Population: 1,662,719
Land Area: 77,407 sqare miles
Counties: 93
Elevation: 840 feet (in Richardson Co.) to 5,425 feet (in Kimball Co.)

Topography

Eastern Nebraska is covered with rugged bluffs, rolling hills, picturesque valleys and lush vegetation. The Great Plains stretch westward, covering nearly three quarters of the state. Included in this area are the High Plains, with towering rock formations, eroded hills and deep canyons cutting into the region. The Nebraska Sandhills, located in the west-central part of the state, comprise the largest stabilized sand dune formation in the Northern Hemisphere. Bordering the Sandhills is America's largest man-made forest, the Nebraska National Forest near Thedford.

Attractions

Nebraska has many geological and historical sites including: the Sandhills, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Toadstool Park, Chimney Rock, Niobrara National Scenic River, Agate Fossil Beds, Ash Hollow (along the Oregon Trail), and the Platte River Road (natural transportation route linking east to west). Other distinctive attractions include the Henry Doorly Zoo featuring the Lied Jungle (world's largest indoor, tropical rainforest), Desert Dome and Kingdoms of the Night, Durham Western Heritage Museum, Boys Town, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, William F. Cody’s Scouts Ranch and Nebraska State Capitol, said to be one of America's architectural wonders of the 20th century.

Seasons

Nebraska’s seasonal climate and temperatures are as distinctive as the topography. Normal average daily temperatures range from less than 20 degrees in the winter to over 75 degrees in the summer. Annual precipitation ranges from more than 30 inches in the southeast to less than 17 inches in the Nebraska panhandle. For more detailed weather information, turn to the weather section in this guide.

Agriculture

Principal crops and livestock: corn, soybeans, wheat, popcorn, dry beans, grain sorghum. Nebraska also ranks among the top states in a wide variety of other farming products, as production agriculture covers 96 percent of the state's land area. For more information, view the crop tables.

Natural Resources

Nebraska's greatest natural resources are its soil and water, with its vast underground  water resources (Ogallala aquifer) exceeding those of all the other inland states. Other key resources include fresh air, beautiful land and climate, and friendly people.

Airports

There are 95 municipal airports located throughout the state. Some include former World War II airbases with runways of considerable length. In fact, Lincoln Municipal Airport is an alternate landing site for the Space Shuttle.

Time Zones

Nebraska is divided by two time zones: Central and Mountain. The Mountain Time Zone is observed by 18 of 93 counties, primarily located in the western panhandle region of the state. Sunrise/sunset tables are included in the weather  section.

For more information on Nebraska, please see the Nebraska Blue Book.

Nebraska Film Office
P.O. Box 98907
Lincoln, NE 68509-8907
402-471-3746
800-228-4307
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