D). Nebraska has three representatives in the [[United States House of Representatives|House]]. They are: [[Jeff Fortenberry]] (R, [[United States House of Representatives, Nebraska District 1|NE-1]]); [[Lee Terry]] (R, [[United States House of Representatives, Nebraska District 2|NE-2]]); and [[Adrian M. Smith|Adrian Smith]] (R, [[United States House of Representatives, Nebraska District 3|NE-3]]). Nebraska is one of two states (the other being [[Maine]]) that allow for a split in the electoral vote. Since 1991, two of Nebraska's five [[U.S. Electoral College|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. Although possible, a split in the electoral vote has not occurred in any election. === Nebraska politics === {{further|[[United States presidential election, 2004, in Nebraska]], [[Nebraska gubernatorial election, 2006]] and [[Nebraska United States Senate election, 2006]]}} For most of its history, Nebraska has been a solidly [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] state. Republicans have carried the state in all but one presidential election since 1940&mdash;the 1964 landslide election of [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. In the [[U.S. presidential election, 2004|2004 presidential election]], [[George W. Bush]] 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, Nebraska|Thurston County]], which includes two American [[Indian reservation]]s, voted for [[John Kerry]]. 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]], and [[Bob Kerrey]]. This tradition is illustrated by Nebraska's current senators: [[Chuck Hagel]] is considered a maverick within his party, while [[Ben Nelson]] is arguably one of the most [[conservative]] members of his party in the Senate. ==Important cities and towns== All population figures are 2006 [[United States Census Bureau|Census Bureau]] estimates. === Largest cities === [[Image:OmahaNE Downtown.jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[Downtown Omaha]]]] [[Image:Lincoln ne skyline.JPG|right|thumb|150px|Downtown Lincoln]] {|- !align="left"|100,000+ population !align="left" colspan="2"|10,000+ population |- |valign=top| *[[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]] - 427,872 *[[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]] - 241,167 |valign=top| *[[Bellevue, Nebraska|Bellevue]] - 47,594 *[[Grand Island, Nebraska|Grand Island]] - 44,632 *[[Kearney, Nebraska|Kearney]] - 29,385 *[[Fremont, Nebraska|Fremont]] - 25,417 *[[Hastings, Nebraska|Hastings]] - 25,144 *[[North Platte, Nebraska|North Platte]] - 24,386 *[[Norfolk, Nebraska|Norfolk]] - 23,896 |valign=top| *[[Columbus, Nebraska|Columbus]] - 21,414 *[[Papillion, Nebraska|Papillion]] - 21,271 *[[La Vista, Nebraska|La Vista]] - 16,041 *[[Scottsbluff, Nebraska|Scottsbluff]] - 14,738 *[[Beatrice, Nebraska|Beatrice]] - 12,921 *[[South Sioux City, Nebraska|South Sioux City]] - 12,137 *[[Lexington, Nebraska|Lexington]] - 10,251 |} === Urban areas === {|- !align="left"|[[Metropolitan area]]s !align="left" colspan="2"|[[Micropolitan]] areas |- |valign=top| *[[Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area|Omaha-Council Bluffs]] - 700,991 (Nebraska portion); 822,549 (total for Nebraska and Iowa) *[[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]] - 283,970 *[[Sioux City, Iowa]] - 26,757 (Nebraska portion); 143,474 (total for Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota) |valign=top| *[[Grand Island, Nebraska|Grand Island]] - 70,245 *[[Kearney, Nebraska|Kearney]] - 50,655 *[[Norfolk, Nebraska|Norfolk]] - 49,413 *[[Hastings, Nebraska|Hastings]] - 39,749 *[[Scottsbluff, Nebraska|Scottsbluff]] - 37,329 |valign=top| *[[North Platte, Nebraska|North Platte]] - 37,111 *[[Fremont, Nebraska|Fremont]] - 36,171 *[[Columbus, Nebraska|Columbus]] - 31,962 *[[Lexington, Nebraska|Lexington]] - 26,996 *[[Beatrice, Nebraska|Beatrice]] - 23,365 |} '''Other areas''' *Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney comprise the “[[Tri-Cities]]” area. *The northeast corner of Nebraska is part of the [[Siouxland]] region. *The majority of Nebraska's land is not urban but rural. == Education == === Colleges and universities === <table><tr><td valign=top> '''[[University of Nebraska system]]''' * [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]] * [[University of Nebraska at Kearney]] * [[University of Nebraska at Omaha]] * [[University of Nebraska Medical Center]] * [[Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture]] '''[[Nebraska State College System]]''' * [[Chadron State College]] * [[Peru State College]] * [[Wayne State College]] </td><td valign=top> '''Private colleges/universities''' * [[Bellevue University]] * [[Clarkson College]] * [[College of Saint Mary]] * [[Concordia University, Seward|Concordia University]] * [[Creighton University]] * [[Dana College]] * [[Doane College]] * [[Grace University]] * [[Hastings College]] * [[Midland Lutheran College]] * [[Nebraska Christian College]] * [[Nebraska Methodist College]] * [[Nebraska Wesleyan University]] * [[Summit Christian College]] * [[Union College of Lincoln|Union College]] * [[York College (Nebraska)|York College]] </td><td valign=top> '''[[Nebraska Community College Association]]''' * [[Central Community College]] * [[Little Priest Tribal College]] * [[Metropolitan Community College (Omaha)|Metropolitan Community College]] * [[Mid-Plains Community College]] * [[Nebraska Indian Community College]] * [[Northeast Community College]] * [[Southeast Community College]] * [[Western Nebraska Community College]] </td></tr></table> {{see|Colleges and universities of Omaha, Nebraska}} ==Culture== [[Arbor Day]] was founded by [[J. Sterling Morton]]. The [[National Arbor Day Foundation]] has its headquarters near his home in [[Nebraska City]]. The swing in the [[Hebron, Nebraska]] city park at 5th and Jefferson streets is claimed to be the world's largest porch swing, long enough to fit 18 adults or 24 children. Nebraska Cornhusker football influences many of Nebraska's residents. On sell out Saturday football game days, [[Memorial Stadium, Lincoln]] with a capacity of 85,500 becomes Nebraska's 3rd Largest city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1128181/index.htm |title=Nebraska Lost, Nebraska Found |publisher=Sports Illustrated |accessdate=2008-05-01}}</ref> ===Sports=== {{further|[[Sports in Nebraska]]}} * [[Professional sports]] ** [[Lincoln Saltdogs]] &ndash; [[American Association of Independent Professional Baseball|American Association]] (independent [[minor league baseball]]) ** [[Omaha Beef]] &ndash; [[United Indoor Football]] ** [[Omaha Royals]] &ndash; [[Pacific Coast League]] (AAA [[minor league baseball]]; affiliate of the [[Kansas City Royals]]) * [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[Division I]] college sports ** [[Creighton Bluejays]] ** [[Nebraska Cornhuskers]] ** [[University of Nebraska at Omaha]] (the Mavericks Hockey Team is Division I, all other sports are Division II.) *[[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[Division II]] college sports<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/d2/alpha.html |title=NCAA Division II Home Page |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |accessdate=2007-08-30}}</ref> ** [[University of Nebraska at Kearney]] Lopers ** [[University of Nebraska at Omaha]] Mavericks (the Mavericks Hockey Team is Division I, all other sports are Division II.) ** [[Wayne State College]] Wildcats ** [[Chadron State College]] Eagles * Junior-level sports ** [[Lincoln Stars]] &ndash; [[United States Hockey League]] ** [[Omaha Lancers]] &ndash; United States Hockey League (home games played in [[Council Bluffs, Iowa]]) ** [[Tri-City Storm]] &ndash; United States Hockey League ==See also== *[[List of Nebraska-related topics]] {{portal|Nebraska|Flag of Nebraska.svg|left=yes}} {{clear}} <!-- Please place links to all topics directly related to the State of Nebraska in the [[List of Nebraska-related topics]] --> ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==Bibliography== {{refbegin}} ===Surveys=== * <cite>Chokecherry Places, Essays from the High Plains</cite>, Merrill Gilfillan, Johnson Press, Boulder, Colorado, trade paperback, ISBN 1-55566-227-7. * [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=28579910 Olson James C. and Ronald C. Naugle ''History of Nebraska'' 2nd ed (1997)] * [http://www.kancoll.org/books/andreas_ne/ Andreas, Alfred T. ''History of the State of Nebraska'' (1882] 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). * [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=51597481 Miewald, Robert D. ''Nebraska Government & Politics'' (1984)] * 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. * [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=89553965 Cherny, Robert W. ''Populism, Progressivism, and the Transformation of Nebraska Politics, 1885-1915'' (1981)] * 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 * [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=105476144 Coletta, Paolo E. ''William Jennings Bryan''.] 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. {{refend}} ==External links== {{sisterlinks}} *[http://www.nebraska.gov/ Nebraska state government] *[http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php/Nebraska Nebraska State Databases] - Annotated list of searchable databases produced by Nebraska state agencies and compiled by the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association. *[http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=NE Energy Profile for Nebraska] *[http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=NE USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Nebraska] *[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31000.html U.S. Census Bureau] *[http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/NE.htm Nebraska State Facts] *[http://www.rootsweb.com/~neresour/andreas/ Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska] *[http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/bestofweb/NEfaq.html Nebraska Frequently Asked Questions] *[http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/docs/pilot/pilot.html Nebraska State Publications Online] *[http://www.city-data.com/city/Nebraska.html Nebraska city-data] *[http://www.nebraskastudies.org nebraskastudies.org] - History of Nebraska from Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska State Historical Society, and NET {{-}} {{Nebraska|expand}} {{United States}} {{US Midwest}} {{coor title d|41.5|N|100|W|region:US-NE_type:state}} [[Category:Nebraska| ]] [[Category:States of the United States]] [[Category:1867 establishments]] [[af:Nebraska]] [[ang:Nebraska]] [[ar:نبراسكا]] [[frp:Nebraska]] [[ast:Nebraska]] [[az:Nebraska]] [[bn:নেব্রাস্কা]] [[zh-min-nan:Nebraska]] [[be:Штат Небраска]] [[bs:Nebraska]] [[br:Nebraska]] [[bg:Небраска]] [[ca:Nebraska]] [[cv:Небраска]] [[cs:Nebraska]] [[co:Nebraska]] [[cy:Nebraska]] [[da:Nebraska]] [[de:Nebraska]] [[et:Nebraska]] [[el:Νεμπράσκα]] [[es:Nebraska]] [[eo:Nebrasko]] [[eu:Nebraska]] [[fa:نبراسکا]] [[fo:Nebraska]] [[fr:Nebraska]] [[fy:Nebraska]] [[ga:Nebraska]] [[gv:Nebraska]] [[gd:Nebraska]] [[gl:Nebrasca]] [[ko:네브래스카 주]] [[haw:Nepalaka]] [[hy:Նեբրասկա]] [[hi:नेब्रास्का]] [[hr:Nebraska]] [[io:Nebraska]] [[bpy:নেব্রাস্কা]] [[id:Nebraska]] [[ik:Nebraska]] [[os:Небраскæ]] [[is:Nebraska]] [[it:Nebraska]] [[he:נברסקה]] [[pam:Nebraska]] [[ka:ნებრასკა]] [[ks:नेब्रास्‍का]] [[kw:Nebraska]] [[sw:Nebraska]] [[ht:Nebraska]] [[ku:Nebraska]] [[lad:Nebraska]] [[la:Nebrasca]] [[lv:Nebraska]] [[lt:Nebraska]] [[lij:Nebraska]] [[hu:Nebraska]] [[mk:Небраска]] [[mi:Nebraska]] [[mr:नेब्रास्का]] [[ms:Nebraska]] [[nl:Nebraska]] [[ja:ネブラスカ州]] [[no:Nebraska]] [[nn:Nebraska]] [[oc:Nebraska]] [[uz:Nebraska]] [[pms:Nebraska]] [[nds:Nebraska]] [[pl:Nebraska]] [[pt:Nebraska]] [[ro:Nebraska (stat SUA)]] [[ru:Небраска]] [[sa:नेब्रास्‍का]] [[sq:Nebraska]] [[scn:Nebraska]] [[simple:Nebraska]] [[sk:Nebraska]] [[sl:Nebraska]] [[sr:Небраска]] [[fi:Nebraska]] [[sv:Nebraska]] [[ta:நெப்ராஸ்கா]] [[th:มลรัฐเนแบรสกา]] [[vi:Nebraska]] [[tr:Nebraska]] [[uk:Небраска]] [[ur:نیبراسکا]] [[vec:Nebraska]] [[vo:Nebraska]] [[yi:נעבראסקא]] [[diq:Nebraska]] [[bat-smg:Nebraska]] [[zh:內布拉斯加州]]