The U.S. Census Bureau says more than 73 percent of Nebraska's 1.8 million residents now live in urban areas.
But the urban areas of the state account for less than 1 percent of the land in Nebraska. And most of the urban residents are in eastern Nebraska near the state's two largest cities of Omaha and Lincoln.
But the Census also said this week that Grand Island is now considered an urbanized area because the city and surrounding area is now home to 50,440.
Grand Island was one of only 36 cities nationwide that earned the designation as an urbanized area in this Census by growing to include more than 50,000 residents.
Grand Island officials hope the label will help them boost economic development and continue attracting new residents.
