Capital:
Carson City
Governor: Kenny Guinn, R (to Jan. 2003)
Lieut.
Governor: Lorraine Hunt, R (to Jan. 2003)
Senators: Harry Reid, D (to Jan. 2005); John Ensign (to Jan.
2007)
Secy.
of State: Dean Heller, R (to Jan. 2003)
Treasurer: Brian Krolicki, R (to Jan. 2003)
Controller: Kathy Augustine, R (to Jan. 2003)
Atty.
General: Frankie Sue Del Papa, D (to Jan. 2003)
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
|
silver (1977) |
|
fossil
|
Nevada turquoise (1987) |
|
grass
|
Indian ricegrass (1977) |
|
metal
|
ichthyosaur (1977) |
|
fish
|
lahontan cutthroat trout (1981) |
|
reptile
|
desert tortoise (1989) |
|
state artifact
|
tule duck decoy (1995) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
In 1848
following the Mexican War, the U.S. obtained the region 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 inches, much of Nevada is uninhabited, sagebrush-covered
desert. The wettest part of the state receives about 40 inches
of precipitation per year, while the driest spot has less than
four inches per year.
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.
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 35.2% 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.
Major
resort areas flourish in Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Las Vegas.
Recreation areas include those at Pyramid Lake, Lake Tahoe, and
Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, both in Lake Mead National Recreation
Area. Among the other attractions are Hoover Dam, Virginia City,
and Great Basin National Park (includes Lehman Caves).
Nickname: Sagebrush State;
Silver State; Battle Born State
Origin of name: Spanish:
"snowcapped"
10 largest cities (1999 est.):
Las Vegas, 418,658; Reno, 166,650; Henderson, 166,399; North Las
Vegas, 101,841; Sparks, 64,338; Carson City, 50,046; Elko,
19,357; Boulder City, 14,329; Mesquite, 11,012; Winnemucca,
9,238
Land area:
109,806 sq mi. (284,397 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, 1,217,155 (1999 est.); Nye, 18,147 sq mi.
State parks: 20 (150,000 ac.,
including leased lands)
Residents: Nevadan, Nevadian
1999 resident population est.:
1,809,253
1990 resident census population (rank):
1,201,833 (39). Male:
611,880; Female: 589,953.
White: 1,012,695 (84.3%);
Black: 78,771 (6.6%);
American Indian: 19,637
(1.6%); Asian: 38,127
(3.2%); Other race: 52,603
(4.4%); Hispanic: 124,419
(10.4%). 1990 percent population under
18: 24.7; 65 and over:
10.6; median age:
33.2. |
