Nebraska

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and the huge herds of bison that once roamed here are now represented by small numbers in the National Parks.

History The territory of Nebraska was originally occupied by Dakota, Omaha, Cheyenne, Pawnee and many other tribes. In 1682 it became part of the French colony of Louisiana, which was acquired by the United States in 1803. For many years it was only sparsely settled; then from the mid 19th C onwards it became an area of transit for pioneers making their way to the west. It was declared a territory of the United States in 1854, and on March 1st 1867 it became the 37th state of the Union.

Economy Nebraska is one of the leading agricultural states of the United States, and large areas of its territory are occupied by livestock farming, mainly cattle (about 6.5 million head). The principal crops on arable farms are maize, wheat, millet, soya beans and sugar beet. The state also has oil and natural gas. The most important industry is the processing of agricultural produce, in particular meat canning. Other industries include metalworking and electrical engineering. Tourism is of increasing economic importance, since the varied landscapes of Nebraska with their 3000 lakes offer scope for a wide range of leisure and recreational activities (shooting, canoeing, fishing, swimming, riding, skiing).