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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,
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
46
Lower Plains: Kansas, Nebraska
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.