Nevada

Nevada is a U.S. state located in the Western United States, Mountain West, and Southwestern United States. It is bordered by Oregon and Idaho to the north, Utah to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and California to the west and southwest. Nevada is the 7th most extensive, the 19th most populous, but the 9th least densely populated of the U.S. states. Nearly three-quarters of Nevada's people live in Clark County, which contains the Las Vegas–Paradise metropolitan area where three of the state's four largest incorporated cities are located.

History[edit | edit source]

Nevada became a part of the United States as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. The discovery of silver at the Comstock Lode in 1859 led to a population boom that was an impetus to the creation of Nevada Territory out of western Utah Territory in 1861. Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864, as the second of two states added to the Union during the American Civil War.

Geography[edit | edit source]

Nevada is largely desert and semiarid, with much of it within the Great Basin. Areas south of the Great Basin are within the Mojave Desert, while Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada lie on the western edge. About 86% of the state's land is managed by various jurisdictions of the U.S. federal government, both civilian and military.

Economy[edit | edit source]

The economy of Nevada is tied to tourism (especially entertainment and gambling related), mining, and cattle ranching. Nevada is known around the world for its legalized gambling and lenient marriage and divorce laws. The state's largest city, Las Vegas, is a major destination for tourists from around the world.

Demographics[edit | edit source]

As of the 2010 census, the population of Nevada was 2,700,551. The racial makeup of the state was 66.2% White, 8.1% Black or African American, 7.2% Asian, 1.2% Native American, and 4.7% from two or more races.

Education[edit | edit source]

Nevada is home to many colleges and universities, including the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno.

Politics[edit | edit source]

Nevada has a reputation for its libertarian laws with respect to gambling, prostitution, and certain drug offenses. The state's political leanings are generally split between the northern and southern portions of the state.