Nebraska - 77,358 square miles, 37th state to enter the union in 1867.
State Motto: "Equality Before the Law".
State Flower: Goldenrod.

Nebraska was named from the Oto Indian word,"Nebrathka", meaning "flat water", which was the tribe name for the Platte River that crosses the entire state.

First residents of the state were Native Americans from tribes of the Omaha, Ponca, Oto, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Pawnee, and various branches of the Sioux tribe, including the Oglala, Brule, Yankton, Lakota, and Santee.

Nebraska's climate is varied and usually differs from east and west, especially in humidity, temperature, and precipitation. The terrain is mostly flat along the Platte River valley. Going north or south, one will find rolling hills and beautiful scenery.

Industries include tourism, agriculture, food processing, fertilizer, and oil and natural gas fields. The cities of Omaha and Lincoln are home to major insurance and telecommunication businesses. Sidney is home to Cabela's, seller of outdoor gear.

Outdoor recreation includes bicycling, bird watching, canoeing, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, and water sports.

The University of Nebraska Lincoln campus is home to the "Go Big Red" Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. Memorial stadium, the Husker home field, becomes the third-largest city in the state on football Saturdays. Campuses are located in Lincoln, Omaha, and Kearney, with the Medical Center being located in Omaha. The are many Agricultural Learning Centers across the state.

An old saying states that Nebraska has more water and sand than most states, they just aren't together! Nebraska is one of 8 states that sits atop the Ogallala Aquifer.

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Nebraska holds the exclusive distinction of:

• Having the only Unicameral legislature in the United States.
• Having the state capital building in Lincoln named one of the modern architectural wonders of the world.
• Having the largest gathering of migrating Sandhill Cranes in the world between Kearney and Grand Island each spring.
• Having the western hemisphere's largest area of sandhill grasses.
• Having an unusual natural formation, called Chimney Rock, a landmark for the travelers along the Oregon Trail.
• Being the home state of Arbor Day, an idea from J. Sterling Morgan of Nebraska City.
• Being the only state that lies entirely within the drainage system of the Missouri River.

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Nebraska is also home to these notable people and interesting attractions:

• Edward J. Flanagan - Founder of Boys Town in Omaha.
• Willa Cather - Noted author from Red Cloud.
• Standing Bear - Northeast Nebraska. Ponca Indian chief, symbol for Indian rights.
• William F. Cody - AKA "Buffalo Bill" from North Platte.
• Bess Streeter Aldrich - Author, lived in Elmwood and Lincoln.
• William Jennings Bryan - Author and presidential candidate, Lincoln.
• Red Cloud - Leader of Oglala Sioux, Garden County.
• Marie Sandoz - Novelist, Gordon.
• Henry Doorly Zoo - Omaha.
• Rosenblatt Stadium - Omaha, home of the College World Series.
• Carhenge - Alliance, a park with cars replicating the famous Stonehenge.