Nebraska is a U.S. state in the central part of the country. Its capital is Lincoln, its largest city is Omaha and its postal abbreviation is NE.
By Hola Nebraska
Updated Oct. 5, 2026.
Nebraska is a state in the central United States, in the Great Plains and Midwest. It borders South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming. Lincoln is the state capital, Omaha is its largest city, and NE is the official two-letter postal abbreviation.
Map: Nebraska Tourism Commission.
Nebraska is in the central United States
Nebraska stretches across the center of the country from the Missouri River in the east toward Colorado and Wyoming in the west.
Eastern Nebraska includes the state’s two largest cities, Omaha and Lincoln. Grand Island, Kearney and Hastings are in central Nebraska, while North Platte, Scottsbluff and the Panhandle are farther west.
The landscape also changes considerably from east to west. The eastern side includes the Missouri River and Nebraska’s largest population centers, while the Sandhills and High Plains shape much of central and western Nebraska.
NE is the postal abbreviation for Nebraska
NE means Nebraska in U.S. postal addresses and official state abbreviations.
For example, an address ending in “Omaha, NE” or “Lincoln, NE” is located in Nebraska.
The abbreviation is commonly used in addresses, maps, weather information, travel listings and government records. It should not be confused with “NE” when it is used to mean northeast.
Nebraska is a state, not a city or country
Nebraska is one of the 50 states of the United States. It is not a country and it is not a city.
The United States is the country. Nebraska is the state. Lincoln is Nebraska’s capital city, and Omaha is its largest city.
Nebraska joined the United States on March 1, 1867, becoming the nation’s 37th state.
Nebraska is part of both the Midwest and Great Plains
Nebraska is commonly described as a Midwestern state, but it is also part of the Great Plains.
The two terms describe different kinds of regions. The Midwest is a U.S. regional classification, while the Great Plains is a broad geographic region extending through the center of North America.
That is why Nebraska can accurately be described as part of both the Midwest and the Great Plains.
Nebraska has two time zones
Nebraska spans two U.S. time zones.
Most of the state, including Omaha, Lincoln and Grand Island, uses Central Time. Parts of western Nebraska, including communities in the Panhandle such as Scottsbluff, use Mountain Time.
This means the local time can differ by one hour depending on where a person is in Nebraska.
Nebraska borders six states
Nebraska shares borders with six U.S. states:
- South Dakota to the north
- Iowa to the east
- Missouri to the southeast
- Kansas to the south
- Colorado to the southwest
- Wyoming to the west
The Missouri River forms much of Nebraska’s eastern boundary with Iowa and part of its border with Missouri.
Those borders place Nebraska between the Upper Midwest, central Plains and Mountain West, which helps explain the geographic differences between eastern and western parts of the state.
Lincoln is the capital of Nebraska
The capital of Nebraska is Lincoln.
Lincoln is located in Lancaster County in southeastern Nebraska, about 50 miles southwest of Omaha. It is home to the Nebraska State Capitol, the Nebraska Legislature and several state government offices.
Omaha served as the capital of Nebraska Territory before statehood. After Nebraska became a state in 1867, state officials selected the Lancaster County community then known as Lancaster as the new seat of government. It was renamed Lincoln.
The Nebraska State Capitol provides additional history about how Lincoln became the capital.
Omaha is the largest city, not the capital
Omaha is not the capital of Nebraska.
Omaha is Nebraska’s largest city, while Lincoln is the state capital.
Omaha is in eastern Nebraska along the Missouri River and is the center of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Lincoln is about 50 miles southwest and serves as the center of Nebraska state government.
Fast facts about Nebraska
- Country: United States
- Region: Midwest and Great Plains
- Capital: Lincoln
- Largest city: Omaha
- Postal abbreviation: NE
- Time zones: Central Time and Mountain Time
- Bordering states: South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming
- Statehood: March 1, 1867
- State number: 37th
- Nickname: Cornhusker State
The name Nebraska comes from an Oto word commonly translated as “flat water,” referring to the Platte River, which crosses the state.
Stay informed about what’s happening in your community. Your source for stories that inspire — visit HolaNebraska.org for news, culture and community updates across Nebraska.