Saline County is located in southeastern Nebraska, bordered by Lancaster County to the north and extending south to the Kansas state line. Established in 1855 and organized in 1857, it developed as part of the region’s mid-19th-century agricultural settlement and railroad-era growth. The county is mid-sized for Nebraska, with a population of roughly 14,000 residents. Its landscape is characterized by gently rolling plains and farmland typical of the eastern Great Plains, with communities oriented around small towns and rural areas. Agriculture remains a central economic activity, supported by related services and light manufacturing in local centers. Wilber, known for its Czech-American cultural heritage and annual community traditions, reflects one of the county’s notable ethnic influences. The county seat is Wilber, while Crete serves as the largest city and an important local hub for education, industry, and commerce.

Saline County Local Demographic Profile

Saline County is located in southeastern Nebraska, with Wilber as the county seat and the county positioned along major regional corridors between Lincoln and the Kansas border. The profile below summarizes key demographics using official U.S. Census Bureau datasets and county/state government references.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts for Saline County, Nebraska, the county’s population was 14,295 (2020). Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Saline County, Nebraska.

Age & Gender

Age and sex composition are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in county profile tables. The most accessible county summary is provided through QuickFacts, which reports:

Racial & Ethnic Composition

The U.S. Census Bureau provides county-level race and Hispanic/Latino origin shares (e.g., White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, two or more races, and Hispanic or Latino origin) in QuickFacts and ACS profile tables. Source: QuickFacts race and Hispanic origin statistics for Saline County.

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing characteristics are reported by the U.S. Census Bureau for counties, including indicators such as the number of households, average household size, owner-occupied housing rate, housing unit counts, and related measures in the QuickFacts profile. Source: QuickFacts household and housing statistics for Saline County.

Local Government Reference

For local government and planning resources, visit the Saline County official website.

Email Usage

Saline County, in southeast Nebraska, combines small cities (notably Crete and Wilber) with rural areas, so population density and last‑mile infrastructure shape residents’ ability to use email reliably. Direct county‑level email usage statistics are not generally published; broadband and device access from the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) are commonly used proxies because email adoption depends on internet connectivity and access to a computer or smartphone.

Digital access indicators (proxies for email use)

The Bureau’s American Community Survey tables for Saline County report household measures such as broadband internet subscription and computer ownership, which indicate the practical capacity to maintain email accounts and use webmail or client apps.

Age distribution and email adoption

ACS age distributions for Saline County provide an indirect indicator of email uptake: older populations tend to have lower overall digital adoption rates than prime working‑age groups, affecting routine email use for work, services, and healthcare communications.

Gender distribution

ACS sex composition is available for the county; it is typically less determinative of email use than age and connectivity, but it supports context on household composition and digital participation.

Connectivity and infrastructure limitations

Rural service gaps and variable speeds are documented in the FCC National Broadband Map, reflecting infrastructure constraints that can limit consistent email access outside town centers.

Mobile Phone Usage

Overview (county context and connectivity-relevant characteristics)

Saline County is in southeastern Nebraska, with Wilber as the county seat and the county positioned within the Lincoln–Beatrice regional sphere. Land use is predominantly agricultural with small towns and dispersed rural residences, producing relatively low population density outside municipal boundaries. The terrain is largely plains with gently rolling topography typical of the eastern Nebraska prairie region, which generally supports wide-area radio propagation but still requires dense site placement to deliver consistent in-building coverage in towns and along transportation corridors. These rural settlement patterns and longer distances between users and cell sites are central factors affecting both mobile network availability and observed household adoption.

Data limitations: Publicly available, county-specific statistics on “mobile phone penetration” (ownership) and on “smartphone vs. feature phone” shares are often not released at the county level. Where county-specific metrics are unavailable, the most reliable approach is to use (1) network-availability datasets that are explicitly geographic (coverage maps and broadband availability) and (2) household adoption datasets that are published for counties (typically for internet subscription broadly, not strictly mobile-only).

Network availability (coverage and technology presence) vs. adoption (household uptake)

Network availability describes where 4G/5G service is reported as offered by providers, usually modeled and submitted by carriers. This is distinct from adoption, which describes whether households actually subscribe to mobile service or use mobile broadband as their primary internet connection.

In Saline County, availability measures are best obtained from federal and state broadband mapping programs, while adoption indicators are most commonly drawn from U.S. Census survey products (which measure internet subscriptions and device types at the household level, but not always “mobile-only” with county precision).

Mobile penetration or access indicators (where available)

County-level adoption indicators commonly available

  • Household internet subscription and device-type indicators (county level): The most direct county-published proxy for mobile access is U.S. Census data on household internet subscriptions and whether households rely on cellular data for internet access, when available at county geography. These indicators are accessed through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) tables and profiles available via Census.gov and tools such as data.census.gov.
    Limitation: ACS estimates are survey-based and may have sampling error for smaller geographies; some detailed “cellular data plan” measures are not consistently available or stable at county level in every release.

County-level mobile subscription “penetration” indicators typically not published

  • Mobile phone ownership/penetration (by individuals) and smartphone/feature-phone splits are more commonly reported at national or state levels (or via private market research) rather than by county. As a result, Saline County–specific “mobile penetration rate” is generally not available in standard public datasets without specialized surveys.

Mobile internet usage patterns and network technology (4G and 5G availability)

Reported 4G LTE and 5G availability (network-side)

  • FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC): The most authoritative, routinely updated source for reported mobile broadband availability by technology is the FCC’s mapping program, which provides coverage layers for mobile broadband and differentiates technology generations and advertised performance. County-level and location-level coverage can be explored through the FCC National Broadband Map.
    Interpretation notes (availability vs. experience):

    • FCC availability reflects provider-submitted coverage claims and modeled service areas.
    • Availability does not guarantee consistent indoor service, capacity at peak times, or uniform performance across all devices.

  • Nebraska broadband mapping and context: Nebraska’s statewide broadband planning and mapping resources help contextualize where mobile networks complement or substitute for fixed broadband in rural areas. State resources are accessible via the State of Nebraska portal and Nebraska broadband program pages (often housed within state economic development or broadband offices).
    Limitation: State mapping may emphasize fixed broadband; mobile layers and county-level summaries vary by program and update cycle.

Observed mobile internet use patterns (adoption-side)

  • Cellular data as a household internet source: ACS internet subscription questions can capture households that use a cellular data plan as an internet service, but county-level availability of stable estimates may vary by year and table selection on data.census.gov.
  • Mobile as a complement vs. substitute: In rural counties, mobile broadband often complements fixed service for mobility and coverage outside towns; in pockets with limited fixed broadband options, mobile can function as a primary home connection. This distinction requires household survey data (adoption) rather than coverage maps (availability).

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

  • County-specific smartphone vs. feature phone shares: Public, county-level device-type breakdowns are generally not produced by federal statistical agencies. The ACS measures household access to “a smartphone” among device types in some tables, but the ability to reliably isolate smartphone prevalence at the county level depends on the specific ACS table and year and may be constrained by sampling variability for smaller geographies. The most consistent public approach is to use ACS “computer and internet use” device indicators via Census.gov / data.census.gov.
  • Practical interpretation: Where ACS device indicators are available for Saline County, they describe household access to devices (including smartphones) rather than individual ownership, and they do not directly measure “feature phones.”

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Saline County

Rural settlement pattern and distance to infrastructure

  • Dispersed housing and agricultural land use increase the cost per served user for dense cellular infrastructure, influencing site spacing and, in turn, signal strength and in-building reliability outside towns. This primarily affects network availability and service quality rather than the underlying desire to adopt mobile service.

Town-centered demand and transportation corridors

  • Mobile network performance typically concentrates around population centers (towns) and major roadways, where demand and traffic justify additional capacity. Reported coverage on the FCC National Broadband Map can be compared across the county to understand how availability varies between municipalities and open countryside.

Population characteristics that correlate with adoption (measured via surveys)

  • Adoption of smartphones and mobile broadband tends to correlate with income, age distribution, educational attainment, and housing tenure, but county-specific quantification requires survey outputs. The ACS provides county-level demographic profiles and relevant socioeconomic measures through data.census.gov.
    Limitation: These are correlates; without a county-specific device adoption dataset, demographic explanation remains descriptive rather than a quantified causal account.

Practical sources for Saline County–specific verification (public datasets)

Summary (availability vs. adoption, clearly separated)

  • Availability: Public, mappable evidence of where mobile broadband is offered in Saline County is best obtained from the FCC National Broadband Map, which distinguishes technology and reported coverage but does not measure consistent user experience.
  • Adoption: Public county-level measures of mobile phone penetration and smartphone/feature phone splits are limited; the most defensible public proxies come from ACS household internet subscription and device-access tables on data.census.gov.
  • Key influences: Rural geography and dispersed settlement patterns shape infrastructure economics and coverage consistency, while demographic composition influences adoption patterns primarily through broader socioeconomic correlates measurable in ACS profiles.

Social Media Trends

Saline County is in southeastern Nebraska, with Wilber (county seat) and Crete as notable communities. The county’s mix of small towns and rural areas, plus Crete’s institutional and employer presence (including Crete Public Schools and area manufacturing/agribusiness), typically aligns local social media use with broader Midwestern patterns: high use of mainstream platforms for community news, school activities, local events, and peer-to-peer communication.

User statistics (penetration / active use)

  • Local (county-level) social media penetration: No reputable, regularly updated Saline County–specific social media penetration estimates are published by major survey organizations. County-level “active user” rates are generally not available from public datasets at reliable margins of error.
  • Best available benchmark (U.S. adults): National survey research provides the most defensible proxy for county usage.
  • Connectivity context (important for rural counties): Social media use in rural places is influenced by broadband and mobile coverage. Nebraska broadband availability and adoption patterns are documented by federal sources such as the FCC National Broadband Map, which provides location-based service availability rather than platform usage.

Age group trends

Nationally, age is the strongest predictor of social media use and platform choice, and this pattern is expected to hold in Saline County’s population structure.

  • Highest overall use: Ages 18–29 have the highest social media adoption across platforms.
  • Strong use: Ages 30–49 also show high adoption, often concentrating on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
  • Lower (but substantial) use: Ages 50–64 use social media at meaningful rates, with heavier emphasis on Facebook and YouTube than newer social apps.
  • Lowest use: 65+ shows the lowest adoption and narrower platform mix, concentrating on Facebook and YouTube.
    Source for age-by-platform patterns: Pew Research Center platform-by-demographics tables.

Gender breakdown

  • Overall: U.S. survey data typically shows modest gender differences in “any social media use,” with clearer differences emerging by platform.
  • Platform-tilted differences (U.S. pattern):

Most-used platforms (benchmarks and typical local mix)

County-specific platform market shares are not published by major survey organizations, so the most reliable “percent used” figures come from national surveys.

Behavioral trends (engagement and preferences)

  • Community information and groups: In small-town/rural counties, Facebook pages and Groups commonly function as quasi-community bulletin boards for school activities, local government updates, event promotion, and commerce.
  • Video-first consumption: YouTube is typically the broadest cross-age venue for longer-form informational content, how-to content, local sports highlights, and entertainment, aligning with national findings on its wide reach. Source: Pew Research Center platform reach comparisons.
  • Short-form video among younger residents: TikTok and Instagram Reels align with younger-skewing usage and higher content discovery via algorithmic feeds (less dependent on local follower networks).
  • Messaging as a parallel channel: Social “use” frequently includes private or small-group sharing of links and posts; platform ecosystems often blend public posting with direct messaging behaviors.
  • News and civic information: Usage for news tends to concentrate on platforms with strong link sharing and local organization presence (commonly Facebook), consistent with broader U.S. patterns in where people encounter news online. Source: Pew Research Center research on news consumption and social media.

Family & Associates Records

Saline County family and associate-related public records include vital records (birth and death), marriage records, divorce case files, adoption case files, probate/guardianship records, and court records that can document family relationships. In Nebraska, birth and death certificates are maintained centrally by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Vital Records rather than by counties. Certified copies are requested through the state’s vital records office and approved channels; access is restricted for a statutory period and generally limited to eligible requesters. Official information is available from Nebraska DHHS Vital Records.

Marriage license records are typically issued and recorded at the county level through the Saline County Clerk’s office. County contact and office information is available on the Saline County, Nebraska official website.

Divorce, adoption, juvenile, guardianship, and other family-related filings are maintained by the court. Public access to many Nebraska court case indexes and registers of actions is provided through the statewide Nebraska Justice Case Search; sealed matters (commonly adoptions and many juvenile cases) are not publicly viewable. Land and property records (often used for household/associate research) are maintained by the Register of Deeds and may be accessible through county offices listed on the county site. Privacy limits apply to sealed court files, protected personal identifiers, and restricted vital records.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage licenses and marriage records (certificates/returns)
    Saline County issues marriage licenses through the county clerk, and completed licenses are returned and recorded as the county’s marriage record.
  • Divorce records (decrees and case files)
    Divorces are handled as civil court cases in the District Court. The official outcome is the divorce decree (a final order/judgment), along with a broader court case file (pleadings, motions, orders).
  • Annulments
    Annulments are also court matters handled in District Court and result in a court order/judgment and associated case file. Annulments are generally indexed similarly to other domestic relations cases.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage records

    • Filed/maintained by: Saline County Clerk (marriage license issuance and recording).
    • State-level record: Nebraska maintains statewide vital records; certified copies of marriage records are typically available through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Vital Records.
    • Access methods: Requests are commonly handled in person or by mail through the county clerk for county-held records and through DHHS Vital Records for state-certified copies. Some basic index information may be available through courthouse/public terminal systems where maintained.

  • Divorce and annulment records

    • Filed/maintained by: Clerk of the District Court for Saline County (case files, orders, and decrees).
    • State-level record: Nebraska DHHS Vital Records maintains divorce information as a vital event record, generally separate from the full court case file.
    • Access methods: Copies of decrees and access to case files are obtained from the district court clerk’s office. Basic case information may also be available through Nebraska’s court case search systems where published.

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license / marriage record

    • Full names of both parties (and often prior names where applicable)
    • Date and place of marriage (or intended place on the license; completed information on the return)
    • Ages or dates of birth (varies by form/version)
    • Residences at time of application
    • Officiant name/title and signature, and date officiated
    • License number, issuance date, and filing/recording date
    • Witness information may appear depending on the form used

  • Divorce decree

    • Caption and case number, court name, and filing/judgment dates
    • Names of the parties and the court’s findings/jurisdictional statements
    • Orders dissolving the marriage and restoring names (where granted)
    • Orders on legal custody/parenting time, child support, spousal support, property division, and debt allocation (as applicable)
    • Incorporation of settlement agreements or parenting plans (where used)

  • Annulment order/judgment

    • Caption and case number, court name, and judgment date
    • Names of the parties and the legal basis for annulment as determined by the court
    • Orders addressing name restoration and related relief, and references to associated agreements/orders as applicable

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Vital records restrictions (state-certified copies):
    Nebraska restricts access to certified vital records (including marriage and divorce vital records) to eligible requestors under state law and DHHS rules. Proof of identity and qualifying relationship/interest is commonly required for certified copies.

  • Court record access (divorce/annulment case files):
    Court records are generally public, but Nebraska court rules permit confidential treatment of specified information and documents. Common restrictions include:

    • Sealed or confidential filings by court order
    • Redaction or protected handling of sensitive identifiers (such as Social Security numbers and certain financial account information)
    • Confidentiality provisions affecting certain domestic relations, protection, or child-related information in particular filings

  • Practical access limits:
    Even when a case is public, access may be limited to viewing non-confidential documents, with confidential attachments and protected data withheld or redacted.

Education, Employment and Housing

Saline County is in southeastern Nebraska, with Wilber as the county seat and Crete as the largest city; it sits roughly between Lincoln and Beatrice and functions as a mix of small-city, small-town, and agricultural communities. The county’s population is in the mid‑teens (about 14–15k in recent Census estimates), with a notable institutional presence from Doane University (Crete) and a regional labor market that is closely tied to Lancaster County (Lincoln) for higher-wage employment and specialized services.

Education Indicators

Public school systems and schools (most comprehensive listing available)

Saline County’s public K–12 education is primarily provided by these districts:

  • Crete Public Schools (serving Crete and nearby areas)
  • Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools (serving Wilber/Clatonia and surrounding rural areas)
  • Dorchester Public Schools (serving Dorchester and surrounding rural areas)
  • Friend Public Schools (serving Friend and surrounding rural areas)

School-level names vary by district configuration and periodic consolidation; the most reliable current school rosters are maintained by each district and the state directory. A statewide directory reference is available through the Nebraska Department of Education (Nebraska Department of Education), and district sites provide the current building names (elementary/middle/high school).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratios: District-level ratios in rural Nebraska commonly fall in the low-to-mid teens per teacher (often ~12:1 to 16:1). Saline County districts tend to align with this rural/small-city range; precise current ratios are best verified via district report cards or the state’s accountability/reporting pages (district staffing and enrollment fluctuate annually).
  • Graduation rates: Nebraska’s public high school graduation rate is typically in the high 80% to low 90% range statewide in recent years. Saline County districts generally track near the state range, with year-to-year variation by small cohort sizes. The most recent official district graduation metrics are reported through the state’s education reporting systems (Nebraska Department of Education reporting).

Note on availability: A single countywide graduation rate and countywide student–teacher ratio are not always published as consolidated “county” figures; district-level report cards are the standard source.

Adult education levels (highest level completed)

County-level adult attainment is commonly summarized through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). In Saline County, adult educational attainment is broadly consistent with smaller Nebraska counties:

  • High school diploma or higher: typically around nine in ten adults (roughly ~90%+ in recent ACS patterns for similar Nebraska counties).
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: typically around one in five to one in four adults (~20–25%), influenced locally by proximity to Lincoln and the presence of higher education in Crete.

The canonical source for the latest ACS county educational attainment tables is the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov).

Notable programs (STEM, vocational training, AP)

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Nebraska districts typically provide CTE coursework (agriculture, skilled/technical trades, business/marketing, family & consumer sciences), often coordinated regionally through Educational Service Units (ESUs) and state-recognized career pathways.
  • Dual credit / college-credit coursework: Common in Nebraska public high schools through partnerships with community colleges and universities; Crete’s proximity to postsecondary institutions supports this pattern.
  • Advanced Placement (AP): AP offerings are most common in larger high schools, with smaller schools frequently emphasizing dual credit and other college-credit options; availability varies by district and staffing.
    Statewide program context and standards are published by the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE program pages).

School safety measures and counseling resources

Across Nebraska districts, school safety and student support typically include:

  • Controlled-entry procedures (secured vestibules, visitor check-in), emergency operations plans, and drills aligned with state/local guidance.
  • Student services teams that include school counselors (and, in many districts, access to psychologists/social workers through ESU services), with increasing emphasis on behavioral health supports and threat assessment practices.
    District-specific safety plans and counseling staffing are generally posted in board policies, annual notices, or student handbooks (district websites are the authoritative sources).

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent available)

  • County unemployment is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). In recent years, Nebraska counties have generally experienced low unemployment, often in the 2%–3% range. Saline County typically aligns with that low-unemployment profile.
    The latest county unemployment figures are available via the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (BLS LAUS).

Note on precision: The most recent annual average for Saline County should be taken directly from the BLS county series for the relevant year.

Major industries and employment sectors

Saline County’s employment base is characteristic of southeastern Nebraska counties, with concentrations in:

  • Manufacturing (often a key private-sector employer in the region)
  • Educational services (K–12 and higher education presence in Crete)
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (local-serving sectors)
  • Agriculture and agribusiness (more prominent in rural areas, with some employment not fully captured in standard wage-and-salary counts)

Industry mix and employment counts by sector are typically profiled in ACS “Industry by occupation” tables and in regional labor-market summaries.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Common occupational groups in similar Nebraska county profiles include:

  • Production (manufacturing)
  • Office and administrative support
  • Education, training, and library
  • Healthcare practitioners/support
  • Transportation and material moving
  • Sales and service occupations
    County occupation distributions and labor force participation estimates are available from ACS via data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute times

  • Typical commuting pattern: A meaningful share of residents commute to Lancaster County (Lincoln) and other nearby employment centers, while others work locally in Crete, Wilber, and industrial/ag-related sites.
  • Mean travel time to work: Counties with mixed rural/small-city settlement and an anchor city nearby commonly show mean commute times in the low-to-mid 20-minute range. Saline County generally fits this regional pattern (shorter for in-town jobs; longer for Lincoln-area commuters).
    The standard source for commute times and “place of work” flows is ACS commuting tables on data.census.gov.

Local employment versus out-of-county work

  • Saline County reflects a commuter-county dynamic for higher-density employment in the Lincoln metro area, alongside local employment in education, manufacturing, retail, and services.
  • The share working outside the county is typically substantial in counties adjacent to a metro core; ACS “county-to-county worker flows” and “place of work” tables provide the best direct measures (ACS commuting and workplace tables).

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

  • Saline County is predominantly owner-occupied, typical of rural/small-city Nebraska:
    • Homeownership: commonly around 70%+
    • Renters: commonly around 25%–30%
      The latest owner/renter split is available in ACS housing tenure tables (ACS housing tenure).

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median owner-occupied home value: Generally below Lincoln’s and below many national medians, with values shaped by small-town housing stock and newer subdivisions near city centers.
  • Recent trend: Like most Nebraska markets, Saline County experienced notable appreciation during 2020–2023, followed by slower growth as interest rates rose; county medians tend to move with regional supply constraints and metro spillover from Lincoln.
    ACS provides median value estimates; transaction-based indices are less commonly published at the county level for smaller markets (ACS home value tables).

Proxy note: Where a single “current median sale price” is not reliably published for the county as a whole, ACS median value for owner-occupied homes is the standard proxy.

Typical rent prices

  • Gross rent (median): Typically below Lincoln’s and below larger U.S. metros; rents vary by Crete’s apartment stock and small-town single-family rentals.
    The most consistent measure is ACS median gross rent (ACS rent tables).

Types of housing

  • Single-family detached homes dominate in Wilber, Crete, Friend, Dorchester, and rural subdivisions.
  • Apartments and multi-unit rentals are most concentrated in Crete, with smaller clusters elsewhere.
  • Rural acreages and farmsteads are common outside city limits, with larger lot sizes and reliance on septic/well systems in some areas.

Neighborhood characteristics (schools and amenities)

  • Town-centered neighborhoods (Wilber, Crete, Friend, Dorchester) typically place housing within short driving distance of schools, parks, and basic services, with Crete offering the largest cluster of amenities.
  • Rural housing emphasizes land availability and agricultural context but generally requires longer drives for schools, groceries, and healthcare services.
    County and municipal planning/zoning documents provide the most definitive descriptions of neighborhood land use patterns.

Property tax overview (rate and typical cost)

  • Nebraska relies heavily on property taxes to fund local services, including schools. Effective property tax rates in Nebraska commonly fall in the ~1.5% to 2.0% of assessed value range (varying by local levies, school district, and valuation changes).
  • A “typical homeowner cost” depends on assessed value; for example, a home assessed at $200,000 at a 1.7% effective rate implies roughly $3,400/year in property taxes (illustrative of how the rate converts to cost; actual levies vary by jurisdiction).
    For authoritative county levy and valuation information, refer to the Nebraska Department of Revenue, Property Assessment/Taxes (Nebraska Property Assessment Division) and local county assessor/treasurer publications.

Data note: Countywide “average property tax paid” is not always reported as a single official statistic; levy rates and assessed values are published at the jurisdiction level and are the best-supported inputs for estimating typical tax burdens.

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Other Counties in Nebraska