The Tri-Cities is an area of Nebraska consisting of the cities of Grand Island, Hastings, and Kearney. It has a population of 174,530 as of 2020. The Tri-Cities region is not an official Metropolitan Statistical Area or Combined Statistical Area, however the region would be Nebraska's third largest if it was, behind Lincoln but ahead of Sioux City.

The Tri-Cities area holds historical significance, with it being a major destination for pioneers heading west on the Oregon Trail. In recent years, the region has experienced large amounts of economic and population growth, with this being attributed to an influx in higher education jobs.

Before the arrival of European settlers, the Tri-Cities area was inhabited by various groups of indigenous peoples, including the Pawnee and Ponca. Members of these tribes famously hunted bison, which were once widespread in the area that became the Tri-Cities.

The first permanent European settlers arrived in 1845, with the construction of Fort Kearney. The fort was built as a response to large numbers of people passing through the region while travelling west. Throughout the 1840s and 50s, the region grew as a prominent supply post for those on the Oregon Trail, as well as for soldiers during the Indian Wars. The town of Grand Island was first settled in 1857 by a small group of settlers from Davenport, Iowa. Along with Kearney (near Fort Kearney), Grand Island became one of the most prominent supply posts for those heading west.

When the Union Pacific Railroad arrived to the Tri-Cities area in the mid-1860s, the region experienced rapid growth to an increase in business, and trade. Later, in 1872, the town of Hastings was founded around 25 miles south of Grand Island. The town instantly became a boomtown, and by 1880, it had a population of over 2,000.

Throughout the 20th century, the Tri-Cities region experienced robust economic and population growth. Due to the gradual decline of people heading west, the Tri-Cities economy shifted from business and trade to agriculture. The vast plains surrounding the cities were favorable for farming sugar beets, soybeans, and corn.

During the second half of the 20th century, a number of manufacturing jobs were located to the Tri-Cities area, primarily in Grand Island. Today, these jobs still employ a large portion of the city's population, and play a significant role in keeping Grand Island from experiencing population decline.

In recent years, the Tri-Cities region has experienced robust population growth, most notably in Kearney and Grand Island. This is often cited as the result of a sharp increase in higher education jobs arriving in the region. These include jobs in agricultural research, technology, and education.