Chapter Two: Geographic Patterns of the Physical Environment

"The physical environment, modified by human effort, impinges on our lives regardless of where we live" (Regional 18). Most of Nebraska's landscape is prarie; more than 2/3 of the state lies within the Great Plains and Praries region of the United States. Traveling from east to west the elevation gradually rises. The lowest area of the state is in the southeast corner and is generally 840 ft above sea level. The highest point in the state is in Kimball county at 5424 ft.

Sunset in Kimball County

Lowlands

The eastern portion of the state with its lower elevation is covered by rolling alluvial lowlands.

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/sustainability/ecomap/provinces/sec_251/251.shtm: The US Forest Service has an interesting website showing the different ecoregions of the United States; the following paragraph and two associated photos are from this site:

251H-Nebraska Rolling Hills Section

This section is level to gently rolling and hilly plains. Soil formed in glacial till on uplands or in wind-deposited loess or alluvium in floodplains along major rivers. Original vegetation was prairie cover type, most of which has been cleared for agriculture; elm-ash-cottonwood forests remain along rivers.

(Photo: J. Freeouf, USDA Forest Service)

251Ha Yankton Hills and Valleys Subsection

251Hb Lower Platte Valley Subsection

251Hc York Plains Subsection

251Hd Pawnee City-Seneca Rolling Hills Subsection

The lowlands give way to the flat plain of central Nebraska. This area is naturally treeless except for the trees that settlers and farmers planted for windbreaks. Early settlers thought Nebraska was a desert, completely inhospitable to crops and plants because of its dry grasses and treeless appearance.

This plain than becomes a tableland in the west. Throughout the north central plain area in Nebraska are rolling sand dunes covered by prarie grasses. These grasses anchor the dunes; the sandhills cover around 18,000 square miles. This region has many small natural lakes but throughout  the rest of Nebraska the lakes that exist are man-made or artificial.

"This aerial photograph of the Nebraska Sand Hills paleodesert shows a well-preserved crescent-shaped dune (or barchan) about 60 to 75 meters high. (Photograph by Thomas S. Ahlbrandt)"

http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/Earthscience/Geology/Deserts/Deserts/TypesofDeserts/Paleodeserts/Paleodeserts.htm

The Missouri River forms the eastern edge of the northern boundary of Nebraska's border. It drains the entire state. Three other rivers cross the state from west to east--the Niobrara through the north, the Platte through the middle, and the Republican through the south.

To the left is a gorgeous photo of the Niobrara river.






The map below of Nebraska's rivers shows the three major rivers along with the many tributaries and smaller rivers.

Climate

Climate is the some total of day-to-day weather conditions. The two most important characteristics of climate are termperature and precipitation. "The climatic patterns that interest geographers result from the interaction of three geographic influences. The first influence is latitude--the distance north or south of the equator.

Nebraska's two largest cities: Omaha and Lincoln are located at 41 15'N and 41 03' N respectively. This means that Nebraska is significantly further from the equator than where I live in southern California. The energy is greatest when the sun can be positioned directly overhead at noon--since Nebraska is further from the equator the sun spends less hours being positioned directly overhead and there is therefore less solar energy on the average than in locations closer to the equator such as SoCal. The tilt of the Earth's axis also is respoinsible for seasonality.

The second geographic influence concerns the different ways that land and water absorb the sun's radiation.Because Nebraska is in the center of the United States and far from the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans it has a much less temperate climate than coastal states. This tendency is continentality. "People living in the northern Great Plains or the Prarie Provinces, for example, experience annual temperature ranges close to 65C. Annual temperature differences as much as 100C...between summer and winter have been recorded" (Regions).

The third geographic influence concerns topography. Without major mountain barriers in the Midwest "air masses confront each other and produce violent weather across the region" (Regions). According to Koppen's climatic regions Nebraska lies in the dry BSk-Middle Latitude Steppe and the Humid Microthermal Dfa-Continental, no dry season

Vegetation regions are strongly related to climatic regions. Nebraska contains both a Tall grass prarie region to the west and a Short grass prarie region to the east. Because precipitation amounts were not substantial enough for tree growth much of Nebraska is covered by grasses.

Soil is made up of old rock material and organic matter. Nebraska soils are classified into two major types; most of the state falls into the Mollisols region while the western edge falls into the Aridisols region. Aridisols are generally unproductive. They get their name from the word arid which refers to the dry climate, they are low in organic content and have a low agricultural value. Mollisols are more productive. They are "midlatitude grassland soils of semiarid and subhumid climates. These soils are characterized by thick dark brown or black A-andB-horizons, loose texture and high nutrient content. They are among the most naturally fertile soils in the world and produce most of North America's cereals" (Regions).

"Holdrege soils are extensive, making up about 1.8 million acres in south-central Nebraska. Most areas of these soils are used for crops, pasture, or rangeland. Corn, soybeans, and small grain are the main crops grown under dryland conditions. Many areas are irrigated. "

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/soil/st_soils/ne_soil.htm

Mineral Fuels

Coal, oil and natural gas come from sediments formed during the Carboniferous period. The Great Plains region of the United States contains many areas where these resources may be found. Oil has been found in the western portion of Nebraska and in a smaller area along the southern border of the state.

Drilling for oil in Nebraska

In the southeastern corner of Nebraska Bituminous and subituminous coal fields have been found. These are fields that have only recently begun to be mined. Nearby Wyoming now leads the United States in coal production.

Ch. 3 Foundations of Human Activity

Native American tribes populated the United States long before European settlers arrived.

This map shows the treaties that were made with Native American tribes to gain the land that would become Nebraska. This website has excellent information on all of the specific treaties: http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/stories/0503_0100.html

In the 1800's the main tribes living in Nebraska's harsh environment were the Pawnee, Omaha, Oto-Missouria, Ponca, Lakota (Sioux), and Cheyenne. Some tribes had at this time settled into villages and lived in earth lodges. They mainly farmed and hunted buffalo. Others were more nomadic and lived in teepees.

To the right is a photo of an earth lodge and on the right is a replica of a teepee

NebraskaStudies.org has excellent information on the interaction between the homesteaders and the native americans:

Conflict and Negotiation with European Settlers

"lIn the years after the Homestead Act, Europeans moved in ever greater numbers into Native American territory. In the 1860s and '70s, the United States Army was engaged in war with the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes. The Pawnee tribe had fought these other tribes for years, and so the Army turned to the Pawnee for help against a common foe.
The Pawnees became scouts. They were very successful in helping protect the railroad as it was being built across Nebraska, and they accompanied several U.S. Amy expeditions against the warring Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho. But, by the late 1870s, the Pawnee Scouts were disbanded, and the U.S. Government had removed most members of the Pawnee tribe from Nebraska to Indian Territory south of Nebraska.
The Lakota (Sioux), on the other hand, had much more trouble with early emigrants, and their experience sets the stage for the history of homesteading. Trouble with whites began with the California gold rush. In 1850 approximately 50,000 gold seekers traveled the Overland Trail through the heart of Lakota country. The Lakota did not take kindly to these newcomers crossing their land, competing for resources. The government tried to intervene by peaceful means.
Ft. Laramie Treaty of 1851. In 1851 government officials met with Cheyenne, Crow, Blackfeet, Arapaho, Assiniboine, Dakota, Lakota and Nakota tribal members at Fort Laramie, just west of what would become Nebraska in Wyoming. Approximately 10,000 Native Americans camped and talked with U.S. representatives. The tribes and the government negotiated a treaty that had several main points:
The treaty called for peace and friendship among rival tribes.
It promised each tribe $50,000 each year for 10 years.
In exchange, the treaty recognized the U.S. government's right to establish roads and forts and the rights of immigrants to travel on the Overland Trail in peace.
The treaty drew lines on the map where tribes were allowed to hunt and fish; later treaties established actual reservations.
And the treaty allowed the government to without the money if the tribes violated the terms of the agreement. The Fort Laramie Treaty set the precedent for U.S. recognition of tribal sovereign rights, and it set off several decades of treaty negotiations and agreements that eventually transferred almost all of the tribal lands to the U.S.
Unfortunately the peace did not last. In 1854 — eight years before the Homestead Act — some Lakota near Fort Laramie butchered an emigrant's cow they thought was abandoned. Lt. John Grattan and 29 soldiers were sent to investigate the incident. Grattan opened fire on the Indian camp. The Indians retaliated, killing all of the soldiers. The next year Gen. William Harney was ordered to restore peace on the trail. He found a Lakota camp at Blue Water Creek in Garden County and attacked it, although the camp residents had nothing to do with the Grattan slaughter. Harney's troops killed 136 men, women, and children. Although peace was restored, pressure continued to build, and war broke out again in 1863 with attacks on Overland Trail travelers. In 1867 the Lakota pushed eastward and attacked a Union Pacific railroad train in Dawson County, Nebraska. Attempts at peaceful settlements resulted in payments of food, guns, and other goods to the Lakota.
There were similar conflicts during the early homestead period with a band of Cheyenne in the Republican River valley of south central Nebraska. Again, a military expedition was sent out in 1869 to subdue the Cheyenne. The campaign killed 50 warriors.
For the immigrants, the threat they felt from Native Americans was probably greater than the actual history. There was conflict — theft, fights and murder on both sides. But there were also hundreds of treaty negotiations across the continent. These treaties lessened the conflict and, more importantly, transferred legal title for land that native tribal people had lived and hunted on for centuries to the U.S. "

About 1/3 of American Indians now live on reservations in the United States. There are 281 reservations in the U.S. and most of them are located in the Great Plains region and the Empty Interior.
Below are some of the reservations in Nebraska:
Reservation: Niobrara


Tribes: Santee Sioux

Acres:

Established by: Act of Mar. 3, 1863 (XII, 819); treaty of Apr. 29, 1868 (XV, 637); Executive orders, Feb. 27, July 20, 1866, Nov. 16, 1867, Aug. 31, 1869, Dee. 31, 1873, and Feb. 9, 1885. 32,875.75 acres were selected as homesteads, 38,908.01 acres as allotments, find 1,130.70 acres for agency, school, and mission purposes; unratified agreement of Oct. 17, 1882. (For modification see sundry civil appropriation act approved Mar. 3, 1883, XXII, 624. For text, see misc. Indian doc., vol. 14, p. 305.) Act of Apr. 30. 1888 (xxv, 94), not accepted.





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Reservation: Omaha

Tribes: Omaha

Acres: 12,421

Established by: Treaty of Mar. 16, 1854 (X, 1043); selection by Indians with the President's approval, May 11, 1855; treaty of Mar. 6, 1865 (XIV, 667); act of June 10, 1872 (XVII, 391); act of June 22, 1874 (XVIII, 170); deed to Winnebago Indians, dated July 31, 1874: act of Aug. 7, 1882 (XXII, 341): act of Mar. 3. 1893 (XXVII, 612); 129,470 acres allotted to 1,577 Indians; the residue, 12,421 acres, unallotted.





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Reservation: Ponca

Tribes: Ponca

Acres:

Established by: Treaty of Mar. 12, 1858 (XII, 997), and supplemental treaty Mar. 10, 1865 (XIV, 675); act of Mar. 2, 1899 (XXV, 892). 27,202.08 acres were allotted to 167 Indians, and 160 acres reserved and occupied by agency and school buildings. (See President's proclamation, Oct. 23, 1890, XXVI, 1559)





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Reservation: Sioux (additional)

Tribes: Oglala Sioux

Acres: 640

Established by: Executive order, Jan. 24, 1882.

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Reservation: Winnebago

Tribes: Winnebago

Acres: 1,711
Established by: Act of Feb. 21, 1863(XII,658): treaty of Mar. 8, 1865 (XIV, 671): act of June 22,1874 (XVIII, 170); deed from Omaha Indians, dated July 31, 1874 (Indian Deeds, VI, 215). 106,040.82 acres were allotted to 1,200 Indians; 480 acres reserved for agency, etc.; the residue, 1,710.80 acres, unallotted.

European Settlement
In the 1860s following the Homestead act many settlers came to Nebraska to claim the free land. They joined the Native Americans that were already there. Before the homesteaders French and Spanish fur traders arrived in the 1700s. In the 1800s the immigrants were largely European: Scandinavian, German, and Irish. People also came to Nebraska from the Eastern states. "For the most part North America's ethnic mosaic resulted from a movement toward opportunity" (Regions).
 
 
Non-European Settlement
Blacks brought to the South as part of the slave trade also settled in Nebraska. "In 1855, Sally Bayne arrived in Omaha and is counted as the first free African American to settle in the Nebraska Territory. Before that, both slaves and free blacks had traveled through on the Oregon trail and settled on the west coast. Gradually, along with whites, blacks stopped and settled in Nebraska. There were 25 African Americans recorded for the 1860 territorial census. And the Homestead Act provided another incentive for settlement." ( http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/stories/0504_0100.html)
 
Population Distribution Today
 

Nebraska is still a pretty rural state. In many areas, as seen in the map above, there was a negative population change. As residents leave Nebraska in search of greater opportunity, many small towns are dying out.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31000.html

The US census bureau website has really interesting information on population facts for Nebraska; if you are interested you could find similar information for all of Nebraska's different counties. Below are the values for Nebraska and the U.S. as a whole:

People QuickFacts Nebraska USA

Population, 2008 estimate 1,783,432 304,059,724

Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008 4.2% 8.0%

Population estimates base (April 1) 2000 1,711,266 281,424,602

Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2008 7.4% 6.9%

Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2008 25.1% 24.3%

Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2008 13.5% 12.8%

Female persons, percent, 2008 50.4% 50.7%



White persons, percent, 2008 (a) 91.4% 79.8%

Black persons, percent, 2008 (a) 4.5% 12.8%

American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2008 (a) 1.1% 1.0%

Asian persons, percent, 2008 (a) 1.7% 4.5%

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2008 (a) 0.1% 0.2%

Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2008 1.3% 1.7%

Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2008 (b) 7.9% 15.4%

White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2008 84.1% 65.6%



Living in same house in 1995 and 2000, pct 5 yrs old & over 54.7% 54.1%

Foreign born persons, percent, 2000 4.4% 11.1%

Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000 7.9% 17.9%

High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 86.6% 80.4%

Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000 23.7% 24.4%

Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 250,534 49,746,248

Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2000 18.0 25.5



Housing units, 2007 780,804 127,901,934

Homeownership rate, 2000 67.4% 66.2%

Housing units in multi-unit structures, percent, 2000 20.0% 26.4%

Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000 $88,000 $119,600



Households, 2000 666,184 105,480,101

Persons per household, 2000 2.49 2.59

Median household income, 2007 $47,072 $50,740

Per capita money income, 1999 $19,613 $21,587

Persons below poverty, percent, 2007 11.1% 13.0%

Business QuickFacts Nebraska USA

Private nonfarm establishments with paid employees, 2006 51,9061 7,601,160

Private nonfarm employment, 2006 789,2311 119,917,165

Private nonfarm employment, percent change 2000-2006 5.1%1 5.1%

Nonemployer establishments, 2006 117,336 20,768,555

Total number of firms, 2002 145,380 22,974,655

Black-owned firms, percent, 2002 1.4% 5.2%

American Indian and Alaska Native owned firms, percent, 2002 0.3% 0.9%

Asian-owned firms, percent, 2002 1.0% 4.8%

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander owned firms, percent, 2002 0.0% 0.1%

Hispanic-owned firms, percent, 2002 1.4% 6.8%

Women-owned firms, percent, 2002 26.6% 28.2%



Manufacturers shipments, 2002 ($1000) 30,610,970 3,916,136,712

Wholesale trade sales, 2002 ($1000) 26,155,770 4,634,755,112

Retail sales, 2002 ($1000) 20,249,200 3,056,421,997

Retail sales per capita, 2002 $11,729 $10,615

Accommodation and foodservices sales, 2002 ($1000) 2,088,710 449,498,718

Building permits, 2008 6,346 905,359

Federal spending, 2007 ($1000) 13,986,1191 2,536,629,4052

Geography QuickFacts Nebraska USA

Land area, 2000 (square miles) 76,872.41 3,537,438.44

Persons per square mile, 2000 22.3 79.6

FIPS Code 31

Religion


The religious affiliations of the people of Nebraska are:




Christian – 90%

Protestant – 61%

Lutheran – 16%

Methodist – 11%

Baptist – 9%

Presbyterian – 4%

Other Protestant – 21%

Roman Catholic – 28%

Other Christian – 1%

Other religions – 1%

Non-religious – 9%

The largest single denominations by number of adherents in 2000 were the Catholic Church (372,791), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (128,570), the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (117,419) and the United Methodist Church (117,277).[11]

Chapter Four: Megalopolis

Nebraskais definitely outside the boundary of the region defined as Megalopolis; its two largest cities however are Lincoln and Omaha.
Lincoln, Nebraska is located in the southeast corner of the state. It is the state's capitol. My grandparents lived, for many years, at 1000 Twin Ridge Court in Lincoln.

View Larger Map
From Wikipedia:
The City of Lincoln (Umóⁿhoⁿ: Nískithe Tʰóⁿwoⁿgthoⁿ pronounced [ˈnĩskiðe ˌtʰãwãŋgðã], meaning "Salt Village", for Salt Creek, which was the historical center of the city) is the capital and the second most populous city of the U.S. state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. The population was 225,581 at the 2000 census, however the 2008 estimate puts it at 251,624.
Lincoln started out as the village of Lancaster, which was founded in 1856, and became the county seat of the newly created Lancaster County in 1859. The capital of Nebraska Territory had been Omaha since the creation of the territory in 1854; however, most of the territory's population lived south of the Platte River. After much of the territory south of the Platte considered annexation to Kansas, the legislature voted to move the capital south of the river and as far west as possible. The village of Lancaster was chosen, in part due to the salt flats and marshes.
However, Omaha interests attempted to derail the move by having Lancaster renamed after the recently assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.[citation needed] At the time, many of the people south of the river had been sympathetic towards the Confederate cause and it was assumed that the legislature would not pass the measure if the future capital was named after Lincoln. The ploy did not work, as Lancaster was renamed Lincoln and became the state capital upon Nebraska's admission to the Union on March 1, 1867.
The city was recently named one of the healthiest cities in the United States as of 2008.[5]

Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 225,581 people, 90,485 households, and 53,567 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,166.9/km² (3,022.2/sq mi). There were 95,199 housing units at an average density of 492.5/km² (1,275.4/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 89.25% White, 3.12% Asian, 3.09% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.61% of the population.
There were 90,485 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 16.4% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,605, and the median income for a family was $52,558. Males had a median income of $33,899 versus $25,402 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,984. About 5.8% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

University of Nebraska is located in Lincoln.

Lincoln Skyline

Omaha

View Larger Map

Omaha is located north and east of Lincoln, near Iowa's border. It is the most populated city in Nebraska. I have flown into Omaha on several occasions. Its nickname is gateway to the west.

From Wikipedia:

Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County.[4] It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles (30 km) north of the mouth of the Platte River. Omaha is the anchor of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, with Council Bluffs, Iowa sitting adjacent to Omaha across the Missouri River. According to the 2008 estimate by the United States Census Bureau, Omaha's population was 438,646. The city is the nation's 40th-largest, according to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Along with its suburbs, Omaha formed the 60th-largest metropolitan area in the United States in 2000, with an estimated population of 837,925 residing in eight counties. There are more than 1.2 million residents within a 50 mile (80 km) radius of the city's center, forming the Greater Omaha area.

Omaha's pioneer period began in 1854 when the city was founded by speculators from neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa. The city was founded along the Missouri River, and a crossing called Lone Tree Ferry earned the city its nickname, the "Gateway to the West." During the 19th century, Omaha's central location in the United States caused the city to become an important national transportation hub. Throughout the rest of the 19th century, the transportation and jobbing sectors were important in the city, along with its railroads and breweries.

In the 20th century, the Omaha Stockyards, once the world's largest, and its meatpacking plants, gained international prominence. Today, the city is the home to five Fortune 500 companies: ConAgra Foods, Union Pacific Corporation, Peter Kiewit and Sons, Inc., Mutual of Omaha Companies, and Berkshire Hathaway, the company headed by the investor Warren Buffett, the richest person in the world according to Forbes Magazine in 2008.[5] Omaha is also the home to four Fortune 1000 businesses, TD Ameritrade, Valmont Industries, teleservices firm West Corporation and trucking concern Werner Enterprises. The First National Bank of Omaha is the largest privately held bank in the United States. Headquarters for the Leo A. Daly Co., HDR, Inc. and DLR Group, three of the world's top 30 architectural and engineering firms, are located in Omaha. The modern economy of Omaha is diverse and built on skilled knowledge jobs. In 2001, Newsweek identified Omaha as one of the Top 10 high-tech havens in the nation. Tourism in Omaha benefits the city's economy greatly, with the annual College World Series providing important revenue and the city's Henry Doorly Zoo serving as the top attraction in Nebraska. It also held the 2008 Olympic swim trials and is scheduled to host the 2012 Olympic swim trials.
A historic preservation movement in Omaha has led to a number of historic structures and districts being designated Omaha Landmarks or listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since its founding, ethnic groups in the city have clustered in enclaves in north, south and Downtown Omaha. The city's history has included a variety of crime such as illicit gambling, riots, lynchings, and recently, gang violence. Today, the diverse culture of Omaha includes a variety of performance venues, museums, and musical heritage, including the historically-significant jazz scene in North Omaha and the modern and influential "Omaha Sound." Sports have been important in Omaha for more than a century, and the city currently hosts three professional sports teams. Omaha also has a number of recreational trails and parks located throughout the city. It is 190 miles north of Kansas City, MO

Aerial photo of Omaha from the east

St. Cecilia's Cathedral

The NCAA College World Series in baseball is held in Omaha

Demographics of Omaha from Wikipedia

At the 2005-2007 American Community Survey Estimates the city's population was 78.7% White (71.0% non-Hispanic White alone), 11.8% Black or African American, 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 5.0% from some other race and 2.5% from two or more races. 11.0% of the total population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[106]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there are 390,007 people, 156,738 households, and 94,983 families residing within city limits. The population density is 3,370.7 people per square mile (1,301.5/km²). There are 165,731 housing units at an average density of 1,432.4/sq mi (553.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 78.39% White, 13.31% African American, 0.67% Native American, 1.74% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.91% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. 7.54% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.[107]
There are 156,738 households out of which 30.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% are married couples living together, 13.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% are non-families. 31.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.42 and the average family size is 3.10. In the city the average age of the population is diverse with 25.6% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.2 males.[108]
The median income for a household in the city is $40,006, and the median income for a family is $50,821. Males have a median income of $34,301 versus $26,652 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,756. 11.3% of the population and 7.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.6% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.[109]

Ch. 5 The North American Manufacturing Core

Nebraska is, once again, outside the United State's Maufacturing Core region. However, I will use this posting to examine several manufacturing industries located in the great state of Nebraska.

According to the US census, there are 1750 manufacturing firms located in Nebraska. The greatest number of those firms were fabricated metal product manufacturing firms 262, followed by food manufacturing firms 254, printing and related support acitivities firms 238, and machinery manufacting 193.

ConAgra foods is located in Omaha, Nebraska. It is a huge food manufacturing company and has annual revenues of over 11.5 billion dollars. ConAgra employs over 25,000 people.

Interesting side note: [edit] 2009 Slim Jim plant explosion


Wikinews has related news: Explosion at ConAgra plant in North Carolina, multiple injuries

On June 9, 2009 at 11:27am ET, the Slim Jim manufacturing plant in Garner, North Carolina was rocked by an explosion that resulted in the collapse of a section of the facility's roof and wall. Three workers were killed while over 40 others - including three firefighters - were hospitalized for burns and exposure to ammonia gases. Though it was eventually determined that the explosion was caused by a natural gas leak ignited in a room with vacuum pumps for sealing the snacks, the mode of transfer (i.e. static electricity, piece of equipment) is unknown. ConAgra spokesman Dave Jackson said someone called the plant just days before the explosion and threatened to start a fire.[6] Police said there was no indication that a threat at the plant was related to the explosion. According to police documents, the threat was not a bomb threat - as some reports may have stated - but a fire threat. Police said an individual threatened to "burn the place down."[23][24]



Reinke Manufacturing is another manufacturing company located in Nebraska. They make self-propelled center pivot irrigation systems


Agriculture mnaufacturing is also big in Nebraska. This graphic shows different areas of ag mfg.

Chapter 7: The Bypassed East

Nebraska is a long way off from the Bypassed East however like Nebraska the "region is sparsely populated, with about half the population living in small cities and half in rural areas" (Regions). I will use this posting to show some photos and videos about small town, rural life in Nebraska.

Minden is a small town in Nebraska. Here are a couple of videos that I feel capture the essence of small town life:

Church Picnic

Minden drumline

Country Music Show

I spent several months living in another small town in Cozad, NE. Coming from Southern California with such a high percentage of hispanic residents I was completely surprised to attend my first quinceanera in Nebraska! However it was a wonderful experience. Cozad is almost 11% Hispanic but nearby Lexington is over 50% Hispanic! My spanish speaking skills came in handy! Cozad is such a small town it barely has 4100 residents but I loved the time that I spent there. The town had such a strong sense of community. I remember being so awed by stories of how residents would open their homes to stranded travelers when the interstate closed down due to dangerous weather conditions and the only motel reached capacity.

Downtown Cozad