Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north, Iowa and Missouri to the east, Kansas to the south, and Wyoming and Colorado to the west. The Missouri River runs along the state's borders with Missouri and Iowa. Nebraska's varied landscape includes rolling plains, forested valleys, farms, and cities in the east; large wheat and corn fields in the state's central prairies; and grasslands, treeless plains, and intermittent streams in the west. The state was once considered to be part of the "Great American Desert," but the people who lived in the region were determined pioneers. They built irrigation systems and used scientific farming, making Nebraska's land profitable for farming and ranching. Its state capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River.

Nebraska's name comes from an Omaha or Otos Indian word "nebrathka," meaning "broad water" or "flat river." "Nebrathka" was the Indian name for the Platte River, the state's principal river. Nebraska is known as the "Cornhusker State." The nickname came from the nickname of the University of Nebraska's football team, which refers to the state's primary crop, and from cornhusking contests that were once held each fall in rural communities. Nebraska is also known as the "Tree Planters' State" because the annual Arbor Day tradition started there in 1872 when one million trees were planted on its barren plains.

Those who considered Nebraska to be part of the "Great American Desert" would be very surprised by the state's transformation into one of the leading farming states. About 95 percent of the state's land is farmland -- that's a higher percentage than any other state. Nebraska's farmers grow corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, sorghum, oats, and sugar beets.

Five sectors (biosciences, financial services, precision metals manufacturing, renewable energy, and transportation, warehousing and distribution logistics) are key players in Nebraska's economic world, and international students studying in Nebraska might want to keep them in mind when deciding what degree to pursue. Two of the most popular majors studied at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are Business Management & Marketing and Related Support Services and Engineering. Nebraska has thee higher learning institutions in its state college system: Chadron State College, Peru State College and Wayne State College.

List of colleges and universities in Nebraska

Official Website of the State of Nebraska

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