Central Region, NE Land for Sale

The Central region of Nebraska includes the entire mid-section of the state from north to south, and it borders South Dakota to the north and Kansas to the south. Grand Island is the largest city in this region, and the fourth largest city in Nebraska. Other larger cities in the region include Valentine, O'Neill, Ogallala, North Platte, Lexington, Kearney, Minden, Hastings and McCook. The region's economy relies heavily on agriculture, with major products being beef, pork, corn (maize), soybeans and sorghum. A large drink manufacturer is headquartered in Hastings, and the world's largest train yard is located in North Platte, contributing to the economy through freight transport. There a few higher education institutions in the Central region, which include University of Nebraska at Kearney, Hastings College, Doane College, Central Community College and Mid-Plains Community College. Hall County Parks and Recreation manages several parks and hiking and biking trails, and the county is known for bird watching, including the sandhill cranes, with nearly 500,000 of the birds migrating through the area in February and March each year. Some other attractions in Hall County include Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, Nebraska Nature Center, Fonmer Park, for horseracing, and Plum Street Station.

Nebraska's Central region has 78 protected areas, including six national wildlife refuges, two national forests, and 70 state parks, wildlife areas and fish hatcheries. Some of the most notable include Box Elder Canyon State Wildlife Management Area, Enders Reservoir Wildlife Management Area, Fort Kearney State Park, Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, along the Niobrara river, Medicine Creek State Wildlife Management Area, Meritt Reservoir State Wildlife Management Area, located in the valley of the Snake River, Mormon Island State Wildlife Management Area, Nebraska National Forest, Pressey State Wildlife Management Area, Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest, Smith Falls State Park, which also straddles the Niobrara River, and Stolley State Park. Other attractions in the region include viewing the sandhill cranes on the Platte River near Kearney, and the Archway, a museum in Kearney that chronicles the history of Oregon Trail pioneers, the Pony Express riders, fur trappers, and more.

Hall County is located on the eastern edge of Nebraska's Central region. It is named for Augustus Hall, an early judge in the territory. Grand Island is the largest city in the county, the fourth largest city in the state and the county seat, and there are seven other small communities in the county. The first sugar beet processing factory in the country was built in Grand Island. More than 90 manufacturing plants in Grand Island provide jobs for over 7,000 people, drawing from the rural population surrounding the city. Doane College and Central Community College are located in Hall County. Visitors to the county can enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, parks, golfing, museums, bird watching and live horse racing. Hall County is the location of the Nebraska State Fair, in Grand Island.

Adams County is located just south of Hall County in the eastern edge of Nebraska's Central region. It is named for John Adams, the second President of the United States. Hastings is the only city and the county seat, and there are more than 25 other villages, townships and unincorporated communities. Hastings is known as the "Birthplace of Kool-Aid," since it was invented there, and there is still a large manufacturing plant. Kool-Aid Days is an annual festival that happens in the city each August. Much of the county is fairly rural, and there are a number of farms growing a variety of row crops. Hastings College is located in Adams County, one of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges. The county also attracts many bird watchers, as the migrating sandhill cranes come through the area, and other types of waterfowl. Historical markers for the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express can be found in Adams County. Some attractions in the country include Adams County Historical Society, Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History and Theatre, which also features a planetarium, Adams County Veteran's Monument, Hastings' Central Historic Housing District, Children's Museum of Central Nebraska, Hastings College Arboretum, Hastings College Art Gallery and WWII Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD), which was one of the largest of four munitions depots in the country, which at one point supplied 40% of the Navy's ammunition supply during WWII.

Lincoln County is located in the middle of Nebraska's Central region. It is the third largest county in the the state by area. North Platte is the only city and the county seat, and there are six villages and one unincorporated community. Some attractions in the county, primarily in North Platte, include Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park and State Recreational Area, Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center, which overlooks the Union Pacific's railroad yard, Lincoln County Historical Museum, Cody Park Railroad Museum, Cody Park Wild West Memorial, Fort McPherson National Cemetery, North Platte Area Children's Museum, Prairie Arts Center and NEBRASKAland Days, an annual festival featuring a rodeo, concerts by country music stars, and more.