Capital: Lincoln State abbreviation/Postal code: Nebr./NE Governor: David Heineman, R (to Jan. 2015)
Lieut. Governor: Rick Sheehy, R (to Jan. 2015) Senators: Mike Johanns, R (to Jan. 2015); Ben Nelson, D (to Jan. 2013) U.S. Representatives: 3 Historical biographies of Congressional members Secy. of State: John Gale, R (to Jan. 2015) Atty. General: Jon Bruning, R (to Jan. 2015) Treasurer: Don Stenberg, R (to Jan. 2015) Organized as territory: May 30, 1854 Entered Union (rank): March 1, 1867 (37) Present constitution adopted: Oct. 12, 1875 (extensively amended 1919–20) Motto: Equality before the law State symbols: | flower | goldenrod (1895) | | fish | channel catfish (1997) | | American folk dance | square dance (1997) | | ballad | “A Place Like Nebraska” (1997) | | tree | cottonwood (1972) | | bird | Western meadowlark (1929) | | insect | honeybee (1975) | | gemstone | blue agate (1967) | | rock | prairie agate (1967) | | fossil | mammoth (1967) | | song | “Beautiful Nebraska” (1967) | | soil | typic argiustolls, holdreges series (1979) | | mammal | whitetail deer (1981) | | grass | little bluestem (1969) | | beverage | milk (1998) |
Nicknames: Cornhusker State (1945); Beef State Origin of name: From an Oto Indian word meaning “flat water”
10 largest cities (2010 est.): Omaha, 408,958; Lincoln, 258,379; Bellevue, 50,137; Grand Island, 48,520; Kearney, 30,787; Fremont, 26,397; Hastings, 24,907;
North Platte, 24,733; Norfolk, 24,210; Columbus, 22,111 Land area: 76,872 sq mi. (199,098 sq km) Geographic center: In Custer Co., 10 mi. NW of Broken Bow Number of counties: 93
Largest county by population and area: Douglas, 517,110 (2010); Cherry, 5,961 sq mi. State parks: 87 Residents: Nebraskan
2010 resident population est.: 1,826,341
2010 resident census population (rank): 1,826,341 (38). Male: 906,296 (49.6%); Female: 920,045 (50.4%). White: 1,572,838 (86.1%); Black: 82,885 (4.5%); American Indian: 18,427 (1.0%); Asian: 32,293 (1.8%); Other race: 79,109 (4.3%); Two or more races: 39,510 (2.2%); Hispanic/Latino: 167,405 (9.2%). 2010 percent population 18 and over: 74.9; 65 and over: 13.6; median age: 36.2. See additional census data Area codes Tourism office |
