Nevada
Silver State · Capital: Carson City · West (Mountain)
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Bordering states: California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona.
About Nevada
Nevada lies in the West, between California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Arizona. Roughly three quarters of it sits inside the Great Basin, which has no outlet to the sea: the Humboldt River runs 330 miles across the north and evaporates in the Humboldt Sink. More than 300 named mountain ranges cross it in near-parallel lines, separated by flat valleys. The highest point, Boundary Peak at 13,147 feet, is a shoulder of a California mountain, and Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park is the tallest wholly inside the state. The Sierra Nevada wrings moisture from Pacific storms, leaving Nevada the driest state, with about 9.5 inches of precipitation a year. Roughly 80 percent of the land is federally owned.
Northern Paiute, Southern Paiute, Western Shoshone and Washoe peoples lived around the region's lakes and springs, relying on the autumn pine nut harvest. The area passed from Mexico to the United States in 1848 and was attached to Utah Territory in 1850. In 1859 the Comstock Lode, a huge silver deposit, built Virginia City, where Samuel Clemens first signed himself Mark Twain in 1863. Nevada became the 36th state on 31 October 1864, eight days before a presidential election, which is why its flag reads Battle Born. In 1931 the legislature legalized casino gambling and cut the residency requirement for divorce to six weeks.
The 2020 census counted 3,104,614 Nevadans, up 15.0 percent from 2,700,551 in 2010, giving the state four House seats. Carson City is the capital and Las Vegas the largest city, and three of every four residents live in Clark County. Nevada produces around three quarters of the gold mined in the United States and levies no personal income tax. Sarah Winnemucca, a Northern Paiute author, published Life Among the Piutes in 1883, and Harry Reid of Searchlight led the US Senate from 2007 to 2015.
4 fun facts about Nevada
- Las Vegas, Spanish for "the meadows", was named for the springs that once watered its valley; Hoover Dam (dedicated in 1935) later powered its growth.
- About 80% of Nevada is owned by the federal government, the highest share of any state.
- Nevada is the only US state where prostitution is legal in some counties.
- Area 51, near Rachel, was only officially acknowledged by the CIA in 2013.
More about Nevada
Frequently asked questions about Nevada
Is Nevada a US state?
Yes, Nevada is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1864, making it the 36th state. Its capital is Carson City and its largest city is Las Vegas.
What is the capital of Nevada?
The capital of Nevada is Carson City. Note that the largest city in Nevada is Las Vegas, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did Nevada become a state?
Nevada became a US state in 1864. It is the 36th state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for Nevada?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for Nevada is NV.
How big is Nevada?
Nevada ranks #7 of 50 US states by area. With 28.3 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 42nd most densely populated state.
What is the population of Nevada?
Nevada had 3,104,614 residents at the 2020 census, the 32nd largest population of the 50 states, up 15.0% since 2010. That count gives it 4 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is Nevada in?
Nevada is in the West region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is Nevada in?
Nevada observes Pacific Time (West Wendover, on the Utah line, uses Mountain Time).
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How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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