Politics of Nebraska in 1991
In 1991, Nebraska was a politically competitive state with both Democratic and Republican candidates vying for office. The Republican Party had held the governorship since 1971 but, in 1990, Democrat Ben Nelson won the gubernatorial election in a close race. This was a significant victory for the Democrats and set the stage for an interesting political climate in Nebraska throughout 1991.
The state legislature was also closely divided between Republicans and Democrats. In the unicameral legislature, Republicans held 32 seats while Democrats had 28. This split allowed for compromise on bills and legislation passed through the legislature during 1991 which included topics such as tax reform, education funding, public safety laws, and healthcare reform.
At the federal level, Nebraska’s two United States Senators were both Republicans: J. James Exon (who had served since 1979) and David Karnes (who had been elected in 1990). The state’s three representatives in Congress were all Republicans as well: Doug Bereuter (elected in 1978), Tom Osborne (elected in 1988), and Jon Christensen (elected in 1990).
In 1991, Nebraska experienced some significant political events at both the state and national levels. On July 1st of that year, Governor Nelson signed a bill to create a new state department of health to oversee medical care services throughout Nebraska. Later that month, President George H.W Bush nominated Clarence Thomas to replace Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court of United States; this nomination was met with mixed reactions from Nebraskans who felt it could either help or hurt their state’s interests depending on how Thomas voted on certain issues if he were confirmed by Congress.
Overall, Nebraska’s politics during 1991 were characterized by competition between Republicans and Democrats at various levels of government as well as some significant events that affected both state residents and those across America alike.
Population of Nebraska in 1991
In 1991, Nebraska had a population of 1.6 million people. The state was predominantly white, with a population that was 94.3% Caucasian, 2.2% African-American, 0.9% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 1.8% Hispanic or Latino origin. The largest cities in the state were Omaha and Lincoln, both of which had populations of over 200,000 people. See definitionexplorer for cities and towns in Colfax County, Nebraska.
Nebraska had a relatively young population in 1991; the median age was 33 years old and approximately one-third of the population was under 18 years old. There were slightly more females than males in the state (50.3 % to 49.7%). The majority of Nebraskans lived in urban areas (66%), while 34% lived in rural areas across the state’s 93 counties. See dictionaryforall for population in Cuming County, Nebraska.
The median household income for Nebraska in 1991 was $36,420 and approximately 15% of households were below the poverty line at that time. Among those living below the poverty line were 10% of children under 18 and 9% of adults aged 65 and older; these percentages are higher than those seen today thanks to social safety net programs like SNAP and WIC that have been implemented since then to help reduce poverty levels throughout Nebraska and other states across America as well as nationally.
Nebraska also had a strong agricultural industry in 1991; it was ranked second nationally for production of corn and third for soybeans that year according to United States Department of Agriculture statistics from 1992-1993 crop year estimates. Additionally, livestock production accounted for nearly one-third ($2 billion) of agricultural cash receipts throughout the state that year with beef cattle leading this sector at $1 billion followed by hogs ($450 million), dairy ($180 million), sheep ($45 million), poultry ($35 million), horses ($40 million), goats ($10 million) and other animals such as llamas accounting for $25 million total cash receipts from livestock production during 1991 in Nebraska.
Economy of Nebraska in 1991
In 1991, Nebraska’s economy was largely driven by agriculture. The state ranked second nationally in corn production and third in soybean production according to United States Department of Agriculture statistics from the 1992-1993 crop year estimates. Livestock production accounted for nearly one-third ($2 billion) of agricultural cash receipts throughout the state that year with beef cattle leading this sector at $1 billion followed by hogs ($450 million), dairy ($180 million), sheep ($45 million), poultry ($35 million), horses ($40 million), goats ($10 million) and other animals such as llamas accounting for $25 million total cash receipts from livestock production during 1991 in Nebraska. See topbbacolleges for economy in Adams County, Nebraska.
The manufacturing industry was also strong, with food processing, metal fabrication, printing and publishing, machinery manufacturing, plastics products manufacturing, and chemical products manufacturing among the most prominent sectors. Other major industries included finance and insurance, transportation and warehousing, real estate rental and leasing services, professional scientific and technical services, educational services, health care and social assistance services as well as retail trade.
Nebraska’s unemployment rate was 3.3% in 1991; slightly higher than the national average of 6.7%. This rate has since dropped to 2.9% in 2018 due to a strong economy with job growth across multiple sectors including construction (4%), transportation (3%), leisure/hospitality (2%) as well as professional/business services (1%).
The median household income for Nebraska in 1991 was $36,420; slightly lower than the national average of $41,994 that year according to the US Census Bureau. A large portion of Nebraskans lived below poverty level with 15% of households falling into this category compared to 13% nationally at that time; these percentages are higher than those seen today thanks to social safety net programs like SNAP and WIC that have been implemented since then to help reduce poverty levels throughout Nebraska as well as nationally.
Events held in Nebraska in 1991
In 1991, Nebraska was a bustling state with plenty of events and activities for everyone. From the large cities to the small towns, Nebraskans could find something to enjoy. One of the most popular events in Nebraska that year was the annual Husker Harvest Days, held in Grand Island every September. This event is a four-day celebration of Nebraska’s agriculture industry, featuring demonstrations, exhibits, and educational seminars. Farmers from all over the state come to show off their crops and livestock and discuss their latest farming techniques. The event also includes live music performances from local bands and plenty of food vendors offering up traditional Nebraska fare like corn dogs and funnel cakes.
The Omaha Summer Arts Festival was another popular event in 1991. Held in June each year, this festival features art displays from local artists as well as performances from musicians and dancers from around the world. There are also plenty of food vendors offering up delicious treats like funnel cakes, snow cones, and kettle corn. The festival is a great way to experience Omaha’s vibrant culture while enjoying some fantastic art displays and performances.
For those looking for a more educational experience in 1991, there were several lectures and seminars held throughout the state on topics ranging from history to science to religion. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln hosted dozens of these events throughout the year on its campus as well as at other venues across Lincoln such as Memorial Stadium or Pinnacle Bank Arena. These lectures usually featured prominent speakers or experts on various topics who provided an engaging learning experience for attendees interested in learning more about a specific subject matter.
For those looking for something a little more low-key but still fun in 1991, there were plenty of smaller events hosted by local organizations or businesses such as movie nights at drive-in theaters or festivals celebrating Native American culture held throughout the state. There were also plenty of farmers markets where people could purchase locally grown produce or handmade crafts directly from farmers or artisans living nearby. No matter what type of event someone was looking for in 1991, they could find it somewhere here in Nebraska.