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Lincoln History, Nebraska

The legislature appointed three commissioners to select the new state capital for Nebraska, and they made their decision for Lincoln to be the capital on 29 July 1867. The city was located on the Lancaster site, which was a tiny settlement having only 30 people. When the state was a territory, the decision of Omaha being the capital dissatisfied many. As soon as the state was admitted into the Union, the drive to choose another capital started. The governor at the time, David Butler, sympathized with those who didn't agree that Omaha should be the capital.

The Legislature approved a bill during a special session in order to provide the location for the government seat of Nebraska, as well as the construction of public buildings to be there. The bill founded a commission that was made up of an Auditor, the Governor, and the State Secretary. They were made to choose the site of at least 650 acres from the land owned by the state within the counties of Saunders, Butler, Seward, and Lancaster to be named the capital of Nebraska.

J.H.N. Patrick, who was a democrat of Douglas County, thought that changing Omaha to Lincoln would discourage the votes of democrats to keep the name Omaha as the state's capital. At the time, Abraham Lincoln, the republican president, was not widely known as the hero that he is known as today. However, the democrats would not be swayed by politics, so they made a unanimous vote for the capital to be moved and called Lincoln. The city was incorporated on 7 April in 1869, and then in March 1871, Lincoln was reorganized as a Second Class City, having their own charter for cities having from 1,500 to 15,000 residents by the legislature of the state.

Today, the capital city is the second biggest in the state, having a population of around 201,250. The city is a place of economic, educational, and diverse cultural opportunities. The government has become Lincoln's biggest employer, having federal, state, county, and city offices located there.

It is also one of Nebraska's major attractions for tourists. There are many entertainment opportunities in the city, and their institutions for higher learning have a major position in the entertainment and cultural life in Lincoln. The Fairgrounds is the home of the State Fair, which is held in the early part of September, as well as horse racing. There are also many yearly special events, zoos, gardens, parks, and historical attractions in the city for travelers to visit.

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