BigDaddyData.Com: Nebraska Lincoln

Lincoln, in southeastern Nebraska, is the state capital and the seat of Lancaster County. The second largest city in the state, it has a population of 191,972 (1990). Situated about 80 km (50 mi) west of the Missouri River, Lincoln is the transportation, finance, trade, and manufacturing center of the surrounding farm region. Meat-packing, pharmaceutical and machinery manufacturing, and railroad shops are major industries. Insurance and government are significant in the economy. The state capitol (completed 1932), with its 122-m (400-ft) tower, is visible for miles, and the home of William Jennings Bryan, who lived there from 1887 to 1902, is preserved. The Nebraska State Fair is an annual event. Colleges include the University of Nebraska (1869), Nebraska Wesleyan University (1887), and Union College (1891).

Originally known as Lancaster, Lincoln was founded in 1864, when Methodists laid out the town and built a seminary. In 1867, after years of bitter legislative dispute, the capital was moved from Omaha to Lancaster, which was renamed Lincoln. The city grew rapidly after the railroad arrived in 1870.