Abbreviated as NE on abbreviationfinder.org, Nebraska is one of the states of the North American Confederation, the 15th by surface; it borders north with South Dakota, west with Wyoming and Colorado, south with Kansas, east with Iowa and Missouri. Only towards east is the border natural, indicated by the course of the Missouri. Its surface is of 200.791 kmq.; overall, Nebraska is a transition region between the vast Mississippi plain and the western mountainous area; the south-eastern section, along the Missouri, is located below 300 meters above sea level, while proceeding towards the W, gradually climbs up to over 1200 meters. in the part in contact with Wyoming.
More than half of the state, in the eastern part, is covered by layers of löss of great production power from the cereal point of view. The central-western section, with an area of about 47,000 sq. Km., Is superficially made up of sandy soil, widespread above all in the vast semi-arid region to the north of the Platte river. In the western extremity there are the high lands, broken here and there by deep cañones. The area of bad lands (Bad Lands, now called Pierre Shale Hills), which occupies an area of 2600 sq km, can be made productive through irrigation and dry farming.
From the climatic point of view, Nebraska has quite accentuated steppe-continental characteristics: overall it has an average annual temperature of 9 ° -10 °, with cold winters (January – 5 °), hot summers (July 23 °, 7) : the trend of temperatures takes on a marked continental character especially in the highest western section (Hay Springs, January – 6 °, 6; July 21 °, 6). Precipitation is around 590 mm overall. per year, 80% distributed from April to September; but while the eastern counties are well supplied with rains (Auburn 892 mm.; Omaha 770; Tekamah 800), as one proceeds westwards the region becomes semi-arid (Oakdale 602 mm.; North Platte 450; Kimball, at the O. end, 372 mm. only).
The hydrography is characterized by wide river arteries parallel to each other: at N. il Niobrara, a tributary of the Missouri; in the center the Platte, formed by the North and South Platte, with many important tributaries including the Loup River; to south the Republican River, a tributary of Kansas. All rivers have a prevailing direction from west to east, according to the general slope of the territory.
The state is predominantly agricultural. In relation to the geological and climatic conditions, irrigation is of great importance; in 1930 the irrigated area was 215,550 hectares, distributed mainly along the Platte River and tributaries (94% of the total irrigated area). The main cultivation is that of maize, with an area of 3-4 million hectares and an annual production of 70-80 million hectoliters. Wheat and oats follow in terms of surface and crop importance. The production of sugar beet has increased considerably, reaching one million tons in recent years. The cultivation of alpha has assumed great importance, for which Nebraska occupies the second place in the Confederation.
Remarkable is the breeding: in 1933 it had 676,000 horses, 88,000 mules, 3.358 million cattle, of which 841,000 dairy cows, the million sheep, pigs 4374000.
From a mining standpoint, Nebraska is of little value. The state is also of mediocre interest in industries: the total number of employees rose from 18,700 in 1899 to 36,500 in 1919, to be reduced to 23,500 in 1931. Two thirds of the workers are concentrated in the two counties of Douglas (Omaha) and Lancaster (Lincoln). The industries related to breeding (slaughtering and bagging) with main center in Omaha, and to agriculture (milling industry) prevail. The steel and mechanical industries are also noteworthy.
As far as communications are concerned, state roads measured in 1931, 15,700 km. Motor vehicles rose from 13,400 in 1913 to 375,700 in 1932. Railways are also developing considerably, as they have risen from 1126 km. in 1870 about 10,000 km. in 1931.
The state is home to several higher education institutions, including the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (1869); Nebraska Wesleyan University (1887) also in Lincoln; the Municipal University of Omaha (1930); Creighton University (1878), based in Omaha; Union College (1890) in Lincoln; Doane College (1872) in Crete (in the county of Saline); Hastings College (1882) in Hastings; York College (1890) in York, etc.
History
Until the end of the eighteenth century little was known about the territory, generally believed to be a vast desert, which today forms the state of Nebraska. The first inhabitants settled where the small towns of Fort Calhoun and Bellevue are today. The passage of Mormons and emigrants to California and Oregon contributed to the development of trade in the region. For the constitution of the state there were various agitations in relation to the Kansas – Nebraska Act of 1854 (see Kansas), but after several changes the state reached its present frontiers in 1863. Although the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was formulated by a predominantly slave congress, the territory became free-market, and by 1861 more than one-tenth of its population of 30,000 ab. fought for the Union. Until 1867, with the introduction of the transcontinental railroad, Nebraska City had great importance as a traffic station. The history of the state largely consists of the rivalry between the north and the south, which culminated in the struggle for the capital. As long as it was a territory, the capital remained in Omaha; but after admission to the Union in March 1867, the old attempt to place it south of the Platte River triumphed, and the city of Lincoln was chosen.
Omaha
According to countryaah.com, Omaha is a city and river port of the USA (438,646 inhab. In 2008), in Nebraska, on the right bank of the river Missouri, across from Council Bluffs (Iowa), which is joined by road and rail bridges. It is the market of a thriving agricultural district and industrial center; notable hub of transcontinental communications, both rail and air. From 1854 to 1867 it was the capital of the Nebraska territory.
