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(pdf file - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) (developed by the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce & TCD) (developed by the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce, TCD, & the City of Scottsbluff)
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YEARS BETWEEN 1890 AND TODAY
Nebraska Regiments - Spanish/American War Politicians, Arbor Day, Crops & Land Trans-Mississippi Exposition & Concurrent Indian Congress
There have been great changes in the Indian tribes that once called Nebraska their home. The Pawnees, reduced in number, live on their reservation in Oklahoma. Next to the Pawnees, to the west, is the reservation of the Otoes and Missouris, living together as one tribe. Joining the Otoe reservation on the north is the land of the Poncas. Here live the part of the Poncas who did not return to Nebraska . Thus, side by side in the heart of Oklahoma , live three tribes of Nebraska Indians. The former Nebraska Sioux, who number about 12,000 people, live on their reservation in South Dakota. Part of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes who once roamed western Nebraska are now in Oklahoma and number about 2,000. Others reside in Wyoming . There are only a few thousand Indians in Nebraska. Of these, the Omaha and Ponca are the only native Nebraska tribes. Indians living in Nebraska who were moved here by the United States include the Winnebagos from Wisconsin and Minnesota, the Santee Sioux from Minnesota, and the Sauk and Fox Indians of Missouri.
During the years 1880 to 1890, a society called the "Farmers' Alliance" began to spread over Nebraska and other western and southern states. Its objects were to better the condition of farmers, help them to buy and sell on better terms, conduct evening schools for the instruction of members in the science of exchange and government, and furnish means of social entertainment. The chief complaints of the Farmers' Alliance were that those who handled what the farmer sold, took the larger part of what was produced for themselves, and that those who made and sold what the farmer bought, charged an exorbitant price. The farmers also claimed there was a united front among the moneyed interests, including the great banks, railroads, manufacturers, and merchants, to rob the rest of the people of what they produced. It was also claimed that these large interests conspired to control both the great political parties and through them, elect men who were in favor of the capitalists.
Nebraska Farmstead 1880's
Nebraska Homestead 1890
During 1890, the dissatisfaction of the farmers of the West and South took form in a great political movement, which was hastened by the work of the education and organization of the Farmers' Alliance and the very general debt and distress of the farmers. In a single campaign, the united farmers broke away from both of the old parties, and over a large part of the West and the South, defeated their candidates for office, electing men of the new movement. In Nebraska, the campaign of 1890 will long be remembered. As there were no crops to harvest, the farmers gathered by the thousands in great open air meetings to talk over their grievances and plan how to remove them. Orators of the common people addressed these meetings, talking to acres of eager faces amid great enthusiasm. Many new speakers, both men and women, first found their powers in the excitement of this time. There were processions of wagons many miles long, filled with sunburned men, women and children with home-made banners and mottoes expressing their feelings. There were songs with home-made words and music, such as "Goodbye Old Party, Goodbye," sung with great energy and greeted with enthusiastic applause. When the votes were counted after the November 1890 election, it was found that the farmers' movement had elected a majority of both houses of the Legislature in Nebraska, and the election of Governor was so close that a contest resulted. When the Legislature met in Lincoln in January 1891, excitement ran high. After a struggle of some days, the Democratic candidate, Jas. E. Boyd, of Omaha , was seated. A bill passed both houses reducing railroad rates in Nebraska, but was vetoed by Governor Boyd. A bill was then passed, adopting the Australian secret ballot by means of which a man might vote his convictions without the knowledge of any other person. As mentioned previously, the last Indian troubles on the Nebraska border came during this dry decade of hard times. The Sioux Indians, who once roamed over all western Nebraska and claimed it as their hunting ground, had given up that country to the whites and were permanently settled in South Dakota, along the northern border of Nebraska. The buffalo and nearly all of the other game had been killed. The old-time Indians had nothing to do. The young men grew up in idleness. The United States tried to teach them farming and stock-raising, but only a very few were willing to be taught. The dry season of 1890 burned up the little patches of corn and garden which the Indians planted. They gathered in the shade along the little streams and listened to the old people's stories of the time when the Sioux lived a free, open life, hunting buffalo and fighting their enemies, and the white men were far away. This was when stories from Wovoka, the Indian Prophet came, telling the Sioux that the Great Spirit had heard their troubles, that the white men were about to be driven back, and the buffalo, deer and antelope would return and cover the plains. However, the massacre at Wounded Knee ended their dreams, and most resigned themselves to life on reservations. In 1892, Lorenzo Crounse, Republican, of Ft. Calhoun, was elected Governor. He declined to be a candidate for re-election, however. During his term, many banks failed, and some of the state money was lost. There was an impeachment trial of three state officers for misuse of state money. Over a million dollars of public money from the sale of school lands was supposed to be in the State Treasury, and Governor Crounse made efforts to have it invested where it would bring interest for support of the schools of the state. In 1894, Silas A. Holcomb, "Populist," of Broken Bow, was elected Governor. He was re-elected in 1896. "Populist" or "People's Independent" was the name given to the party that grew out of the farmers' movement. During his term, the struggle over the use of the State's school money went on. In the end, it was determined that over half a million dollars of the school money had been lost or stolen. J. S. Bartley, State Treasurer, was tried, convicted, and sentenced to the penitentiary for twenty years for his part in this loss. Mr. Bartley always asserted that the money was lost or stolen by others.
During these years there were many changes in politics. A part of the Democratic party tended to unite with the new "Peoples Independent Party," while another part of the Democrats was inclined to aid the Republican Party in order to prevent the triumph of the new movement. In both the Republican and Democratic parties, a division occurred. The immediate cause was the question of whether or not the free coinage of silver dollars, at the ratio of sixteen grains of silver to one of gold, should be carried on by the United States mint. There were a number of other questions involved in the struggle, but free silver, as it was called, became the war cry in a nation-wide contest. In this conflict, Nebraska was suddenly called to play the leading part. A Cartoon from the St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press dated October 6, 1896 had the following text: Free Silver Man: I tell you that plenty of money and high prices make good times. Farmer (ex-Confederate): Is that so, partner? I can recollect when coffee was $40 a pound during the war, and boots $200 a pair, and times were about as bad as you could imagine. The more money we got, the worse we were off, for when prices of food and products had increased forty to sixty fold, people were denounced for asking five or six prices for their labor. Oh, no, partner, you'll have to get a better argument than that to make votes for free silver
Cartoon from the St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press
In June 1896, the Democratic National Convention in Chicago declared in favor of free silver. They named William J. Bryan of Nebraska as their candidate for President. The Populist National Convention in St. Louis also nominated Mr. Bryan. The Republican National Convention, however, declared against free silver and nominated William McKinley of Ohio for President. Free silver Republicans left their party and also nominated Mr. Bryan. Gold standard Democrats bolted and opposed Mr. Bryan. The campaign of 1896 that followed was the most exciting in the United States for many years. It was the first time a candidate for President had ever been named by one of the great parties from a state west of the Mississippi River. In Nebraska, the contest was fierce and close. Never before were so many political meetings held here, and never before were so many of the greatest political speakers of the country heard in this state. At the election in November, Nebraska gave a majority of about 13,000 votes to Mr. Bryan for President and elected the entire Populist-Democrat state ticket, including a majority of both houses of the Legislature. Since this memorable campaign, Nebraska has been a leader with a large place in national politics.
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPOSITION & CONCURRENT INDIAN CONGRESS:
In 1898, William A. Poynter, Populist, of Boone County, was elected governor. The Trans-Mississippi Exposition and concurrent Indian Congress were held in Omaha during his term, from June 1, 1898 through November 1, 1898. It was the first great exposition held in this region and showcased the developed "West," from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast. It brought to Nebraska exhibits and visitors from all parts of the world and was envisioned by business and community leaders from the 24 states and territories west of the Mississippi as a way to revitalize the regional economy and show that the "West" had recovered from the financial panic of 1893.
Trans-Mississippi Exposition
A significant part of the Exposition was the Indian Congress, which occurred within a decade of the end of the "Indian Wars" and was the largest Native American gathering of its kind. It allowed for social and cultural exchanges between tribes, as well as educational opportunities for visitors. Photographs taken of the Indian Congress include up to 500 individuals from 28 tribes.
The Indian Congress was managed by Captain W. A. Mercer of the 8th U.S. Infantry, under the direction of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, W. A. Jones, acting on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior. It's purpose, according to a letter written by Jones was "...to make an extensive exhibit illustrative of the mode of life, native industries, and ethnic traits of as many of the aboriginal American tribes as possible." It was proposed to bring together selected families or groups from all the principal tribes and camp them in tepees, wigwams, hogans, etc., on the exposition grounds, and permit them to conduct their domestic affairs as they did at home, and make and sell their wares for their own profit.
The Sioux were the largest tribe in the United States at that time,with 25,000 members. They had 88 members in attendance, but no generally recognized chiefs. Their tipis were set up in a circle, following the old custom of the plains tribes. During the Indian Congress, recreation of the "Ghost Dance" was encouraged by the managers of the Exposition. The Omaha Bee reported that this was a popular attraction. In another part of the TransMississippi exhibition, the Ryan Collection of Indian Curios from Chadron, Nebraska displayed the ghost shirt of Big Foot. As reported by the Omaha Bee; " .. the ghost shirt of Big Foot, the leader of the Sioux uprising of seven years ago. It is soiled and stained with blood, and was cut from Big Foot's body by J. H. McKnight of Long Pine Neb. after it was cold and stiff in death on the battle field of Wounded Knee."
NEBRASKA REGIMENTS IN THE WAR WITH SPAIN:
In 1898 the United States went to war with Spain to "free" Cuba. Nebraska sent three regiments to this war. The First Nebraska Regiment sailed to the Philippine Islands and was gone more than a year. Colonel Stotsenberg, its commander, was killed in battle. The Second Nebraska Regiment under Col. C. J. Bills, was sent to the great camp at Chattanooga, Tennessee and became part of the army in reserve until the war ended. The Third Nebraska Regiment under Colonel William J. Bryan, was sent to Florida and afterward crossed to Havana . The First Regiment won renown for splendid service in the Philippine Islands, and grateful citizens of Nebraska, individually, and by municipal, business, and other associations, 159 subscriptions in all, advanced the sum of $40,342.75 to pay the expense of transporting its members to their homes in the state The Second and Third Regiments suffered unduly from disease, caused by bad sanitary conditions, which seem to be incident to lack of experience and discipline on the part of both officers and men in the volunteer service in the early period of our wars. These regiments were disappointed because they had no chance to fight; but if opportunity had occurred they would have proved themselves as valorous and efficient as their envied contemporaries of the First regiment. All of these regiments were of superior quality, and the considerable number of men who had been in the State University battalion measurably improved their discipline and morale. Colonel John M. Stotsenburg was the heroic, and most considerable figure among the soldiers of Nebraska in the war with Spain. He was killed in action at Quingua, Luzon, April 23, 1899, and was honored with burial in the National Cemetery at Arlington Heights. Colonel Stotsenburg was professor of military science and tactics at the University of Nebraska when the war began, and many of the cadets joined his regiment.
POLITICIANS, ARBOR DAY, CROPS AND LAND:
Between 1896 and 1900, the Nebraska state elections were carried each year by a fusion of Populists, Democrats and silver Republicans. Disputes arose among these parties, and the Republicans, making a great effort in the campaign of 1900, carried the state by a small majority, electing Chas. H. Dietrich of Hastings, as Governor. Governor Dietrich remained in that office only about four months. When the Legislature, which had been elected with him, met in January, 1901, there followed a fierce and bitter struggle over the election of two United States Senators. The Republicans had a majority in the Legislature, but could not agree. After fighting throughout the winter, all the candidates withdrew, and Governor Dietrich and J. H. Millard, of Omaha were chosen as Senators. Lieutenant-Governor, Ezra P. Savage, of Sargent, became Governor on the resignation of Governor Dietrich. He held office one year and eight months. During his term, he pardoned former State Treasurer, Bartley from the penitentiary. Feeling in the Republican Party was so strong against him, that Governor Savage could not be re-nominated. In 1902, two large forest reserves in western Nebraska were set apart by the United States Government, 90,400 acres in Thomas and Blaine Counties and 116,000 acres in Cherry County. These have since been used as experiment fields for growing trees, mostly evergreens. When settlers first came to Nebraska, only 3% of the land was covered with forests. In 1872, Nebraska became the first state to establish Arbor Day. The Arbor Day idea was promoted by J. Sterling Morton, editor of the Nebraska City News, who urged settlers and homesteaders to plant trees that would provide shade, shelter, fruit, fuel and beauty for residents of the largely treeless plains. Tree planting has been an important part of Nebraska's conservation efforts ever since. Today, Arbor Day celebrations are held all over the United States. The National Arbor Day Foundation, which encourages tree planting and environmental stewardship, is headquartered in Morton's hometown of Nebraska City. In 1902, a new farmers' movement started in Nebraska . This was a union of farmers who wanted to market their own crops. There was complaint that the large elevator companies made too great of profits in handling what the farmers grew. As a result of this movement, there are now several hundred farmers' elevators in the state, and a large part of the crop is sent to market through them. Also in 1902, John H. Mickey, Republican, of Osceola, was elected governor. He was re-elected in 1904. His term saw a rising tide of prosperity, increased rainfall, higher prices, rise in the value of land, and a large increase in manufacturers in Nebraska. A return of the rainfall brought fine crops and better times to the whole state and especially to the western part. At the same time, there was a great revival of business in the United States. The factories and mines long closed were filled with busy workers. So many workmen were needed, that America could not supply them all, and more than a million a year came from Europe to enjoy the good times and high wages here. Farmers in Nebraska found prices for their produce more than doubled, and, at the same time, they were raising larger crops than they had ever grown before. Three new crops, alfalfa, winter wheat, and sugar beets had begun to be largely grown in Nebraska in about 1890. All three had been experimented with for many years in a small way. The state soon realized their value, and their cultivation spread from farm to farm and from county to county. Since then, they have brought millions of dollars to the people of the state, and have greatly changed methods of farming. During this period, prices for land rose very rapidly. Prices in eastern Nebraska went from $25 and $30 an acre to $100 and $150 an acre, and in western Nebraska from $1.25 an acre to $10, $20 and even $50 an acre. Towns everywhere grew rapidly. New railroads were built and there was a large and constant development of factories. Two new methods of farming followed, which greatly helped the state. These were irrigation and dry farming, or summer tillage as the latter is sometimes called. Under the former, ditches were dug to carry the water from the streams and spread it out on the fields. Under this system, the waters of the Platte , the Republican, the Loup, the Niobrara , and other streams were led out on the land, making great fields of grass and grain where before little had been raised. Using the dry farming method, it was discovered that plowing and cultivating the land without a crop one year would insure a fair crop the next year, even though the seasons were dry. On June 29,1904, a new Homestead Act took effect in Nebraska, called the Kinkaid Act after Congressman Kinkaid of O'Neill, who introduced it in Congress. This act gave settlers on certain parts of the remaining public land in Nebraska a homestead of 640 acres by living on it for five years and placing improvements of $1,000 on it. About 8,000,000 acres of sandy and rough land remained to be taken under this act. At many land offices, there was a great rush for this last United States land in Nebraska , and by 1912 there were only 832,750 acres left to be taken. In 1906, the Reclamation Act, championed by President Roosevelt, made an important change affecting western Nebraska . Under this act, a dam was built across the rocky canyon of the North Platte River near Casper, Wyoming, making a great lake. The surplus water from this lake was then brought down across the table-lands of western Nebraska. More than 100,000 acres were placed under irrigation by settlers under this act. For many years, the State of Nebraska had been in debt paying expenses. This was because State expenses were constantly growing larger, and the grand assessment roll was becoming smaller. (The grand assessment roll is the list of all the property in the state made by the assessors on which taxes are levied). During the hard times, after the panic of 1893, the value of property went down. Many people, in order to avoid paying taxes, did not report to the assessor all that they had. Many taxes were unpaid. To pay its expenses, the State had issued more than a million dollars in warrants beyond its income from taxes. To provide more money, the Legislature of 1903 passed a new Revenue Law, the aim of which was to compel everyone to report all property for taxation and to raise more money for state expenses. In 1905, the Legislature passed another act, designating a special tax to pay off the million dollars of warrants the state owed. This has now all been paid. George L. Sheldon, Republican, of Nehawka, was elected Governor in 1906 and held the office two years. During his term, the thirty years' railroad struggle in Nebraska had some definite results. Free passes on the railroads were abolished, passenger fare was reduced to two cents a mile, and a commission of three persons was created to regulate the relationship of the people to the railroads in the State. A Direct Primary Law was also passed, under which candidates for office had to be named by all the voters instead of being selected by delegates in conventions. In 1908, Ashton C. Shallenberger, Democrat, of Alma , was elected Governor. During his two-year term, the Legislature passed an act providing for a bank guaranty fund that ensured people depositing money in banks from losses by bank failure. The "Daylight Saloon Act" was also passed, which required liquor sellers to close their establishments from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. An act requiring corporations to pay an annual tax, an act to value all the railroad property in the state, and an act providing for the election of the peoples' choice for United States Senator were also passed. The question of county option, or permitting all the voters of each county to determine whether they would have saloons in that county or not, became the exciting political issue at this time. In 1910, Chester H. Aldrich, Republican, of David City , was elected Governor. County option was the battleground of the campaign, and the result was the election of a Governor in favor of county option and a Legislature opposed to it. Among the important acts of the Legislature of 1911, were the following: An act providing for the initiative and referendum permitting the voters to adopt or reject laws; an act providing for the commission form of government of cities; an act to forbid the selling of seed of any kind having weed seeds; an act stopping the taxation of real estate mortgages; an act to protect the water in Nebraska rivers and lakes; and an act to secure libraries for the country districts. During the election of November 5, 1912 , John H. Morehead, Democrat, of Falls City , was chosen Governor. The chief feature of the campaign was the spectacular split in the Republican Party between the supporters of President Taft and of Ex-President Roosevelt. A new party, named the Progressive Party, was organized, which supported Mr. Roosevelt. In Nebraska , the Progressive Party and the Republican Party united on most of their candidates, but there was much strife and contention in bringing this about, and Woodrow Wilson, Democratic candidate for President, carried the state by a plurality of 37,000 over Theodore Roosevelt and a still larger plurality over President Taft. The new Legislature in 1913 had 55 Democrats and 45 Republicans in the House and 18 Republicans and 15 Democrats in the Senate. During this election five important amendments were made to the State Constitution, making the greatest changes in the document since it was framed in 1875. The new amendments provided for enactment of laws by the people through the initiative and referendum, for elections once in two years instead of every year, for a Board of Control to manage the state prison, asylums and other institutions, for home rule by cities, for increasing the salaries of members of the Legislature from $300 to $600, and limiting the time for introducing bills to the first twenty days of each session.
Improved conditions in the early 1900s caused Populism to decline in the state, and the return of prosperous days was marked by progressive legislation, the building of highways, and conservation measures. The flush of prosperity, largely caused by the demand for foodstuffs during World War I, was almost feverish. World War I had a notable effect on life in Nebraska. The State furnished 47,801 men for the war, and about 1,000 soldiers were killed in the line of duty. The State also gave about $300 million to war causes and contributed food to the war effort. Demand for the State’s farm products brought new economic prosperity, but when the war was over, the economic boom collapsed. The 1929 stock market crash caused farm prices to fall even further. The Great Depression that followed, together with a severe drought that hit the Midwest, created economic disaster for farmers. Many faced bankruptcy and loss of their land to banks and insurance companies. Many farmers were left destitute; however, some farmers refused to give up their land. By 1932, conditions had become so desperate that groups of farmers began preventing foreclosures by threatening physical violence at public land sales. Sympathetic sheriffs often refused to carry out court orders for the public sale of land marked for foreclosure. In 1933, Gov. Charles Bryan imposed a moratorium on farm foreclosures. Federal aid came to Nebraska farmers through New Deal long-term, low-interest loans and other relief programs. During the 1930s, the State enacted Social Security legislation and imposed new liquor and head taxes, along with other gasoline taxes, to furnish funds for State aid. Another significant development during this period was the creation of a Unicameral (one-house) Legislature, the first of its kind in the nation. The 1934 unicameral amendment to the Nebraska Constitution required the Legislature to set the number of its members, by law, at no fewer than 30 and no greater than 50. Implementing legislation enacted in 1935 put the number of members initially at 43. This reduced by two-thirds the size of the existing bicameral Legislature, which had 133 members. The Unicameral remained at its initial size of 43 senators until 1971, when membership was increased to 49. Currently, each of Nebraska's 49 senators represents about 32,000 persons. By direction of Nebraska voters in 1934, Nebraska Legislators are elected on a nonpartisan ballot. Nebraska is currently the only nonpartisan State Legislature in the Nation. Nebraska Legislators serve overlapping four-year terms, with no limit on the number of consecutive terms of service. Under the 1934 constitutional amendment, Nebraska Senators initially served two-year terms. A constitutional amendment in the mid-1960s established the current system of overlapping four-year terms, with one-half of the membership standing for election every two years. With the advent of World War II, which created new demand for farm products, Nebraska ’s economy began to improve significantly. Farmers increased beef cattle production and produced millions of tons of corn, potatoes, oats, and wheat to help meet food shortages. In addition to food, the State sent some 128,000 soldiers to the war, 3,655 of whom died in the service. Nebraskans bought more than $1 billion worth of war supplies and contributed more than $8 million to the Red Cross and the National War Fund. Manufacturing plants in the State produced more than $1.2 billion worth of war supplies. Better weather and the huge food demands of World War II renewed prosperity in Nebraska. After the war, efforts continued to make the best use of the water supply, notably in such federal plans as the Missouri River Basin Project , a vast dam and water-diversion scheme that authorized the creation of flood control dams, reservoirs, and hydro-electric plants in states drained by the Missouri River, including Nebraska. Spectacular growth in irrigation occurred across the State, and, with the invention of the pivot system, thousands of acres of dry land were made productive. However, intensive irrigation and water pollution have caused concern about the future of the state’s water supply, generating controversy between land developers and environmentalists.
Pivot Irrigation System
Since the 1950s, Nebraska farms have become larger in size and fewer in number. The average farm size has grown from 444 acres in 1950 to 885 acres in 1997, while the total number of farms has dropped from 109,000 to about 51,500. Machinery and modern farming methods have made agriculture more efficient, thereby decreasing the need for farm workers. This trend has caused many rural residents to move to larger communities in search of jobs, and the population shift has generated new efforts to increase industry in Nebraska. In the mid-1970s, many Nebraska farmers borrowed heavily to expand their operations, but with the nationwide recession of the early 1980s, land values collapsed, and many farmers were unable to repay their loans in full. Some people left farming altogether, thereby weakening the economic base of rural communities. As a result, these communities stepped up efforts to attract new industries and expand existing ones. To stimulate economic growth, the 1987 Legislature adopted measures that authorized tax incentives for businesses intending to create new jobs in Nebraska. Today, Nebraska's economy still revolves around its agriculture industry. In 2001, more than 96% of the State's land, some 46 million acres, was farm and ranch land, most of it privately owned. Producers have taken advantage of the State's fertile soil, abundant water, intensive cultivation and advanced farming methods and have produced record-high crop yields in recent years. In 2000, gross cash receipts from farm marketings totaled $8.9 billion, and Nebraska had 54,000 farms that produced food for consumers in the United States and abroad.
Nebraska Wheat Crop Sugarbeet Harvest
Nebraska's top cash crop is corn. Each year, more than 8 million acres of the State's land is planted in corn, which is produced statewide. The State's livestock and poultry industries are the largest corn consumers.
Corn Harvest
Harvested Corn
Nebraska is also a leader in livestock production, a $5.9 billion industry located throughout the State. Cattle, pork, poultry, and sheep are all important sectors of the State's economy.
Cattle Roundup
Products relating to agriculture, such as irrigation systems and farm equipment, are manufactured in the State to support its agricultural economy. Manufacturing employment increased sharply during the 1960's, partly as a result of campaigns to attract new businesses to the State. Manufacturing employed more than 117,000 workers in 2001 and is a major employer in the State's larger urban areas. Food processing is the leading type of manufacturing, followed by industrial machinery and electronic equipment.
Sugar Manufacturing Plant
Chicory Manufacturing Plant
Service industries also experienced rapid growth and generate the most earnings in Nebraska. Government ranks second in earnings; manufacturing is third. The service sector also employs more workers than any other industry. Five Nebraska-based businesses are in the Fortune 500. This is Fortune magazine's annual list of the largest industrial and service corporations in the United States, based on revenue. They include Berkshire Hathaway, a diversified holding and investment firm; ConAgra, a food processing and marketing company; Mutual of Omaha, a mutual life and health insurance company; Peter Kiewit Sons', an engineering and construction firm; and Union Pacific, a railway network operating in the western two-thirds of the United States. All of these corporations are headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Many other Fortune 500 companies, including IBP and First Data Resources Inc., have major operations in Nebraska. Wal-Mart is Nebraska's largest private-sector employer.
Super Wal-Mart / Scottsbluff, Nebraska
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