Nicknames: The Silver State

Capitol: Carson City

Motto: All for our country

Song: Home Means Nevada words and music by: Bertha Raffetto

Flower: Sagebrush Artemisia tridentata

Tree: bristlecone pine Pinus monophylla / Pinus aristata

Bird: Mountain Bluebird

Gained Statehood: October 31, 1864

Name Origin: Spanish word meaning "snow capped"

Nevada is Cowboy Country. The Humboldt River's course is the same route that travelers take along Interstate 80. since the 1850s. Many prospectors after their dreams of gold and silver riches died found their way back to the Humboldt River banks where they built a future in cattle ranching. Nevada is the driest state in the nation, receiving an average annual rainfall of only about 7 inches. Because of this, much of Nevada is uninhabited, sagebrush-covered desert. The state's Pioneer Territory in south central Nevada is one of the last. The natural wonders here abound, from the badlands of Death Valley National Park to the alpine beauty of the Toiyabe and Monitor mountain ranges. Nevada has numerous ruins of old mining towns that boomed and busted. Visits to Nevada are more than just a gambling trip to the flashing city of Las Vegas.

Spanish explorers in the 1770s came near the Nevada area, but it wasn't until later that fur traders venturing into the Rocky Mts. Explored the area. Trappers, including Jedediah Smith and Peter Skene Ogden, entered the Nevada area in the 1820s. John C. Frémont and Kit Carson explored the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada In 1843-1845. Following the Mexican War the U.S. obtained the region. In 1848 the first permanent settlement was a Mormon trading post near present-day Genoa. It was settled by Mormons and then called Mormon Station. In 1861 the territory was established and named "Nevada". Nevada was admitted as part of Utah Territory in 1854 and then as the Territory of Nevada on March 2, 1861. Finally on October 31, 1864 the territory became the State of Nevada. October 31st is now celebrated as a state holiday. B The Comstock Lode discovery in 1859 made Nevada famous and its mines have produced large quantities of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, barite, and tungsten. In 1954 Oil was discovered and today gold now far exceeds all other minerals in value of production for Nevada. In 1931, the Nevada created two industries, divorce and gambling. Reno and Las Vegas were the "divorce capitals of the nation." for many years.

Today Nevada is still the gambling capital of the U.S. and a leading entertainment center. Nevada's agricultural industry produces cattle and calves, hay, alfalfa seed, barley, wheat, and potatoes. Nevada also manufactures gaming equipment; lawn and garden irrigation devices; titanium products; seismic and machinery monitoring devices; and specialty printing.

Eva Adams , Andre Agassi , Raymond T. Baker , Helen Delich Bentley ,Robert Caples , Walter Van Tilburg Clark , Henry Comstock ,Abby Dalton , Michele Greene , Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins , Jack Kramr , Paul Laxalt , Robert Laxalt , William Lear , Robert C. Lynch , John W. Mackay , Emma Nevada , Thelma "Pat" Nixon , James W. Nye , Lute Pease , Edna Purviance , Jack Wilson , George Wingfield