Sandhills (Nebraska)
The Sand Hills is a region of mixed-grass prairie in north-central Nebraska, covering just over one quarter of the state. The region is variously defined by different organizations, so its size is indicated as 19,600 mi² (50,960 km²)[1] or 23,600 mi² (61,100 km²).[2]
Geography
Dunes in the Sand Hills may exceed 330 ft (100 m) in height. The average elevation of the Sand Hills region gradually increases from about 1800 ft (600 m) in the east to about 3600 ft (900 m) in the west.
The Sand Hills sit atop the massive Ogallala Aquifer, and marshes and shallow lakes—both temporary and permanent—are common in low-lying parts of the Sand Hills. The eastern and central sections of the region are drained by tributaries of the Loup River and the Niobrara River, while the western section is largely composed of small interior drainage basins.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) designated the Sand Hills as an ecoregion, distinct from other grasslands of the Great Plains. According to their assessment, as much as 85% of the Sand Hills ecoregion is intact natural habitat, the highest level in the Great Plains. The reason is primarily due to the lack of agriculture. Most of the Sand Hills land have never been plowed.[2]
History
The plant-anchored dunes of the Sand Hills were formed at the end of North America's most recent ice age by wind-blown particles originating from regions to the north and west of Nebraska. At several times in the past 10,000 years, during periods of extreme drought, the Sand Hills have been active sand dunes; however, this has not happened since around 1400 A.D. The mixed-grass prairies supported large populations of bison until the 1870s. Although the Sand Hills were long considered an irreclaimable desert, settlers began to discover their potential as rangeland for cattle in the 1870s. The fragility of the sandy soil makes the area unsuitable for cultivation of crops. Unsuccessful attempts at farming were made in the Sandhills region in the late 1870s and again around 1890.
Development of cropland agriculture in the modern era has occurred through the use of center-pivot irrigation systems.
The 1904 Kinkaid Act allowed homesteaders to claim 640 acres (2.6 km²) of land, rather than the 160 acres (0.6 km²) allowed by the 1862 Homestead Act.[3] Nearly nine million acres (36,000 km²) were successfully claimed by "Kinkaiders" between 1910 and 1917. Some of the Kinkaiders attempted to farm, but these attempts generally failed. This included Nebraska's largest black township, DeWitty, which was located in Cherry County until the 1930s. Many of the largest ranches broke up about the same time due to regulations against fencing federal range lands.
Today, the Sand Hills are among the most productive cattle ranching areas of the world.[citation needed] The population of the region continues to decline as older generations age and as younger generations move to the cities.[citation needed] However, there are still a number of small towns in the region that celebrate both their cultural heritage and their physical location.[citation needed]
References
- ^ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Sandhills undated, URL retrieved on 21 July 2007
- ^ a b World Wide Fund for Nature, "Nebraska Sand Hills mixed grasslands (NA0809)" undated, URL retrieved 21 July 2007
- ^ Nebraska State Historical Society, "U.S. Government Land Laws in Nebraska, 1854-1904" last updated 29 June 1998, URL retrieved on 21 July 2007
External links
- National Geographic / World Wildlife Fund - Nebraska Sand Hills
- Nebraska Sand Hills - Virtual Field Trips
- Dunes were mobile 1,000 years ago
- Amphibians and Reptiles of the Sand Hills
- Mammals of the Sand Hills
