Nebraska’s abbreviation was changed from NB to NE in 1969.

Pin on Nebraska map

In October 1963, the United States Postal Service published an updated list of two-letter state abbreviations, 49 of which have stayed the same ever since. Nebraska is the sole exception, changing from NB to NE in 1969. State postal abbreviations originated in 1831, when there were 28 states and regions in the U.S. The initial abbreviations included “O.” for Ohio and “Mic. T.” for the Territory of Michigan, among others. As new states were admitted, the USPS updated the list in 1874, 1943, and finally 1963.

The 1963 list updated previous abbreviations that ranged from two to five letters long (including NEB for Nebraska), adopting universal two-letter abbreviations nationwide. However, six years later, the Canada Post unveiled an abbreviation list of its own, which shortened the province of New Brunswick to NB. The Canada Post asked the U.S. Postal Service to change Nebraska’s abbreviation in order to avoid any confusion when sending mail across North America. The request was met without resistance, and the abbreviation for Nebraska was changed from NB to NE in November 1969.

By the Numbers

Did you know?

Kool-Aid was invented in Nebraska.

Kool-Aid was invented in 1927 by Edwin Perkins, a resident of Hastings, Nebraska. While working at his father’s general store, the young Perkins grew fascinated by the idea of inventing new products. He performed various experiments with foods such as Jell-O, and even patented a tobacco-based medicine known as Nix-O-Tine. After moving to Hastings in 1920, Perkins introduced locals to a sweet beverage he concocted called Fruit Smack. This soft drink concentrate was sold in six flavors and became extremely popular, though the fragile glass bottles caused shipping issues. Ever the chemist, Perkins figured out how to remove the liquid and sell the product as a mixable powder in bright paper envelopes, which he renamed “Kool-Ade.” By 1931, the product was such a hit that Perkins moved operations to Chicago, and in 1934, he again renamed the drink “Kool-Aid.” Perkins later sold Kool-Aid to General Foods — the manufacturer of Jell-O — in 1953.