1st March: Nebraska

On this date in 1867, Nebraska became the 37th US state. Here are a few things you might not know about Nebraska.

1. Nebraska's name comes from the Otoe Indian words Ñí Brásge, meaning "flat water". While the state may be landlocked, there's no shortage of water. Nebraska has more miles of river than any other state, and the U.S.'s largest aquifer, the Ogalala aquifer. This has enough water in it to flood the entire US with 1.5 feet of water. Nebraska even has a navy, albeit one which largely exists because a former governor, T.W. Metcalfe, wanted to give his friends meaningless government posts. Today, the rank of Admiral is awarded to people who have “contributed in some way to the state, promote the Good Life in Nebraska, and warrant recognition as determined by the governor. Admirals include Queen Elizabeth II, Captain Kangaroo, Big Bird, John Glenn, and Bill Murray.
2. There are also some notable forests. Henry Doorly Zoo has the largest indoor rainforest in the USA. The Lied Jungle is 1.5 acres in area and eight storeys high. The world's largest hand-planted forest is Halsey National Forrest near Thedford, Nebraska.
3. Nebraska has a state beverage (Milk) but also a state soft drink - Kool Aid, which was invented here. The state insect is the Honey Bee; goldenrod is the state flower; the state Gem is the Blue Agate; the state Song is Beautiful Nebraska; the state Bird Western Meadowlark; the state Mammal the White-tailed Deer; the state Fish is the Channel Catfish; the state State Tree is Cottonwood.
4. The state fossil is Mammoth, because the largest mammoth anywhere in the world is on display at the University of Nebraska State Museum. The creature's scientific classification is Archidiskodon imperator maibeni, so he is called "Archie" for short.
5. The largest city is Omaha, but the capital is Lincoln. Omaha was the capital of the territory but when Nebraska became a state, it was decided the capital should be moved to a place south of the river Platte. The place chosen was a small town, then called Lancaster, with a population of around 500. Possibly as a way to help or hinder the campaign to move the capital, Lancaster was re-named, after Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln is now the second largest city in the state. Bellevue comes next, with a population of approximately 54,000. However, the third most populated place in the state on certain dates is the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ football stadium which holds more than 90,000 people.
6. Famous people from Nebraska include Buffalo Bill; former president Gerald Ford, actors Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, Henry Fonda Nick Nolte and Hilary Swank; Crazy Horse, great warrior of the Oglala Lakota Sioux; L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology; mega-rich person Warren Buffet; and Malcolm X, civil rights leader.
7. Attractions include Chimney rock, the most frequently mentioned landmark in journal entries by travelers on the Oregon Trail; The National Museum of Roller Skating in Lincoln; the largest porch swing in the world, in Hebron, which can hold 25 adults; and "Carhenge" created by artist Jim Reinders, which is essentially 39 cars arranged like Stonehenge.
8. Nebraska is the only state in the United States with a unicameral legislature. All other states have bicameral legislature (house and senate). Nebraska just has a senate. Nebraska's Legislature is also the only state legislature in the United States to be nonpartisan - senators are elected with no party affiliation next to their names on the ballot. With 49 lawmakers, the Nebraska Legislature is also the smallest state legislature in the United States.
9. Two women ran against each other for governorship of a state for the first time ever in 1986, in Nebraska.
10. In Blue Hill, Nebraska, no female wearing a 'hat that would scare a timid person' can be seen eating Onions in public, while barbers in Waterloo must not eat onions between 7am and 7pm. Burping in church is illegal and parent could in theory be arrested if their child does so. A mother may not give her daughter a perm without a state license, and men must not shave their chests. Bar owners may not sell beer unless they are simultaneously brewing a kettle of soup, bakers are not allowed to sell doughnut holes, and it is forbidden for policemen to carry Umbrellas.

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