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Nevada

Capital: Carson City

State abbreviation/Postal code: Nev./NV

Governor: Jim Gibbons, R (to Jan. 2011)

Lieut. Governor: Brian Krolicki, R (to Jan. 2011)

Senators: Harry Reid, D (to Jan. 2011); John Ensign, R (to Jan. 2013)

U.S. Representatives: 3

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Secy. of State: Ross Miller, D (to Jan. 2011)

Treasurer: Kate Marshall, D (to Jan. 2011)

Atty. General: Catherine Cortez-Masto, D (to Jan. 2011 )

Organized as territory: March 2, 1861

Entered Union (rank): Oct. 31, 1864 (36)

Present constitution adopted: 1864

Motto: All for Our Country

State symbols:

flower	sagebrush (1959)
trees	single-leaf pinon (1953) and bristlecone pine (1987)
bird	mountain bluebird (1967)
animal	desert bighorn sheep (1973)
colors	silver and blue (1983)
song	“Home Means Nevada” (1933)
rock	sandstone (1987)
precious gemstone	virgin valley black fire opal (1987)
semiprecious gemstone	Nevada turquoise (1987)
grass	Indian ricegrass (1977)
metal	silver (1977)
fossil	ichthyosaur (1977)
fish	lahontan cutthroat trout (1981)
reptile	desert tortoise (1989)
state artifact	tule duck decoy (1995)

Nicknames: Sagebrush State; Silver State; Battle Born State

Origin of name: Spanish: “snowcapped”

10 largest cities (2005 est.): Las Vegas, 545,147; Henderson, 232,146; Reno, 203,550; North Las Vegas, 176,635; Sparks, 82,051; Carson City, 56,062; Elko, 16,685; Boulder City, 15,177; Mesquite, 13,523; Fernley, 11,342

Land area: 109,826 sq mi. (284,449 sq km)

Geographic center: In Lander Co., 26 mi. SE of Austin

Number of counties: 16, plus 1 independent city

Largest county by population and area: Clark, 1,710,551 (2005); Nye, 18,147 sq mi.

State parks: 24

Residents: Nevadan, Nevadian

2005 resident population est.: 2,414,807

2000 resident census population (rank): 1,998,257 (35). Male: 1,018,051 (50.9%); Female: 980,206 (49.1%). White: 1,501,886 (75.2%); Black: 135,477 (6.8%); American Indian: 26,420 (1.3%); Asian: 90,266 (4.5%); Other race: 159,354 (8.0%); Two or more races: 76,428 (3.8%); Hispanic/Latino: 393,970 (19.7%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.4; 65 and over: 11.0; median age: 35.0.

See additional census data

Area codes

Tourism office

Map of Nevada

Trappers and traders, including Jedediah Smith and Peter Skene Ogden, entered the Nevada area in the 1820s. In 1843–1845, John C. Frémont and Kit Carson explored the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada. The U.S. obtained the region in 1848 following the Mexican War, and the first permanent settlement was a Mormon trading post near present-day Genoa.

The driest state in the nation, with an average annual rainfall of only about 7 in., much of Nevada is uninhabited, sagebrush-covered desert. The wettest part of the state receives about 40 in. of precipitation per year, while the driest spot has less than 4 in. per year.

Nevada was made famous by the discovery of the Comstock Lode, the richest known U.S. silver deposit, 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.

In 1931, the state created two industries, divorce and gambling. For many years, Reno and Las Vegas were the “divorce capitals of the nation.” More liberal divorce laws in many states have ended this distinction, but Nevada is still the gambling capital of the U.S. and a leading entertainment center. State gambling taxes account for 34.1% of general fund tax revenues. Although Nevada leads the nation in per capita gambling revenue, it ranks only tenth in total gambling revenue.

The state's leading agricultural industry is cattle and calves. Agricultural crops consist mainly of hay, alfalfa seed, barley, wheat, and potatoes.

Nevada manufactures gaming equipment; lawn and garden irrigation devices; titanium products; seismic and machinery monitoring devices; and specialty printing.

Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Las Vegas are major resorts. Recreation areas include Pyramid Lake, Lake Tahoe, and Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, both in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Other attractions are Hoover Dam, Virginia City, and Great Basin National Park (includes Lehman Caves).

See more on Nevada:
Encyclopedia: Nevada
Encyclopedia: Geography
Encyclopedia: Economy
Encyclopedia: Government
Encyclopedia: History
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