Nevada's name comes from the Spanish word
meaning "snow clad"--a reference to the snow-covered
peaks of the Sierra Nevada. The discovery of the Comstock Lode, a
massive deposit of silver, in 1859 brought many fortune seekers.
Statehood followed shortly afterwards in 1864, when Nevada was
admitted as the 36st state. Nevada is in a mountain region that
includes semiarid grasslands and sandy deserts, and is the most
arid (dry) state in the nation. Like oases in the desert,
Nevada's two main cities--Las Vegas and Reno--attract fortune
seekers from around the world hoping to strike it rich in the
many casinos located there. The capital is Carson City, and the
state flower is the sagebrush.
State Flower: Sagebrush
State Motto: All for Our Country
State Nickname: Sagebrush State; Silver State;
Battle Born State
State Bird: Mountain Bluebird
Land area: 109,806 sq mi. - Length: 490 miles - Width: 320 miles
10 largest cities (1999 est.): Las Vegas,
418,658; Reno, 166,650; Henderson, 166,399; North Las Vegas,
101,841; Sparks, 64,338; Carson City, 50,046; Elko, 19,357;
Boulder City, 14,329; Mesquite, 11,012; Winnemucca, 9,238; - Persons per square mile (1999): 16.5