Nevada

HISTORY

Nevada was originally founded in 1821 as part of the First Mexican Empire.

Mexico in 1824. Alta California included today's Nevada.By Giggette - Wikipedia Commons

As a result of the Mexican–American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico permanently lost Nevada and the rest of Alta California in 1848. The new areas acquired by the United States continued to be administered as territories.

The Nevada Territory separated from the Utah Territory on March 2, 1861. Its current name is shortened from Sierra Nevada (Spanish for "snow-covered mountain range").

Nevada was admitted as the 36th U.S. state on October 31, 1864, in part to help ensure Abraham Lincoln's re-election as President of the United States eight days later.

Nevada had a rush to become a state in time for the 1864 presidential election. After writing a state constitution with only days to spare, they sent all 16,543 words of it to Congress via telegram. Transmission took two full days and cost $4,303.27 (over $67,000 today.)

Nevada quarter

The first successful silver mill in America began operations in Virginia City, Nevada in 1860.

Nevada is officially known as the "Silver State" due to the importance of silver to its history and economy.

The first state execution in the United States by gas chamber took place in Nevada in February 1924.

In an attempt to lift the state out of the hard times of the Great Depression, the Nevada state legislature voted to legalize gambling on March 19, 1931.

The husband of silent movie actress Clara Bow, Rex Bell, was the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Nevada.

In 1973 Nevada was the first American state to license acupuncture as medical treatment.

FUN NEVADA FACTS

Prostitution is legal in Nevada but illegal in Las Vegas.

In Nevada it is illegal to ride a camel on the highway.

Nevada is the only US state to have a 'none of these candidates' option for President.

In Nevada, a disturbance with as few as two people can legally be considered a riot. In England it takes 12 people.

Out of the entire United States, Nevada has the most trash per person in its landfills—38.4 tons for each resident.

The state grass of Nevada is Indian Ricegrass. It was eaten by Native Americans and early pioneers.

Nevada is the driest state in the United States. The average annual rainfall per year is about 7 inches (18 cm).

Nearly three-quarters of Nevada's people live in Clark County, which contains the Las Vegas–Paradise metropolitan area.

Las Vegas By Http2007 - Wikipedia Commons

The US government owns 80.1% of all land in Nevada. This makes it the state with the highest percentage of federally owned land. Much of this land is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service, encompassing areas like the Great Basin National Park and Death Valley National Park.

Reno, Nevada is actually west of Los Angeles, California.