Nebraska
Nebraska remains one of those states that are blessed with so many beautiful destinations yet remain under the radar. It is one of the most overlooked states in the country. While we want to kind of maintain the pristine and untouched quality of most of the parks and wilderness here, we wish more and more tourists could discover the state’s beauty, too.
Geography
Nebraska is located in the midwestern region of the country. It is bordered by South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming. This makes Nebraska the only triply landlocked state in the United States.
The state of Nebraska comprises two major land regions: the Dissected Till Plains and the Great Plains. The Dissected Till Plains region consists of the state’s major cities and gentle rolling cities. The Great Plains region, on the other hand, consists mainly of the treeless prairie. This region occupies most of western Nebraska with smaller diverse regions like sandhills, rainwater basin, high plains, wildcat hills, panorama point, and pine ridge.
Nebraska is abundant with great natural sceneries and landscapes. The federal government manages several national parks in Nebraska. To name a few, there is Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, California National Historic Trail, Chimney Rock National Historic Site, and Homestead National Monument of America. There are also three National Forests within the state. Namely, Nebraska National Forest, Oglala National Grassland, and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest.
History
Groups of indigenous peoples lived in the region and area of Nebraska for thousands of years before the European arrived. These groups include Omaha, Missouria, Ponca, Pawnee, Otoe, and Lakota. Nebraska already had a thriving civilization and diversity of culture even before Europe colonized it.
Both Spain and France sought to control the region. Spanish exploration ended in the 18th century when the French army allied with the Pawnees and Otoes. It led to a massacre in present day Columbus that finally ended the Spanish presence in the area for a while until the French ceded during the Seven Years’ War. Britain and Spain were then left competing for dominance in the next few decades.
Weather
The state of Nebraska has two major climatic zones. There is the humid continental climate region and a region with humid subtropical climate. Keep in mind that Nebraska is located in Tornado Alley which makes it a common spot for thunderstorms and tornadoes to hit.
Plan ahead and keep an eye out for the weather on the day of your trip.
Tourism
Nebraska has some of the most unique sights in the country. Still, it seems to remain one of the most overlooked destinations. Some of our favorite spots here are the Chimney Rock National Historic Site, Scotts Buff National Monument, Indian Cave State Park, and Sandhills.
Key information about Nebraska
📍 Area: 200,356 km2
👥 Population: 1,934,408
🏛️ Capital: Lincoln
🏢 Major cities: Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue
🔢 Number of counties: 93
📋 Postal Abbreviation: NE
📖 Primary language/s: English
📌 Nearby states: Wyoming, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado