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List of place names in Nebraska of Native American origin facts for kids

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This is a list of Native American place names in the U.S. state of Nebraska. These include state, county, townships, cities, towns, and villages.

Main page: List of placenames of indigenous origin in the Americas

State

  • Nebraska - The name of the state is derived from an Omaha name meaning "flat water." In the Omaha language the name is Nibthaska; ni, water, and bthaska, flat.

Counties

Villages, towns and cities

  • Anoka - A Dakota Indian word meaning "on both sides."
  • Arapahoe
  • Birdwood - A translation of the Dakota name Ziŋtka-c̣aŋ Wakpala (False Indigo Creek). False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa), commonly grows along the stream and in Dakota is literally called "birdwood."
  • Battle Creek - Named after a nearby stream where Nebraska volunteer militiamen were prepared to fight a battle against the Pawnee Indians that never happened.
  • Barada - Named after Antoine Barada, a French-Omaha settler on the Nemaha Half-Breed Reservation.
  • Blackbird - Blackbird is the English translation of the name Wash-ing-guhsah-ba, or Chief Blackbird of the Omahas who lived and died in the vicinity.
  • Bone Creek Township, Butler County, Nebraska
  • Brule - Named after the Brule tribe of the Teton Sioux.
  • Council Creek Township, Nance County, Nebraska
  • Elkhorn Township, Dodge County, Nebraska
  • Fontenelle - Named after Omaha chief Logan Fontenelle.
  • Hyannis - Named after Hyannis, Massachusetts, which was named after Iyannough, a sachem of the Cummaquid tribe.
  • Iowa Township, Holt County, Nebraska
  • Kenesaw Township, Adams County, Nebraska
  • Leshara - Named after Chief Petalesharo.
  • Lodgepole - Named after a nearby creek that is named after a literal translation of the Dakota name, Tushu Wakpala.
  • Logan Township, Adams County, Nebraska
  • Logan Township, Antelope County, Nebraska
  • Logan Township, Buffalo County, Nebraska
  • Logan Township, Burt County, Nebraska
  • Logan Township, Clay County, Nebraska
  • Logan Township, Cuming County, Nebraska
  • Logan Township, Dixon County, Nebraska
  • Logan Township, Dodge County, Nebraska
  • Logan Township, Gage County, Nebraska
  • Logan Township, Kearney County, Nebraska
  • Logan Township, Knox County, Nebraska
  • Loup Ferry Township, Nance County, Nebraska
  • Loup Township, Buffalo County, Nebraska
  • Loup Township, Custer County, Nebraska
  • Loup Township, Merrick County, Nebraska
  • Loup Township, Platte County, Nebraska
  • Mankota - Mankota is from the Dakota Indian word Maḳaṭo, meaning "blue earth". Named for Mankato, Minnesota.
  • Minatare - From the Hidatsa word mirita'ri, meaning "crosses the water."
  • Monowi - Meaning "flower", this town was so named because there were so many wild flowers growing in the vicinity.
  • Nehawka - An approximation to the Omaha and Otoe Indian name of a nearby creek meaning "rustling water."
  • Nemaha - Named after the Nemaha River, based on an Otoe word meaning "swampy water."
  • Niobrara - The Omaha and Ponca word for spreading water or spreading river.
  • Oconee - Named for Oconee, Illinois. Oconee was the name of a Creek town.
  • Oconto - A Menominee word meaning the "place of the pickerel." Named for Oconto, Wisconsin.
  • Ogallala - named for the Oglala people.
  • Omaha - Named for the Omaha people who lived nearby
  • Oneida Township, Kearney County, Nebraska
  • Osceola
  • Ottercreek Township, Dixon County, Nebraska
  • Leshara. Named after Petalesharo, a Pawnee chief.
  • Platte Township, Buffalo County, Nebraska
  • Platte Township, Butler County, Nebraska
  • Platte Township, Dodge County, Nebraska
  • Pohocco - A precinct in the northeastern part of Saunders county, the name derives from Pahuk, meaning headland or promontory, the Pawnee name of a prominent hill in the vicinity.
  • Ponca
  • Quinnebaugh Township, Burt County, Nebraska
  • Red Cloud
  • Rosalie - Named for Rosalie La Flesche, a daughter of Omaha chief Joseph La Flesche.
  • Santee
  • Sappa Township, Harlan County, Nebraska
  • Saratoga Township, Holt County, Nebraska
  • Sioux
  • Skull Creek Township, Butler County, Nebraska
  • St. Deroin - A ghost town on the former Nemaha Half-Breed Reservation founded by a French-Omaha settler who was killed near his trading post along the Missouri River.
  • Tecumseh
  • Tekamah - Located on the site of a historic Pawnee village, the surrounding hills were used for burying grounds and the highest point was used as a fire signal station. The origin of the name is not definitely known.
  • Tonawanda - Named for Tonawanda, New York.
  • Unidilla - An Iroquois word meaning "place of meeting." Named after Unadilla, New York.
  • Venango - An eastern Native American name in reference to a figure found on a tree, carved by the Erie.
  • Waco - Named after Waco, Texas, which is the name of one of the divisions of the Tawokoni whose village stood on the site of Waco, Texas.
  • Wahoo
  • Weeping Water is a translation of the French "L'Eau qui Pleure", and has an interesting Native American legend connected with its name.
  • Winnebago
  • Wyoming - Derived from a corrupted Delaware word meaning "large plains" or "extensive meadows."
  • Wyoming Township, Holt County, Nebraska
  • Yutan - Named for an Otoe chief.

Natural features

Other places

See also

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List of place names in Nebraska of Native American origin Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.