Nevada

This article is about the U.S. state of Nevada. For other alternate meanings, see Nevada (disambiguation).

Nevada is a state located in the western United States. The population of the state, as of 2000, is 1,998,257. Nevada is one of the fastest growing states in the country.

"Nevada" is a Spanish adjective that means "snow-covered". The name derives from the Sierra Nevada in the west of the state. Several United States Navy ships have been named in honor of the state -- USS Nevada. The local pronunciation of the state is not "Ne-vah-da", but should be said so that the middle syllable rhymes with "gamble".

Nevada's nickname is "The Silver State" and the state's motto is "All for our Country". The state song is "Home Means Nevada" by Bertha Rafetto. The phrase "Battle Born" appears on the state flag, a reference to the state's founding date during the American Civil War (although no battles of that war took place within Nevada).

History

In 1850, the U.S. Congress established the Utah territory which included the present day states of Utah, Idaho and Nevada. 1859 saw the discovery of the Comstock Lode, a rich outcropping of gold and silver, and Virginia City sprang up. This discovery brought a flood of miners, prospectors, merchants and others hoping to cash in on the wealth.

On March 2, 1861, Nevada separated from the Utah territory and adopted its current name. On October 31^st, 1864, Nevada became the 36^th state in the union. There is an enduring myth in the state that it was founded in the midst of the American Civil War so that the Union could gain better access to the wealth of its mines. However, the state was actually founded for more complex political and economic reasons, including the moderate Republicans' need for more votes to support the reelection of Abraham Lincoln.

In response to the Great Depression, Nevada legalized gambling on March 17, 1931 in order to stimulate economic growth.

Law and Government

Nevada's capital is Carson City and its governor is Kenny Guinn (Republican). Nevada's two U.S. senators are Harry Reid (Democrat) and John Ensign (Republican). See List of Nevada Governors

Geography

See List of Nevada counties

Nevada has borders with Oregon and Idaho to the north, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast and Utah to the east. The border with Arizona includes the Colorado River. It is in a mountain region that includes semiarid grasslands and sandy deserts, and is the most arid (dry) state in the nation. Nevada is a land of rugged, snow-capped mountains, grassy valleys and sandy deserts. The northern and central portions of Nevada are mostly within the Great Basin Desert, while portions of the southern tip are within the Mojave Desert.

Economy

Nevada's total gross state product for 1999 was $69 billion placing it 32^nd in the nation. Its 2000 Per Capita Personal Income was $30,529 or 14^th in the nation. Its agricultural outputs are cattle, hay, dairy products, and potatoes. Its industrial outputs are tourism, mining, machinery, printing and publishing, food processing, and electric equipment. It is well-known for gambling and nightlife. Large, luxurious casinos in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Reno attract visitors from around the world.

Nevada is the only state of the US with legal prostitution: brothel prostitution is legal in most counties of Nevada, see prostitution in Nevada.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, the population of Nevada is 1,711,263. Its population grew 8.4% (132,846) from its 1990 levels. According to the 2000 census, 89.6% (1,533,261) identified themselves as White, 5.5% (94,425) as Hispanic or Latino, 4% (68,541) as black, 1.3% (21,931) as Asian, 0.9% (14,896) as American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.05% (836) as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 2.8% (47,845) as other, and 1.4% (23,953) identified themselves as belonging to two or more races.

6.8% of its population were reported as under 5, 26.3% under 18, and 13.6% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.7% of the population.

Important cities and towns

The largest city is Las Vegas.

See List of cities in Nevada.

Education

Colleges and universities

• Sierra Nevada College
• University and Community College System of Nevada
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • University of Nevada, Reno
  • Nevada State College at Henderson
  • Community College of Southern Nevada
  • Great Basin College
  • Truckee Meadows Community College
  • Western Nevada Community College

Professional sports teams

• Las Vegas Gladiators, Arena Football League
• Las Vegas 51s, minor league baseball
• Las Vegas Wranglers, East Coast Hockey League

External links

• Official web site of Nevada: http://www.state.nv.us
• Nevada State Library and Archives - Why Did Nevada Become a State?: http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/nsla/archives/myth/myth12.htm