Nebraska Outback facts for kids
The Nebraska Outback is a special part of the U.S. state of Nebraska. It's located in the north-central area and includes seven counties: Boyd, Holt, Rock, Blaine, Brown, Keya Paha, and Cherry. This region is known for its wide-open spaces and natural beauty.
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Discovering the Outback
Calling this area the "Nebraska Outback" is part of a plan to encourage tourism. A group called the North Central Nebraska RC&D Council leads this effort. They are a nonprofit organization that works with local communities and groups. Their goal is to help people develop their towns, counties, and the whole region.
Where is the Outback?
The Outback borders South Dakota to the north. A small part of the Missouri River flows along its eastern edge. This area is very spacious, covering about 12,627 square miles (32,702 square kilometers). Not many people live here, only about 26,984. That means there are only about two people for every square mile!
Getting Around the Outback
You can explore the Outback using special roads called "byways." These include:
- The Bridges to Buttes Byway (Highway 20)
- The Outlaw Trail (Highway 12)
- Small parts of the Loup Rivers Scenic Byway (Highway 91/Highway 11)
- The Sandhills Journey (Highway 2) in Blaine County
There's also the Cowboy Trail, which is a long path for bicycling, walking, and horseback riding. When it's finished, it will stretch for 321 miles (517 kilometers) from Norfolk to Chadron.
Fun Places to Visit
The Nebraska Outback has many interesting places to visit. These spots are highlighted to help more people discover the region. Here are some of the cool attractions:
- Smith Falls State Park (near Valentine): This park is home to Nebraska's tallest waterfall! It's a great place to see nature and enjoy the outdoors.
- Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge (Valentine): Here, you can see amazing wildlife. It's a protected area for many different animals.
- Merritt Reservoir (Valentine): A large lake perfect for fishing, boating, and camping.
- Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest (Nenzel): This is a unique forest where you can explore sandy hills and pine trees.
- Arthur Bowring Sandhills Ranch State Historical Park (Merriman): Learn about ranching history in the Sandhills at this historic park.
- Spade Ranch (Ellsworth): This historic ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Niobrara River Road (Norden): A scenic drive along the beautiful Niobrara River.
- Winnetoon: This town has cool replicas of old storefronts, a schoolhouse, and a trading post. You can even visit a working 1890s post office!
- Sunshine Bottom (Lynch): This area was settled by German families from the Russian Empire. You can see homes and settlement patterns similar to what they left behind in Ukraine.
- Rock County Oil Company Phillips 66 (Bassett): This old gas station was built in 1927 in a cool Spanish style. It's a neat piece of history.
- Old Baldy (Lynch): This historic site is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Strawbale Saloon (Spencer): A unique building made from straw bales.
- Museums: There are several interesting museums in the Outback, like the Sturdevant-McKee House Museum in Atkinson, the White Horse Museum in Stuart, the Butte Historical Center in Butte, and the Holt County Historical Society Museum in O'Neill. These museums teach you about the history and culture of the area.
