State Symbols of Nebraska

By | Updated on January 22, 2023

Reviewed by Rittika

Nebraska is a constituent state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Nebraska’s name derives from an Indian term for “flat water, ” referring to the river Platte. In 1998, Nebraska declared the Platte River the official state river. Nebraska is officially nicknamed the Cornhusker State in 1945. The nickname was given to the state by The University of Nebraska athletic teams known as “The Cornhuskers”. 

Before European exploration, indigenous peoples such as the Omaha, Missouria, Ponca, Pawnee, Otoe, and Sioux tribes occupied the area as early as 8000 BCE. As part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the United States purchased the territory from France. The Lewis and Clark Expedition visited Nebraska on the Missouri River in 1804. With the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, it became part of the Nebraska Territory. Nebraska became the 37th state to join the Union on March 1, 1867.

It is bordered to the north by South Dakota, to the east by Iowa, to the southeast by Missouri, to the south by Kansas, to the southwest by Colorado, and to the west by Wyoming. Its eastern border is formed by the Missouri River.

Nebraska has a total area of 77,347 sq mi (200,329 sq km), making it the sixteenth in the U.S. According to the 2020 census, the state has a total population of 1,961,504, placing it thirty-seventh in terms of population.

Lincoln is the state capital, and Omaha is the largest city.

The interesting fact is the state’s historic preservation of animals after the deadly volcanic tragedy. A volcanic catastrophe killed animals like saber-toothed deer, raccoon dogs, fruit dogs, bear dogs, hornless rhinos, and giraffe-like camels about 12 million years ago. In northeastern Nebraska, at the Ashfall Fossil Beds, you can still observe their preserved fossils. It is possible to imagine what the creatures of Ashfall would have looked like because there are so many skeletons, they are in superb condition, and they are usually in their original postures.

In 1967, Nebraska declared the Mammoth its official state fossil. In 1981, the White-tailed deer was named Nebraska’s official state mammal.

Sterling Morton proposed a holiday to encourage tree planting in Nebraska in 1872. On April 10, 1872, the inaugural “Arbor Day” was observed, with an estimated 1 million trees planted. Arbor Day was declared a state holiday in Nebraska in 1885. By 1920, the holiday had been recognized in forty-five states.

The official state flower is the Giant goldenrod, whereas, in 1929, Nebraska made the Western meadowlark its official state bird.

The state song of Nebraska is “Beautiful Nebraska”, and the official state motto is “Equality before the law.” Nebraska’s official motto appears on the state flag as well as the state seal. 

The official language of Nebraska is English.

State Information

State seal

Motto of Nebraska

"Equality before the law"

State symbols of Nebraska 👇

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  State capital
  Lincoln
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  State bird
  Western meadowlark
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  State flower
  Tall Goldenrod
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  State tree
  Cottonwood
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  State dance
  Square Dance
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  State reptile
  Ornate box turtle
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  State insect
  Honeybee
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  State gemstone
  Blue Chalcedony
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  State animal
  White-tailed deer
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  State fish
  Channel catfish

State location

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