Nevada

Nevada, known as the “Silver State”. The state’s nickname reflects the importance of silver to its history and economy.^[1] In terms of size, Nevada is the seventh-largest state in the U.S., covering an area of approximately 110,572 square miles.^[2] As of 2024, the population of Nevada was approximately 3.2 million.^[3]

Nevada’s economy is diverse and robust. As of the third quarter of 2023, the real GDP for Nevada was $237.1 billion.^[4] The state’s economy ranks 32nd in size among all states.^[4] The unemployment rate in Nevada was 5.4% in November 2023^[4].

The state is known for its strong tourism industry, particularly in Las Vegas, which is internationally recognized for its opulent casinos and entertainment destinations.^[1] In addition to tourism, Nevada’s economy is also driven by mining, with gold being the most valuable mined product.^[5] Nevada produces about 3/4 of the gold produced in the United States.^[2] Other important industries include agriculture, with alfalfa being the leading cash crop, and range livestock being the state’s leading agricultural industry.^[6]

Nevada is also home to a variety of attractions that draw visitors from around the world. These include the city of Las Vegas, known for its vibrant nightlife and entertainment scene, the Hoover Dam, a marvel of modern engineering, and the beautiful Lake Tahoe. The state also boasts several national parks and recreation areas, offering outstanding terrain for hiking, biking, climbing, horseback riding, and fishing.

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History of Nevada

The earliest European interest in the Great Basin, which includes present-day Nevada, was shown by Spain in the 18th century.^[7] The first European explorer was Francisco Garces, a Spanish missionary, who visited in 1775 or 1776.^[7] Fur trappers and traders explored the area around 1825. The exploration of Nevada can be divided into three overlapping but distinct phases: Fur Trappers and Caravaners (1826-1833), Sponsored Explorations (1834-1853), and Transients on their way to California (1844-1859).^[8]

Nevada was admitted to the Union as the 36th state on October 31, 1864.^[9] Despite lacking the 40,000 inhabitants required, Nevada became a state during the American Civil War. Its unprecedented, expedited admission to the Union came as President Abraham Lincoln sought Nevada’s support for his reelection.^[9]

Nevada’s entry into statehood in the United States was expedited by Union sympathizers to ensure the state’s participation in the 1864 presidential election in support of President Abraham Lincoln.^[10] Because its population at statehood was less than 40,000, Nevada was only able to muster 1,200 men to fight for the Union Army.^[11] Confederate forces never posed any serious threat of territorial seizure, and Nevada remained firmly in Union control for the duration of the war.^[12]

From its birth in 1864 until World War II, Nevada’s economic fortunes were firmly rooted in the mining industry.^[13] When new veins of gold, silver, and copper were struck, the state’s economy soared.^[13] However, the Depression of 1880 led to a two-decade dry spell, causing many Nevadans to turn to other possible resources like agriculture.^[14] Despite these challenges, the desire for Americans to move out west allowed Nevada to develop into the state that it is today.^[15]

Demographics of Nevada

The demographic distribution of the Nevada population is as follows:^[16]

White: 58.83%
Other race: 11.28%
Two or more races: 10.31%
Black or African American: 9.3%
Asian: 8.34%
Native American: 1.24%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.71%

Most common surnames in Nevada

The demographic distribution of Nevada surnames is as follows:^[17]

Surname	Incidence	Frequency
Johnson	30,843	1:180
Smith	25,538	1:218
Brown	24,925	1:223
Williams	23,464	1:237
Jones	22,373	1:249
Miller	21,355	1:260
Garcia	19,978	1:278
Davis	19,531	1:285
Anderson	18,189	1:306
Martinez	16,171	1:344

Researching family history in Nevada

The National Archives at Riverside has extensive federal records for Arizona, Southern California, and Clark County Nevada. The National Archives Pacific Region (California) has records for California (north and central) Nevada (except for Clark County), Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Marshall, Caroline, and Northern Mariana Islands, overseas Pacific naval bases, Asian-Pacific immigration, and American Indians. The Nevada State Library, Archives, and Public Records maintains a collection of Nevada state records and also has territorial records for Carson County, Utah and Nevada Territory. The Nevada State Historical Society collects and preserves Navada’s cultural heritage.

Nevada county list

Nevada has 16 counties and one independent city, Carson City.


Churchill	Clark	Douglas	Elko
Esmeralda	Eureka	Humboldt	Lander
Lincoln	Lyon	Mineral	Nye
Pershing	Storey	Washoe	White Pine

References

[:1-1] 1.0 ^1.1 The Biggest Industries In Nevada

[:2-2] 2.0 ^2.1 50 States in Square Miles from NETSTATE.COM

[3] US States - Ranked by Population 2024

[:0-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 Economy of Nevada Statistics and Data Trends: GDP ranking, unemployment rate, and economic growth | USAFacts

[5] Economy of Nevada Statistics and Data Trends: GDP ranking, unemployment rate, and economic growth | USAFacts

[6] Nevada

[:3-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Nevada

[8] Nevada Part I: The Unknown Territory – Nevada Magazine

[:4-9] 9.0 ^9.1 The U.S. Congress admits Nevada as the 36th state | October 31, 1864

[10] Statehood: New States During the Civil War - Essential Civil War Curriculum

[11] American Civil War: Nevada in the Civil War

[12] American Civil War: Nevada in the Civil War

[:5-13] 13.0 ^13.1 Nevada's 20th century economy a tale of water, mining, casinos

[14] Nevada Part IV: Into the New Century – Nevada Magazine

[15] History of Nevada/Introduction - Wikibooks, open books for an open world

[16] Nevada Population 2024 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)

[17] Most Common Surnames in Nevada, With Meanings

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