Nebraska
by Stephanie
Nebraska is an exciting state. It is located about halfway between New York City and San Francisco. It is in the central part of the United States of America. South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa all border Nebraska.
Nebraska's climate fluctuates and is very unpredictable. The warm winds, known as Chinook, often blow across northwest Nebraska and keep it warmer. The western tablelands are mostly colder than the eastern plains.
Rainfall fluctuates from about thirty inches per year in the southeast to about sixteen inches in the west. It mostly rains in May, June, and July and this is the best period for growing crops.
Nebraska's size is 77, 358 square miles. It ranks 16 in size. Its greatest length (north to south) is 211miles. Its greatest width (east to west) is 430 miles. The highest point is 5,430 feet. The lowest point is 825 feet. Nebraska’s population is 1,652,093. It is ranked 37th in the United States.
Nebraska’s capital is Lincoln. Nebraska has some important cities. They are Fremont, Omaha, Grand Island, North Platte, and Hastings. Grand Island is the third biggest city. It is near the Platte River. Grand Island is important for farming and manufactures things too. There is rich soil near Grand Island. Corn is grown in this area, too. Food products such as sugar beets are packed at Grand Island.
Nebraska’s state flower is the Goldenrod. Nebraska’s state tree is the cottonwood. The western meadowlark is the state bird and the mammoth is the state fossil. Nebraska’s state song is called " Beautiful Nebraska." The state motto is "Equality before the law." The state gem is the Blue Agate, and the state rock is the prairie agate. The honeybee is the state insect.
Nebraska has many landforms. There is a lot of grassland in Nebraska. There are also rugged lands, hills, evergreen trees, and weird looking rocks called buttes. There is a rock called Chimney Rock that is so big you can see it from miles away. Scotts Bluff, the Oregon Trial, Nebraska Badlands, and Toadstool Park are others important area.
Nebraska's history is very interesting. Spain claimed Nebraska in 1541. In 1682, La Salle claimed Nebraska. Spain controlled Nebraska in 1763 and France controlled Nebraska in 1801. In 1803, the United States bought Nebraska from France. Lewis and Clark explored it in 1804. In 1823, settlements began. It was made a territory in 1854. In 1867, Nebraska becomes the 37th state.
Farming, hiking, horseback riding and hunting are all forms of recreation in Nebraska. There are great places to visit too. There is the Memorial Park, Memorial Gallery, and the DAR Museum. There is also the General Alexander McDowell McCook Meat-Packing Center.
People celebrate different festivals. Some are Arbor Day, Five-States Art Show, College Baseball World Series, and Echoes of the Oregon Trail Pageant.
A lot of the state's manufaturning is based on agriculture. Nebraska ranks third among all states in the total annual production of livestock and poultry. Many farmers grow corn and wheat. Many cattle are raised on ranches. They produce crops worth nearly three billion dollars and they rank third in rye and sorghum grain, forth in winter wheat, and fifth in corn. Nebraska grows corn, soybeans, hay, wheat, beans, oats, potatoes and sugar beans. Nebraska raises cattle, pigs, sheep, chicken and turkey. Omaha is the largest meat-packing and processing center in the United States, having owned the title from its one-time rival, Chicago.
Some natural resources above ground are lumber and sand. Others that are below ground are gravel, oil and gas.
I hope you visit Nebraska because it is a very nice and great state. So I hope you pick Nebraska for your next vacation.
BACK