Nebraska became the 37th state in the US on March 1, 1867.  The name "Nebraska" is based on an Oto Indian word that means 'flat river' and refers to the Platte River.  Lincoln is the capital city - the name was chosen to honor President Lincoln.

Nebraska is located in the central portion of the United States, and it is bordered to the north by South Dakota, to the east by Iowa and Missouri (across the Missouri River), to the south by Kansas, to the southwest by Colorado, and to the northwest by Wyoming

  • Nickname - Cornhusker state

  • Area - 77,227 square miles

  • Population - (2000) 1,711,263

  • Counties - 93

  • Motto - Equality Before the Law

  • Slogan - Nebraska, possibilities...endless

  • State Bird - Western Meadowlark

  • State Mammal - White Tail Deer

  • State Flower - Goldenrod

  • State Tree - Cottonwood
     

Nebraska State Song

Beautiful Nebraska

* Written by: Jim Fras

Beautiful Nebraska, peaceful prairie land,
Laced with many rivers, and the hills of sand;
Dark green valleys cradled in the earth,
Rain and sunshine bring abundant birth.

Beautiful Nebraska, as you look around,
You will find a rainbow reaching to the ground;
All these wonders by the Master's hand;
Beautiful Nebraska land.

We are so proud of this state where we live,
There is no place that has so much to give.

Beautiful Nebraska, as you look around,
You will find a rainbow reaching to the ground;
All these wonders by the Master's hand,
Beautiful Nebraska land.

* Jim Fras was a Russian refugee who came to Lincoln in 1952.  He composed Beautiful Nebraska in 1960.  In 1967, Beautiful Nebraska was signed into law as the official state song.

 

 

Some Great Historical Sites to Visit in Nebraska

 


* Nebraska State Flag

* In 1963, the Nebraska State Legislature designated the state banner the official State Flag of Nebraska.
 


The second commemorative quarter-dollar coin released in 2006
The 37th coin in the US Mint's 50 States Quarters® Program
 

Following are some well-known Nebraskans:  There are many more noted Nebraskans other than the ones we have selected.  Be sure to check out the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

 


Actors
 



Marlon Brando
 April 3, 1924 - July 1, 2004
Born in Omaha, NE

 


 Henry Fonda
 May 16, 1905 - August 12, 1982
 Born in Grand Island, NE
 



Montgomery Clift
October 17, 1920 - July 23, 1966
Born in Omaha, NE
 


James Coburn
August 21, 1928 - November 18, 2002
Born in Laurel, NE



Robert Taylor
August 5, 1911 - June 8, 1969
Born in Filley, NE

 



Hoot Gibson
August 6, 1892 - August 23, 1962
Born in Tekamah, NE

 



Dorothy McGuire
June 14, 1916 - September 13, 2001
Born in Omaha, NE

 



Fred Astaire
May 10, 1889 - June 22, 1987
Born In Omaha, NE

 



Ward Bond
April 9, 1903 - November 5, 1960
Born in Benkelman, NE


 


 Hilary Swank
 July 30, 1974
 Born in Lincoln, NE

 



Nick Nolte
February 8, 1941 -
Born in Omaha, NE

 


Sandy Dennis
April 27, 1937 - March 2, 1992
Born in Hastings, NE


Authors



Bess Streeter Aldrich
1818 - 1964
Born in Elmwood, NE

 



Willa Cather
December 7, 1873 - April 24, 1947
Born in Back Creek Valley, VA
Moved to Catherton, NE in 1883

 



Mari Sandoz
May 11, 1896 - 1966
Born near Hays Springs, NE

 



Clifton K. Hillegass
Founder of Cliffs Notes
April 18, 1918 - May 5, 2001
Born in Rising City, NE

 



Terry Goodkind
Born in Omaha, NE - 1948

 



Nicholas Sparks
Born in Omaha NE, 1965

 


Business
 



J. Sterling Morton
Founder of Arbor Day
April 22, 1832 - April 27, 1902
Born in NY -  Moved to NE in 1854

 



Edward J. Flanagan
Founder of Boys Town
July 13, 1886 - May 15, 1948
Born in Ireland - came to NE

 



Gilbert Monnel Hitchcock
Founder of Omaha-World Herald
September 18, 1859 - February 3, 1934

 



Harold Warp
Founder of Pioneer Village
1903 - April 9, 1994

 



Edwin Perkins
Invented Kool-Aid in 1927 in Hastings, NE
January 8, 1889 - 1961
Born in Lewis, Iowa
Moved to Nebraska in 1893
Buried in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings

 


Joyce C. Hall
Founder of Hallmark Cards
August 21, 1891 - October 29, 1982
Born in David City, NE

 


Music



Julie Wilson
October 21, 1924 -
Born in Omaha, NE

 



Paul Williams
September 19, 1940 -
Born in Bennington, NE

 



Randy Meisner
March 8, 1946
Born in Scottsbluff, NE

 



Roger Williams
October 1, 1924 - October 8, 211
Born in Omaha, NE

 


Native American Leaders



Red Cloud
 War Leader of the Sioux
1822 - December 10, 1909
Born near North Platte, NE

 



Standing Bear
Ponca Native American Chief
Born on Ponca reservation
(in what is now Nebraska)
1834 (?) - 1908

 


Public Office


Herbert Brownell, Jr.
Attorney General of the US 1953 - 1957
February 20, 1904 - May 1, 1996
Born in Peru, NE

 



Kay A. Orr
1st Republican woman elected Governor
January 2, 1939 -
Born in Burlington, Iowa
Moved to Lincoln, NE in 1963

 



Gerald Ford
38th President of the United States
July 14, 1913 - December 26, 2006
Born in Omaha, NE

 


Dick Cheney
46th Vice President of the United States
January 30, 1941 -
Born in Lincoln, NE


Sports



Grover Cleveland Alexander
February 16, 1887 - November 4, 1950
Born in Elba, NE

 



Samuel Crawford
April 18, 1880 - June 15, 1968
Born in Wahoo, NE

 



Max Baer
February 11, 1909 - November 21, 1959
Born in Omaha, NE

 



Bob Gibson
November 9, 1935
Born in Omaha, NE

 


Television Personalities



Johnny Carson
October 23, 1925 - January 23, 2005
Born in Corning, Iowa
(Grew-up in Norfolk, NE)

 


Dick Cavett -
November 19, 1936 -
Born in Gibbon, NE
 



David Janssen
March 27, 1931 - February 13, 1980
Born in Naponee, NE

 


Daniel Whitney
February 17, 1963
Born in Pawnee City, NE



Marg Helgenberger
November 16, 1958
Born in North Bend, NE

 



Paula Zahn
February 24, 1956
Born in Omaha, NE

 

Page Updated 2/02/20