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Nevada

Nevada
US State
NicknameSilver State (official);
Sagebrush State; Battle Born State
MottoAll For Our Country
Official languagesDe jure: None
De facto: English
DemonymNevadan
CapitalCarson City
Largest cityLas Vegas
Largest metro areaLas Vegas metropolitan area
Area
Area Ranked7th
Total110562 sq mi 286367 km2
Width322 mi 519 km
Length492 mi 788 km
Population
Pop. Rank35th
Total2,700,551 (2010 Census)
Density23.4 /sq mi 9.02 /km2
Median income$56,361 (15th)
Elevation
Highest pointBoundary Peak or
Wheeler Peak
13,147 ft (4,005 m)
13,065 ft 3982 m
Mean5499 ft 1676 m
Lowest pointColorado River
479 ft 146 m
Other information
Admission to UnionOctober 31, 1864 (36th)
GovernorBrian Sandoval (R)
Lieutenant GovernorBrian Krolicki (R)
LegislatureNevada Legislature
Upper houseSenate
Lower houseAssembly
U.S. SenatorsHarry Reid (D)
Dean Heller (R)
U.S. House delegation1: Shelley Berkley (D)
2: Mark Amodei (R)
3: Joe Heck (R)
Timezone
- most of state - Pacific: UTC-8/-7 (DST)
- West Wendover - Mountain: UTC-7/-6 (DST)
Time zonePacific: UTC-8/-7 (DST)

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Nevada c-enaudio=Nevada-USA-pronunciation.oggnəˈvædə is a state located in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of 110561 sqmi (286351.7 km2) and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its three largest incorporated cities. Nevada's capital is Carson City.

Nevada is largely desert and semiarid, with much of it located within the Great Basin. Areas south of the Great Basin are located within the Mojave Desert, while Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains lie on the western edge. Approximately 86% of the state's land is owned by the US government under various jurisdictions, both civilian and military.

The name Nevada is derived from the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains, which means "snow-capped mountain range" in Spanish. The land comprising the modern state was inhabited by Native Americans of the Paiute, Shoshone, and Washoe tribes prior to European contact. It was subsequently claimed by Spain as a part of Alta California until the Mexican War of Independence brought it under Mexican control. The United States gained the territory in 1848 following its victory in the Mexican-American War and the area was eventually incorporated as part of Utah Territory in 1850. 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.

The establishment of legalized gambling and lenient marriage and divorce proceedings in the 20th century transformed Nevada into a major tourist destination.

The tourism industry remains Nevada's largest employer, with mining continuing to be a substantial sector of the economy as Nevada is the fourth largest producer of gold in the world.

Nevada is officially known as the "Silver State" due to the importance of silver to its history and economy. It is also known as the "Battle Born State" because it achieved statehood during the Civil War and the "Sagebrush State" for the native eponymous plant.

Nevada is the largest landlocked U.S. state that does not border Canada or Mexico.


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