Nebraska gets its name from an Indian word meaning "flat water" after the Platte River that flows through the state. It became the 37th state in 1867. Nebraska, once considered part of the American desert, is now a leading farming state. Nebraskans have practiced scientific farming to turn the Nebraska desert into a land of ranches and farms. Much of the history of the state is the story of the tough, strong-willed Nebraska farmer. In the 1860s, the first great wave of homesteaders poured into Nebraska to claim free land granted by the federal government. Many of the first farm settlers built their homes out of sod because they found so few trees on the grassy land. Tourists can now drive along highways that follow the historic Oregon and Mormon trails. Almost every county has a fair during the summer and many communities hold annual fall festivals.

GOVERNMENT
Capital: Lincoln
Governor: Mike Johanns, R (to Jan. 2007)
Senators: Chuck Hagel, R (to Jan. 2009); Ben Nelson, D (to Jan. 2007)
House of Representatives: 3 districts | Search by zip code

ECONOMY
Total Gross State Product 1999 (millions of dollars): 53,744; National rank: 37; Percent change since 1990: 60%; National Rank based on Growth Rate: 30 (Including Washington, DC)
Per Capita Personal Income 2001: $28,861; National Rank: 24 (95% of the national average)
State Exports 2000 (millions of dollars): 2,701; National Rank: 35
Agriculture: Cattle, corn, hogs, soybeans, wheat, sorghum.
Industry: Food processing, machinery, electric equipment, printing and publishing.