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NENebraska Map
Nebraska on the US map
Nebraska sits in the Midwest region of the United States — specifically the plains subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #16 of 50, Nebraska is mid-sized for the United States. The map above highlights Nebraska in gold and color-codes the 49 other states by region.
Whether you're a student studying US geography, a traveler planning a road trip, a teacher building a lesson plan, or simply curious, the goal of this page is to give you a complete picture of where Nebraska is and what surrounds it. Click any other state on the map above to navigate to its dedicated page.
Capital and largest city
The capital of Nebraska is Lincoln. The largest city by population, however, is Omaha — not Lincoln. This pattern (capital ≠ largest city) holds for about 33 of the 50 US states, including most of the famous mismatches like California (Sacramento, not LA), Florida (Tallahassee, not Miami), and New York (Albany, not NYC).
The historical reason for these mismatches dates to the late 18th and 19th centuries. When state founders chose capitals, they often deliberately picked smaller, more centrally located towns to avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place. They worried that a capital in a major port or commercial city would be too vulnerable to mob influence (a real concern at the time) and would skew political decisions toward commercial interests.
Borders and neighbors
Nebraska shares land borders with 6 other US states: South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming. Each link goes to that state's dedicated page where you can see its own map, history, and facts.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #16 of 50
- Population: 1 to 5 million
- Coastline: landlocked (no ocean access)
- Mountain ranges: no major mountain ranges
- Time zone: Central (spans multiple)
- Region: Midwest — plains subregion
- Great Plains: yes
- Missouri River: bordered or crossed by
Major highways and transportation
Nebraska is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Omaha and Lincoln, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Nebraska to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Nebraska notable firsts
- Birthplace of one or more US presidents
🌟 Nebraska trivia
- Nebraska has the only unicameral state legislature in the US (single chamber, no senate vs house).
- Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett's company, is HQ'd in Omaha.
- The Reuben sandwich was invented in Omaha at the Blackstone Hotel, 1925.
- Nebraska's official soft drink is Kool-Aid (invented in Hastings, 1927).
Nebraska vs similar states
How does Nebraska compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | Lincoln | 1 to 5 million | #16 | 1867 |
| Illinois | Springfield | over 10 million | #25 | 1818 |
| Iowa | Des Moines | 1 to 5 million | #26 | 1846 |
| Kansas | Topeka | 1 to 5 million | #15 | 1861 |
Bordering states (6)
Nebraska shares borders with 6 other US states, listed alphabetically below. Each link goes to the dedicated state page.
Practice US geography daily — free
Statedoku is a 3×3 daily geography puzzle. Nebraska appears as an answer or constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, time zone, or quirks. Five minutes a day.
Play today's puzzle →Similar states to Nebraska
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Nebraska's region (Midwest) and similar size category: