Capital: Carson City

Governor: Kenny Guinn, R (to Jan. 2003)

Lieut. Governor: Lorraine Hunt, R (to Jan. 2003)

Senators: Harry Reid, D (to Jan. 2005); John Ensign (to Jan. 2007)

Secy. of State: Dean Heller, R (to Jan. 2003)

Treasurer: Brian Krolicki, R (to Jan. 2003)

Controller: Kathy Augustine, R (to Jan. 2003)

Atty. General: Frankie Sue Del Papa, D (to Jan. 2003)

Organized as territory: March 2, 1861

Entered Union (rank): Oct. 31, 1864 (36)

Present constitution adopted: 1864

Motto: All for Our Country

State Symbols:

Trappers and traders, including Jedediah Smith and Peter Skene Ogden, entered the Nevada area in the 1820s. In 1843-1845, John C. Frémont and Kit Carson explored the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada.

In 1848 following the Mexican War, the U.S. obtained the region and the first permanent settlement was a Mormon trading post near present-day Genoa.

The driest state in the nation, with an average annual rainfall of only about 7 inches, much of Nevada is uninhabited, sagebrush-covered desert. The wettest part of the state receives about 40 inches of precipitation per year, while the driest spot has less than four inches per year.

Nevada was made famous by the discovery of the fabulous Comstock Lode in 1859 and its mines have produced large quantities of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, barite, and tungsten. Oil was discovered in 1954. Gold now far exceeds all other minerals in value of production.

In 1931, the state created two industries, divorce and gambling. For many years, Reno and Las Vegas were the "divorce capitals of the nation." More liberal divorce laws in many states have ended this distinction, but Nevada is still the gambling capital of the U.S. and a leading entertainment center. State gambling taxes account for 35.2% of general fund tax revenues. Although Nevada leads the nation in per capita gambling revenue, it ranks only tenth in total gambling revenue.

The state's leading agricultural industry is cattle and calves. Agricultural crops consist mainly of hay, alfalfa seed, barley, wheat, and potatoes.

Nevada manufactures gaming equipment; lawn and garden irrigation devices; titanium products; seismic and machinery monitoring devices; and specialty printing.

Major resort areas flourish in Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Las Vegas. Recreation areas include those at Pyramid Lake, Lake Tahoe, and Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, both in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Among the other attractions are Hoover Dam, Virginia City, and Great Basin National Park (includes Lehman Caves).

Nickname: Sagebrush State; Silver State; Battle Born State

Origin of name: Spanish: "snowcapped"

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

Land area: 109,806 sq mi. (284,397 sq km)

Geographic center: In Lander Co., 26 mi. SE of Austin

Number of counties: 16, plus 1 independent city

Largest county by population and area: Clark, 1,217,155 (1999 est.); Nye, 18,147 sq mi.

State parks: 20 (150,000 ac., including leased lands)

Residents: Nevadan, Nevadian

1999 resident population est.: 1,809,253

1990 resident census population (rank): 1,201,833 (39). Male: 611,880; Female: 589,953. White: 1,012,695 (84.3%); Black: 78,771 (6.6%); American Indian: 19,637 (1.6%); Asian: 38,127 (3.2%); Other race: 52,603 (4.4%); Hispanic: 124,419 (10.4%). 1990 percent population under 18: 24.7; 65 and over: 10.6; median age: 33.2.