Journalist’s passion for trees
becomes national event
The first Arbor Day took place in Nebraska on
April 10, 1872, organized by Nebraska Territory Secretary J.
Sterling Morton.
The state was a treeless plain when Morton, then
a journalist, arrived in 1854. He used his position as editor
of Nebraska’s first newspaper, and later as secretary,
to stress the value of trees for windbreaks, fuel, building
materials and shade against the hot prairie sun.
It was estimated that more than one million trees
were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day. Nebraska Gov.
Robert W. Furnas officially proclaimed Arbor Day in 1874, and
it became a legal state holiday in 1885. Morton’s birthday,
April 22, was selected as the date for its permanent observance.
Today, most states observe Arbor Day on the last
Friday in April, and several U.S. presidents have proclaimed
a national Arbor Day on that date. However, a number of states
schedule Arbor Day to coincide with the best tree planting weather,
from January and February in the south to May in the far north.
The following list gives Arbor Day dates in Western’s
service territory.
Arizona - Last Friday in
April
(State Tree: Paloverde)
California - March 7-14
(State Tree: California redwood)
Colorado - Third Friday in April
(State Tree: Blue spruce)
Iowa - Last Friday in April
(State Tree: Oak)
Kansas - Last Friday in
April
(State Tree: Cottonwood)
Montana - Last Friday in April
(State Tree: Ponderosa pine)
Nebraska - Last Friday in April
(State Tree: Cottonwood)
Nevada - Last Friday in April
(State Trees: Singleleaf piñon and Bristlecone pine)
New Mexico - Second Friday in March
(State Tree: Piñon)
North Dakota - First Friday in May
(State Tree: American elm)
South Dakota - Last Friday in April
(State Tree: White spruce)
Utah - Last Friday in April
(State Tree: Blue spruce)
Wyoming - Last Monday in April
(State Tree: Cottonwood)