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Lower Plains: Kansas, Nebraska

where the grasslands of the prairie were perfect for grazing. Early settlers faced many hard- ships, including shortages of water, fuel, and timber. At the time, only about three percent of Nebraska’s ter- rain was forested. Without sufficient wood for building, many farmers had to construct homes from sod—clumps of matted soil and grass. These clumps of sod were nicknamed “prairie brick” or “Nebraska marble” by the early set- tlers. For fuel, they burned corncobs and dried buffalo dung. Despite these hardships, Nebraska continued to grow at a fast rate. In 1854, just over 2,700 people lived in the newly formed territory. Most of these people lived in the east, in small clusters along the Missouri River. By 1867, however, Nebraska’s population had spiked to 50,000. Omaha, Bellevue, Nebraska City, and other eastern river towns had become bustling cities. Settlers were also mov- ing steadily deeper into the rest of the state. Technological advances made this rapid growth possible. From wagon to

The Homestead Act of 1862 played a major role in these develop- ments. This legislation allowed settlers to claim 160 acres of land from the federal government, practically for free. Thousands of settlers moved to Nebraska to cash in on the deal. Nebraska’s first homesteaders set- tled in the eastern and central parts of the territory, where the land and cli- mate were more favorable for farming. Cattle ranchers settled in the west, Directors of the Union Pacific Railroad pose with a train in central Nebraska, approximately 250 miles (402 km) west of Omaha, 1866. The spread of railroads helped open Nebraska to settlement in the late 19th century.