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The Land

The Sage State, Sagebrush State, Casino, Nevada is named for Sierra Nevada range; in Spanish, Nevada means "snow," or "snowy," while sierra means "mountains".

Nevada is located almost entirely within the Great Basin portion of the Inter-Mountain region (between Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada) and is bordered by Oregon & Idaho (north), Utah (east), Arizona (southeast), California (west & southwest).

At 110,567 square mile, Nevada is the 7th largest state. The highest elevation is Boundary Peak on Nevada-California border south of Hawthorne at 13,145 feet. The lowest elevation is Colorado River in Clark County at 479 feet.

Nevada is the driest state, with an overall average annual rainfall of only about 7 inches. The wettest part of Nevada receives about 40 inches a year, while the driest averages less than 4 inches. Summer temperatures are hottest in parts of southern Nevada, while winters can be extremely cold in western and northern Nevada.



With mostly mountainous and desert terrain, altitudes vary from 1,000 feet to over 13,000 feet. Climate is arid, abundant sunshine; light rainfall; snow. Average temperature varies from 70 degrees Fahrenheit in south to 45 degrees Fahrenheit in north.

The highest temperature recorded was 125° while the lowest was -50°

National Parks & Monuments include Great Basin National Park.

The History

There were many Spanish explorers in the 1770s who came near the Nevada area, but it wasn't until 50 years later that fur traders venturing into the Rocky Mts. publicized the region.

Nevada's first settlement was Genoa, near Carson City, settled by Mormons in 1849, then called Mormon Station.

Nevada's name was adopted in 1861 when territory was established. The name was derived from the Spanish language, meaning "snow-capped".

Nevada was admitted as part of Utah Territory in 1854 and then as the Territory of Nevada on March 2, 1861.

On October 31, 1864 the territory was then admitted as the State of Nevada. This date is now celebrated as a state holiday.

Nevada was made famous by the discovery of the fabulous Comstock Lode in 1859 and its mines have produced large quantities of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, barite, and tungsten. Oil was discovered in 1954. Gold now far exceeds all other minerals in value of production.

Today, Tourism is Nevada’s most important source of revenue. Many people are attracted by gambling, which was legalized in 1931, helping make Nevada the nation’s gambling and entertainment capital. Nevada now ranks 4th among the states in total gambling revenue, but is first in the amount per resident. Many people have visited Nevada in order to get divorced, another industry born in 1931. Reno and Las Vegas gained fame as the 'divorce capitals of the nation', though more liberal laws in other states have had an impact. But many tourists flock to resorts in Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe, along with various other attractions.

Nevada became the 36th state to Unite under America on October 31st, 1864.

The People

Whites comprised the largest share of the population, 75.2 percent, in 2000, while blacks were 6.8 percent of the people, Asians 4.5 percent, Native Americans 1.3 percent, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders 0.4 percent, and those of mixed heritage or not reporting ethnicity 11.8 percent. Hispanics, who may be of any race, were 19.7 percent of the people. Many Native Americans live on reservations, which are scattered widely over the state. Some Native Americans own individually allotted grazing lands.

The 2000 census put Nevada's population at 1,998,257 Nevada has since experience a major population boom. The State Capital is Carson City, other major cities or towns include Las Vegas, Reno, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Sparks, Elko, Boulder City and Winnemucca.