ENCYCLOPÆDIA Britannica DISCOVER AMERICA Nebraska The Cornhusker State CHICAGO LONDON NEW DELHI PARIS SEOUL SYDNEY TAIPEI TOKYO
4 NEBRASKA INTRODUCTION Nebraska is a state of treeless prairies fertile croplands and grassy rolling plains It lies halfway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans The Platte River flows across the state offering its waters for irrigation recreation and the production of hydroelectric power The Platte’s broad valley is an important transportation corridor linking eastern and western Nebraska It has provided a path for thousands of travelers throughout history The river is also indirectly responsible for the state’s name The Oto who were among the first Native Americans to live in the area named the Platte River Nebrathka which means flat water Nebraska is nicknamed the Cornhusker State after its main agricultural crop Corn harvesting and the removal of husks were once done by Nebraska’s Platte River is one source of irrigation water for the state’s farms hand Large cornfields wheat fields and vast grazing lands have earned Nebraska the reputation as one of the world’s best farming regions The capital of Nebraska is Lincoln Nebraska covers an area of 77,359 square miles Nebraska became the 37th state in the Union on March 1 1867 Corn grows on more than 8 million acres of land in Nebraska
INTRODUCTION 5 Nebraska is bordered by six other states South Dakota is to the north of Nebraska while Iowa and Missouri are to the east Kansas lies to the south and Colorado and Wyoming are to the west The Missouri River forms Nebraska’s entire eastern border and part of its northern border Nebraska’s central location makes it easy to reach by roadways It is within a one-day drive of many major cities including Chicago St Louis Kansas City Minneapolis Denver and Salt Lake City Interstate 80 an east west route running across Nebraska is one of the state’s busiest highways Several railroads carry freight through the state and passenger trains serve the larger cities Nebraska’s busiest public airports are in Omaha Lincoln and Grand Island Nebraska Location Map Capital Lincoln 0 0 Interstate highways 35 70 56 112 Mi Km Scale Population 1,711,263 Size 77,359 square miles Highest point Kimball County 5,424 feet More than 3 million passengers use the Omaha Airport every year With about 1 7 million people Nebraska ranks as the 38th state in population The state song is Beautiful Nebraska Every stream and river in Nebraska eventually drains into the Missouri River
