Iowa and Nebraska Compared

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Mr. Beat compares and contrasts two states on the American prairie: Iowa and Nebraska. But which is better?

Produced by Matt Beat. All images and video by Matt Beat, used under fair use guidelines, or found in the public domain. Music by JR Tundra.

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#compared #geography #mrbeat

The Cornhusker State and the Hawkeye State

Two bordering Midwestern states in these United States that I am very familiar with. The mighty Missouri River, which is the longest river in North America by the way, is the only thing that separates them.

[iammrbeat]

Which is better? Iowa or Nebraska?
will get a free week of audio experiences!

[SimianJimmy]

Been waiting a long time for Iowa's turn, thanks Mr. Beat

[russbear]

Thanks for mentioning Pella, Iowa. That's where my father's family was from. Few people know the full story: Pella was actually founded as a Quaker settlement about 10 years before the Dutch arrived. The 800 early Dutch settlers overtook the town and practically erased all of the town's Quaker history. Today it's like Dutch Disneyland.
Another cool fact about Iowa: Only a couple of miles east of Pella is Oskaloosa, Iowa, in Mahaska County. That town contains one of the largest populations of American Quakers outside of Philadelphia. Oskaloosa has only about 10, 000 people but supports about a dozen Quaker churches and William Penn University, a Quaker college.
My dad's family were Quakers who settled the area around 1850 and eventually inter-married with the Pella Dutch.

[clareflattery]

As an Iowan. Dang I learned so much about my state here 😂 The Iowa Nebraska game is big. One time a few years ago a Nebraska student made a sign that said “Iowa has bad corn.” And the entire state of Iowa went feral over it 😂

[garrettwhillwick]

As a Nebrasko-iowan, who has been born and lived in Nebraska and now lives in Iowa. The rivalry between nebraska and Iowa is huge. But I love both states.

[JaredMillsIA]

I appreciate your “combative” way to say many of the facts. I felt very heard as an Iowan lol

[thseed]

I'm loving this series. Lived in Des Moines and Omaha. Can confirm that both cities are pretty cool.

[MattB-zmuk]

Iowa represent! Bipolar weather is an understatement. It was 60 degrees here in Iowa Monday and it's 2 degrees today ( friday)

[kylecurry]

Super excited this video came out. As an Iowan, thank you as well. Iowa is an interesting state, and is often overlooked (like Nebraska as well). Another interesting fact about rivers, is that I believe Iowa is one of the only (if not the only) state to have rivers make up its eastern and western borders.

[akilangandhichidambaranath]

Thanks for talking about Nebraska and Iowa, lived in Omaha for most of my life loved the video. Omaha really is underated!

[Too_Tall_Tales]

At long last, Iowa got its compared! I’m so glad the old Nebraska/Okie rivalry was mentioned, though I think the new one is very fun (especially as a Hawkeye)!

I didn’t know the fact about Nebraska’s River mileages, but also (‘did ya knoooow’) Iowa is the only state where rivers make their east and west borders! Excuse me if I’m being a bit of a pedant, but i thought it worth sharing since they both have fun River facts.

Thanks for another great video, Mr. Beat! I would love to see you tackle Henry Wallace in a video someday—he’s my favorite Iowan historical figure and I’ve heard you mention him in the past.

[lancehackbart]

I grew up in Ogallala Ne. Im kind of disappointed you didnt mention the Ogallala Aquifer. Its water table feeds over a dozen states ranging from the Dakotas to Texas. it incudes Colorado and pushes through Iowa.

[emperorcorning]

Between all the garbage happening in the world around us and in my personal life, I really needed this. Thank you for all you do for us Mr. Beat! <3

[diannhall]

Thank you. I do want to visit Nebraska. My desire started with the sandhill cranes, but I am learning (and liking Nebraska even more). I grew up in Ohio, lived in Wisconsin for thirty-five years. And now I have been in North Carolina for eight years.

[aidangodfrey]

This is definitely my favorite series that you make and cant wait for the Candian episodes lol. Keep up the great work!!!
🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[honeynielsen]

So happy you finally made this, as an iowan any mention of Iowa in a piece of media, makes stoked, as we are never thought about or mentioned ever(out side of the iowa caucuses)

[rosswebster]

Thanks for another great state comparison video Mr. Beat! And thanks for clearing up one of my misconceptions; I always thought that Iowa was named after the Kiowa tribes!

[calmprisoner]

I’ve lived in Des Moines my whole life, and it really is a pleasant place to live. My only issue is the suburban sprawl destroying farmland and scenery. The area keeps growing faster, so more land is being eaten up, and it is getting much busier.

[NecrosVideos]

This was awesome! Growing up alongside each state it was interesting to be able to visit either state any time.

[spicytuna]

4:40 It's actually really cool how dramatic this tapering off is. In Oklahoma, the Mesonet collects and records weather data at over 70 sites across the state. Between 2021 and 2022, 365-day rainfall totals ran from 12.8 inches in Kenton in the northwest corner of the panhandle to 61.8 inches at Mt. Hernan in the far southeast. Sure, we're not Nebraska, but the east-west span is pretty similar.

Oh, and on the Nebraska-OU rivalry...that was a long time ago. And Texas just wasn't the same after Mack Brown left. I'm glad to see Texas kinda get its program back together. I wonder how the next season's looking after Lincoln Riley's sudden departure.