Nevada

Nevada
State
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): The Silver State (official); The Sagebrush State; The Battle Born State
Motto: All for Our Country
Anthem:"Home Means Nevada"
Map of the United States with Nevada highlighted
Country	United States
Before statehood	Nevada Territory,Utah Territory,Arizona Territory
Admitted to the Union	October 31, 1864 (36th)
Capital	Carson City
Largest city	Las Vegas
Largest county or equivalent	Clark
Largest metroandurbanareas	Las Vegas Valley
Government
•Governor	Joe Lombardo(R)
•Lieutenant Governor	Stavros Anthony(R)
Legislature	Nevada Legislature
•Upper house	Senate
•Lower house	Assembly
Judiciary	Supreme Court of Nevada
U.S. senators	Catherine Cortez Masto(D) Jacky Rosen(D)
U.S. House delegation	3 Democrats 1 Republican (list)
Area
• Total	110,577sq mi (286,382 km2)
• Land	109,781.18 sq mi (284,332 km2)
• Water	791 sq mi (2,048 km2) 0.72%
• Rank	7th
Dimensions
• Length	492 mi (787 km)
• Width	322 mi (519 km)
Elevation	5,500 ft (1,680 m)
Highest elevation ( Boundary Peak [1] [2] [a] [b])	13,147 ft (4,007.1 m)
Lowest elevation ( Colorado Riverat California border [2] [a])	481 ft (147 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	3,104,614
• Rank	32nd
• Density	26.8/sq mi (10.3/km2)
• Rank	42nd
•Median household income	$60,365[3]
• Income rank	24th
Demonym	Nevadan
Language
•Official language	None
Time zones
most of state	UTC−08:00(Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00(PDT)
West Wendover	UTC−07:00(Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00(MDT)
USPS abbreviation	NV
ISO 3166 code	US-NV
Traditional abbreviation	Nev.
Latitude	35° N to 42° N
Longitude	114° 2′ W to 120° W
Website	nv.gov

State symbols of Nevada

List of state symbols
Song	Home Means Nevada
Living insignia
Bird	Mountain bluebird(Sialia currucoides)
Fish	Lahontan cutthroat trout(Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi)
Flower	Sagebrush(Artemisia tridentata)
Grass	Indian Rice Grass
Insect	Vivid Dancer Damselfly(Argia vivida)
Mammal	Desert bighorn sheep
Reptile	Desert tortoise(Gopherus agassizii)
Tree	Bristlecone pine,Single-leaf Piñon(Pinus monophylla)
Inanimate insignia
Color(s)	Silver, Blue
Fossil	Ichthyosaur(Shonisaurus popularis)
Gemstone	Virgin Valley Black Fire Opal
Mineral	Silver
Rock	Sandstone
Soil	Orovadaseries
Other	Element:Neon
State route marker
State quarter
Released in 2006
Lists of United States state symbols

Nevada(/nəˈvædəˌ-vɑː-/^ⓘnə-VAD-ə, -⁠VAH-,^[4][5]Spanish:[neˈβaða]) is a landlockedstatein theWesternregion of theUnited States.^[c]It bordersOregonto the northwest,Idahoto the northeast,Californiato the west,Arizonato the southeast, andUtahto the east. Nevada is the7th-most extensive, the32nd-most populous, and the9th-least densely populatedof the U.S. states. Nearly three-quarters of Nevada's people live inClark County, which contains theLas Vegas–Paradise metropolitan area,^[6]including three of the state's four largest incorporated cities.^[7]Nevada's capital isCarson City.Las Vegasis the largest city in the state.

Nevada is officially known as the "Silver State" because of the importance of silver to its history and economy. It is also known as the "Battle Born State" because it achieved statehood during theCivil War(the words "Battle Born" also appear onits state flag); due to thepresidencyofAbraham Lincoln, the Union benefited immensely from the support of newly awarded statehood by the infusion of the monetary support of nearly $400 million in silver ore generated at the time by theComstock Lode.^[8]It is also known as the "SagebrushState", for the native plant of the same name; and as the "Sage-henState".^[9]The state's name means "snowy" in Spanish, referring to Nevada's small overlap with theSierra Nevadamountain range; however, the rest of Nevada is largelydesertandsemi-arid, much of it within theGreat Basin. Areas south of the Great Basin are within theMojave Desert, whileLake Tahoeand the Sierra Nevada lie on the western edge. About 86% of the state's land is managed by various jurisdictions of theU.S. federal government, both civilian and military.^[10]

American Indiansof thePaiute,Shoshone, andWashoetribes inhabit what is now Nevada. The first Europeans to explore the region were Spanish. They called the regionNevada(snowy) because of the snow which covered the mountains in winter, similar to theSierra Nevada in Spain. The area formed from mostlyAlta Californiaand part ofNuevo México's territory within theViceroyalty of New Spain, which gained independence as Mexico in 1821. The United States annexed the area in 1848 after its victory in theMexican–American War, and it was incorporated as part of theNew MexicoandUtah Territoryin 1850. The discovery of silver at theComstock Lodein 1859 led to a population boom that became an impetus to the creation ofNevada Territoryout of western Utah Territory in 1861. Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864, as the second of two states added to the Union during the Civil War (the first beingWest Virginia).^[11]

Nevada is known for itslibertarianlaws. In 1940, with apopulationof just over 110,000 people, Nevada was by far the least-populated state, with less than half the population of the next least-populous state,Wyoming.^[12]However, legalizedgamblingandlenient marriage and divorce lawstransformed Nevada into a major tourist destination in the 20th century.^[13][14]Nevada is the only U.S. state whereprostitutionis legal, though it is illegal in its most populated regions – Clark County (Las Vegas),Washoe County(Reno) and Carson City (which, as an independent city, is not within the boundaries of any county). The tourism industry remains Nevada's largest employer,^[15]with mining continuing as a substantial sector of the economy: Nevada is the fourth-largest producer of gold in the world.^[16]Nevada is the driest state, and over time, and influenced byclimate change,droughtsin Nevada have been increasing in frequency and severity,^[17]putting a further strain on Nevada'swater security.

The name "Nevada" comes from the Spanish adjectivenevada([neˈβaða]), meaning "snow-covered" or "snowy".^[18]The state takes its name from theNevada Territory, which in turn was named for theSierra Nevada.^[19]

Nevadans pronounce the second syllable with the "a" of "apple" (/nəˈvædə/) while some people from outside of the state pronounce it with the "a" of "palm" (/nəˈvɑːdə/).^[20]Although thequality, but not thelength, of the latter pronunciation is closer to the Spanish pronunciation (Spanish/a/isopen central[ä],^[21]whereas American English/ɑː/varies fromback[ɑː]to central[äː]),^[22]it is not the pronunciation used by Nevadans. State AssemblymanHarry Mortensonproposed a bill to recognize the alternative pronunciation of Nevada,^[23]though the bill was not supported by most legislators and never received a vote. The Nevadan pronunciation is the one used by the state legislature. At one time, the state's official tourism organization, TravelNevada, stylized the name of the state as "Nevăda", with abreveover theaindicating the locally preferred pronunciation,^[24]which was also available as a license plate design until 2007.^[25]

Before the arrival of Europeans, the earliest inhabitants were Indigenous tribes including theGoshute,Southern Paiute,Mohave, and Wašišiw (Washoe people).^[26][27]

Francisco Garcéswas the first European in the area.^[28]Nevada was annexed as a part of theSpanish Empirein the northwestern territory ofNew Spain. Administratively, the area of Nevada was part of theCommandancy General of the Provincias Internasin the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Nevada became a part ofAlta California(Upper California) province in 1804 whenthe Californiaswere split. With theMexican War of Independencewon in 1821, the province of Alta California became a territory (state) of Mexico, with a small population.

Jedediah Smithentered theLas Vegas Valleyin 1827,Peter Skene Ogdentraveled theHumboldt Riverin 1828, and in 1829 a merchant fromNuevo MéxiconamedAntonio Armijostreamlined travel along theOld Spanish Trail. ChroniclingArmijo's routehis scoutRaphael Riverawas the first to name Las Vegas, in an 1830 report to governorJosé Antonio Chaves. Following the suggestions by Rivera of a spring, on the published expedition's map, located in the Las Vegas areaJohn C. Frémontset up camp inLas Vegas Springsin 1844. In 1847, Mormons established theState of Deseret, claiming all of Nevada within the Great Basin and the Colorado watershed. They built the first permanent settlement in what is now Nevada, calledMormon Station(now Genoa), in 1851. Additionally, in June 1855, William Bringhurst and 29 other Mormon missionaries built the first permanent structure, a 150-foot squareadobe fort, northeast of downtown Las Vegas, converging on the Spanish andMormon Roads. The fort remained underSalt Lake City's control until the winter of 1858–1859, and the route remained largely under the control of Salt Lake City andSanta Fetradespersons.

As such, these pioneers laid the foundation for the emergence of the initial settlements between theSierra NevadasandMojave Desertand within the Las Vegas Valley. The enduring influence ofNew MexicoandUtahculture has since profoundly impacted Nevada's identity, manifesting throughNew Mexican cuisineandMormon foodwaysorNew MexicanandMormon folk musics, into the fabric of Nevada's own cultural landscape.

As a result of theMexican–American Warand theTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico permanently lost Alta California in 1848. The new areas acquired by the United States continued to be administered as territories. As part of theMexican Cession(1848) and the subsequentCalifornia Gold Rushthat usedEmigrant Trailsthrough the area, thestate's area evolvedfirst as part of theUtah TerritoryandNew Mexico Territory, then theNevada Territory(March 2, 1861; named for theSierra Nevada).^[29]

The first discovery of a major U.S. deposit ofsilver oreoccurred inComstock LodeunderVirginia City, Nevada, in 1859.

On March 2, 1861, the Nevada Territory separated from the Utah Territory and adopted its current name, shortened fromThe Sierra Nevada(Spanish for "snow-covered mountain range"). The 1861 southern boundary is commemorated byNevada Historical Markers57 and 58 in Lincoln and Nye counties.

Eight days before thepresidential election of 1864, Nevada became the 36th state in the Union, despite lacking the minimum 60,000 residents thatCongresstypically required a potential state to have in order to become a state.^[30]At the time, Nevada's population was little more than 40,000.^[31]Governor Nye was frustrated that previous attempts to send the constitution via overland mail and by sea had failed by October 24, so on October 26 the full text was sent by telegraph at a cost of $4,303.27^[32][d]– the most costly telegraph on file at the time for a single dispatch, equivalent to $83,831.36 in 2023. Finally, the response from Washington came on October 31, 1864: "the pain is over, the child is born, Nevada this day was admitted into the Union". Statehood was rushed to the date of October 31 to help ensureAbraham Lincoln's reelection on November8 and post-Civil WarRepublicandominance in Congress,^[33]as Nevada's mining-based economy tied it to the more industrializedUnion. As it turned out, however, Lincoln and the Republicans won the election handily and did not need Nevada's help.

Nevada is one of only two states to significantly expand its borders after admission to the Union, with the other beingMissouri, which acquired additional territory in 1837 due to thePlatte Purchase. In 1866 another part of the western Utah Territory was added to Nevada in the eastern part of the state, setting the current eastern boundary. Nevada achieved its current southern boundaries on January 18, 1867, when it absorbed the portion ofPah-Ute Countyin theArizona Territorywest of the Colorado River, essentially all of present-day Nevada south of the37th parallel. The transfer was prompted by the discovery of gold in the area, and officials thought Nevada would be better able to oversee the expected population boom. This area includes most of what is nowClark Countyand the Las Vegas metropolitan area.

Mining shaped Nevada's economy for many years (seeSilver mining in Nevada). WhenMark Twainlived in Nevada during the period described inRoughing It, mining had led to an industry of speculation and immense wealth. Both mining and population temporarily declined in the late 19th century. However, the rich silver strike atTonopahin 1900, followed by strikes inGoldfieldandRhyolite, created a second mining boom in Nevada and Nevada's population.

Unregulatedgamblingwas commonplace in the early Nevada mining towns but was outlawed in 1909 as part of a nationwide anti-gambling crusade. Because of subsequent declines in mining output and the decline of the agricultural sector during theGreat Depression, Nevada again legalized gambling on March 19, 1931, with approval from the legislature. GovernorFred B. Balzar's signature enacted the most liberal divorce laws in the country and open gambling. The reforms came just eight days after the federal government presented the $49million construction contract for Boulder Dam (nowHoover Dam).^[35]

TheNevada Test Site, 65 miles (105 km) northwest of the city of Las Vegas, was founded on January 11, 1951, for the testing ofnuclear weapons. The site consists of about 1,350 square miles (3,500 km²) of the desert and mountainous terrain.Nuclear testingat the Nevada Test Site began with a 1 kiloton of TNT (4.2 TJ) nuclear bomb dropped onFrenchman Flaton January 27, 1951. The last atmospheric test was conducted on July 17, 1962, and the underground testing of weapons continued until September 23, 1992. The location is known for having the highest concentration of nuclear-detonated weapons in the U.S.

Over 80% of the state's area is owned by the federal government. This is mainly becausehomesteadswere not permitted in large enough sizes to be viable in the arid conditions that prevail throughout desert Nevada. Instead, early settlers would homestead land surrounding a water source, and then graze livestock on the adjacent public land, which is useless for agriculture without access to water (this pattern ofranchingstill prevails).

TheCOVID-19 pandemicwas confirmed in Nevada on March 5, 2020. Because of concerns aboutcoronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), Nevada governorSteve Sisolakdeclared astate of emergencyon March 12, 2020. Four days later, Nevada reported its first death. On March 17, 2020, Sisolak ordered the closure of non-essential businesses in the state to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Various protests were held against Sisolak's shutdown order beginning in April 2020. Nevada launched the first phase of its reopening on May 9, 2020. Restaurants, retailers, outdoor malls, and hair salons were among the businesses allowed to reopen, but with precautions in place, such as limiting occupancy to 50 percent. A second phase went into effect on May 29, 2020. It allowed for the reopening ofstate parksand businesses such as bars, gyms, and movie theaters. Casinos began reopening on June 4, 2020.

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Nevada is almost entirely within theBasin and Range Provinceand is broken up by many north–south mountain ranges. Most of these ranges haveendorheicvalleys between them.

Much of the northern part of the state is within theGreat Basin, a mild desert that experiences hot temperatures in the summer and cold temperatures in the winter. Occasionally, moisture from theArizona Monsoonwill cause summer thunderstorms; Pacific storms may blanket the area with snow. The state's highest recorded temperature was 125 °F (52 °C) inLaughlin(elevation of 605 feet or 184 meters) on June 29, 1994.^[36]The coldest recorded temperature was −52°F(−47°C) set in San Jacinto in 1972, in the northeastern portion of the state.^[36]

TheHumboldt Rivercrosses the state from east to west across the northern part of the state, draining into theHumboldt SinknearLovelock. Several rivers drain from the Sierra Nevada eastward, including theWalker,Truckee, andCarsonrivers. All of these rivers areendorheic basins, ending inWalker Lake,Pyramid Lake, and theCarson Sink, respectively. However, not all of Nevada is within the Great Basin. Tributaries of theSnake Riverdrain the far north, while theColorado River, which also forms much of the boundary withArizona, drains much of southern Nevada.

The mountain ranges, some of which have peaks above 13,000 feet (4,000 m), harbor lush forests high above desert plains, creatingsky islandsfor endemic species. The valleys are often no lower in elevation than 3,000 feet (910 m), while some in central Nevada are above 6,000 feet (1,800 m).

The southern third of the state, where the Las Vegas area is situated, is within theMojave Desert. The area receives less rain in the winter but is closer to the Arizona Monsoon in the summer. The terrain is also lower, mostly below 4,000 feet (1,200 m), creating conditions for hot summer days and cool to chilly winter nights.

Nevada and California have by far the longest diagonalline(in respect to the cardinal directions) as a stateboundaryat just over 400 miles (640 km). This line begins inLake Tahoenearly 4 miles (6.4 km) offshore (in the direction of the boundary), and continues to theColorado Riverwhere the Nevada, California, and Arizona boundaries merge 12 miles (19 km) southwest of the Laughlin Bridge.

The largest mountain range in the southern portion of the state is theSpring Mountain Range, just west of Las Vegas. The state's lowest point is along the Colorado River, south of Laughlin.

Nevada has 172 mountain summits with 2,000 feet (610 m) of prominence. Nevada ranks second, after Alaska, for the greatest number of mountains in the United States, followed by California, Montana, and Washington.^[37]

Nevada is the driest state in the United States.^[38]It is made up of mostly desert and semi-arid climate regions, and, with the exception of theLas Vegas Valley, the average summerdiurnal temperature rangeapproaches 40 °F (22 °C) in much of the state. While winters in northern Nevada are long and fairly cold, the winter season in the southern part of the state tends to be of short duration and mild. Most parts of Nevada receive scarce precipitation during the year. The most rain that falls in the state falls on the east and northeast slopes of theSierra Nevada.

The average annual rainfall per year is about 7 inches (180 mm); the wettest parts get around 40 inches (1,000 mm). Nevada's highest recorded temperature is 125 °F (52 °C) atLaughlinon June 29, 1994, and the lowest recorded temperature is −50 °F (−46 °C) atSan Jacintoon January 8, 1937. Nevada's 125 °F (52 °C) reading is the third highest statewide record high temperature of a U.S. state, just behind Arizona's 128 °F (53 °C) reading and California's 134 °F (57 °C) reading.

Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected cities in Nevada ^[39]

Location	July (°F)		July (°C)		December (°F)		December (°C)
	Max	Min	Max	Min	Max	Min	Max	Min
Las Vegas	106	81	41	27	56	38	13	3
Reno	92	57	33	14	45	25	7	–4
Carson City	89	52	32	11	45	22	7	–5
Elko	90	50	32	10	37	14	2	–9
Fallon	92	54	33	12	45	19	7	–7
Winnemucca	93	52	34	11	41	17	5	–8
Laughlin	112	80	44	27	65	43	18	6

The vegetation of Nevada is diverse and differs by state area. Nevada contains sixbiotic zones:alpine,sub-alpine,ponderosa pine,pinion-juniper,sagebrushandcreosotebush.^[40]

Nevada is divided into political jurisdictions designated ascounties. Carson City is officially a consolidated municipality, meaning it legally functions as both a city and a county. As of 1919, there were 17 counties in the state, ranging from 146 to 18,159 square miles (380 to 47,030 km²).

Lake County, one of the original nine counties formed in 1861, was renamedRoop Countyin 1862. Part of the county becameLassen County, California, in 1864, resolving border uncertainty. In 1883, Washoe County annexed the portion that remained in Nevada.^[41]

In 1969, Ormsby County was dissolved and theConsolidated Municipality of Carson Citywas created by the Legislature in its place coterminous with the old boundaries of Ormsby County.

Bullfrog Countywas formed in 1987 from part of Nye County. After the creation was declared unconstitutional, the county was abolished in 1989.^[41]

Humboldt County was designated as a county in 1856 byUtah Territorial Legislatureand again in 1861 by the new Nevada Legislature.

Clark County is the most populous county in Nevada, accounting for nearly three-quarters of its residents. Las Vegas, Nevada's most populous city, has been thecounty seatsince the county was created in 1909 from a portion ofLincoln County, Nevada. Before that, it was a part of Arizona Territory. Clark County attracts numerous tourists: An estimated 44million people visited Clark County in 2014.^[42]

Washoe County is the second-most populous county of Nevada. Its county seat isReno. Washoe County includes theReno–Sparks metropolitan area.

Lyon County is the third most populous county. It was one of the nine original counties created in 1861. It was named afterNathaniel Lyon, the first Union General to be killed in theCivil War. Its current county seat isYerington. Its first county seat was established atDaytonon November 29, 1861.^[43]

Nevada counties

County name	County seat	Year founded	2022 population[44]	Percent of total	Area		Percent of total	Population density
					sq mi	km2		per sq mi	perkm2
Carson City	Carson City	1861	58,130	1.83 %	157	410	0.14 %	370.25	142.95
Churchill	Fallon	1861	25,843	0.81 %	5,024	13,010	4.54 %	5.14	1.98
Clark	Las Vegas	1908	2,322,985	73.10 %	8,061	20,880	7.29 %	288.18	111.27
Douglas	Minden	1861	49,628	1.56 %	738	1,910	0.67 %	67.25	25.97
Elko	Elko	1869	54,046	1.70 %	17,203	44,560	15.56 %	3.14	1.21
Esmeralda	Goldfield	1861	744	0.02 %	3,589	9,300	3.25 %	0.21	0.081
Eureka	Eureka	1869	1,863	0.06 %	4,180	10,800	3.78 %	0.45	0.17
Humboldt	Winnemucca	1856/1861	17,272	0.54 %	9,658	25,010	8.73 %	1.79	0.69
Lander	Battle Mountain	1861	5,766	0.18 %	5,519	14,290	4.99 %	1.04	0.40
Lincoln	Pioche	1867	4,482	0.14 %	10,637	27,550	9.62 %	0.42	0.16
Lyon	Yerington	1861	61,585	1.94 %	2,024	5,240	1.83 %	30.43	11.75
Mineral	Hawthorne	1911	4,525	0.14 %	3,813	9,880	3.45 %	1.19	0.46
Nye	Tonopah	1864	54,738	1.72 %	18,199	47,140	16.46 %	3.01	1.16
Pershing	Lovelock	1919	6,462	0.20 %	6,067	15,710	5.49 %	1.07	0.41
Storey	Virginia City	1861	4,170	0.13 %	264	680	0.24 %	15.80	6.10
Washoe	Reno	1861	496,745	15.63 %	6,542	16,940	5.92 %	75.93	29.32
White Pine	Ely	1869	8,788	0.28 %	8,897	23,040	8.05 %	0.99	0.38
Totals	Counties: 17		3,177,772		110,572	286,380		28.74	11.10

• Basin and Range National Monument
• Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area
• California National Historic Trail
• Great Basin National Park
• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
• Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
• Pony Express National Historic Trail
• Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge

• Ash Meadows National Wildlife Preserve
• Avi Kwa Ame National Monument
• Basin and Range National Monument
• Bootleg Canyon Mountain Bike Park
• Death Valley National Park
• Desert National Wildlife Refuge
• Gold Butte National Monument
• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
• Inyo National Forest
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area
• Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge
• Mount Charlestonand theMount Charleston Wilderness
• Old Spanish National Historic Trail
• Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge
• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
• Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
• Spring Mountainsand theSpring Mountains National Recreation Area
• Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

There are 68 designatedwilderness areasin Nevada, protecting some 6,579,014 acres (2,662,433 ha) under the jurisdiction of theNational Park Service,U.S. Forest Service, andBureau of Land Management.^[46]

The Nevada state parks compriseprotected areasmanaged by the state of Nevada, includingstate parks, statehistoric sites, and staterecreation areas. There are 24 state park units, includingVan Sickle Bi-State Parkwhich opened in July 2011 and is operated in partnership with the state ofCalifornia.^[47]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	6,857		—
1870	42,941		526.2%
1880	62,266		45.0%
1890	47,355		−23.9%
1900	42,335		−10.6%
1910	81,875		93.4%
1920	77,407		−5.5%
1930	91,058		17.6%
1940	110,247		21.1%
1950	160,083		45.2%
1960	285,278		78.2%
1970	488,738		71.3%
1980	800,493		63.8%
1990	1,201,833		50.1%
2000	1,998,257		66.3%
2010	2,700,551		35.1%
2020	3,104,614		15.0%
2023 (est.)	3,194,176		2.9%
Source: 1910–2020[48]

TheUnited States Census Bureaudetermined Nevada had a population of 3,104,614 at the2020 U.S. census. In 2022, the estimated population of Nevada was 3,177,772, an increase of 73,158 residents (2.36%) since the 2020census.^[49]Nevada had the highest percentage growth in population from 2017 to 2018. At the 2020 census, 6.0% of the state's population were reported as under 5, 22.5% were under 18, and 16.1% were 65 or older. Females made up about 49.8% of the population. 19.1% of the population was reported as foreign-born.

Since the 2020 census, the population of Nevada had a natural increase of 2,374 (the net difference between 42,076 births and 39,702 deaths); and an increase due to net migration of 36,605 (of which 34,280 was due to domestic and 2,325 was due to international migration).^[50]

Thecenter of populationof Nevada is in southernNye County.^[51]In this county, the unincorporated town ofPahrump, 60 miles (97 km) west of Las Vegas on the California state line, has grown very rapidly from 1980 to 2020. At the 2020 census, the town had 44,738 residents.^[52]Las Vegas grew from a gulch of 100 people in 1900 to 10,000 by 1950 to 100,000 by 1970, and was America's fastest-growing city and metropolitan area from 1960 to 2000.

From about the 1940s until 2003, Nevada was the fastest-growing state in the U.S. percentage-wise. Between 1990 and 2000, Nevada's population increased by 66%, while the nation's population increased by 13%. More than two-thirds of the population live in Clark County, which is coextensive with theLas Vegas metropolitan area. Thus, in terms of population, Nevada is one of the most centralized states in the nation.

HendersonandNorth Las Vegasare among the top 20 fastest-growing U.S. cities with populations over 100,000. The rural community ofMesquite65 miles (105 km) northeast of Las Vegas was an example of micropolitan growth in the 1990s and 2000s. Other desert towns likeIndian SpringsandSearchlighton the outskirts of Las Vegas have seen some growth as well.

Since 1950, the rate of population born in Nevada has never peaked above 27 percent, the lowest rate of all states. In 2012, only 25% of Nevadans were born in Nevada.^[53]

According toHUD's 2022Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 7,618homelesspeople in Nevada.^[54][55]

Nevada – Racial and Ethnic Composition
( NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2000[56]	Pop 2010[57]	Pop 2020[58]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
Whitealone (NH)	1,303,001	1,462,081	1,425,952	65.21%	54.14%	45.93%
Black or African Americanalone (NH)	131,509	208,058	291,960	6.58%	7.70%	9.40%
Native AmericanorAlaska Nativealone (NH)	21,397	23,536	23,392	1.07%	0.87%	0.75%
Asianalone (NH)	88,593	191,047	265,991	4.43%	7.07%	8.57%
Pacific Islanderalone (NH)	7,769	15,456	22,970	0.39%	0.57%	0.74%
Some Other Racealone (NH)	2,787	4,740	17,171	0.14%	0.18%	0.55%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial(NH)	49,231	79,132	166,921	2.46%	2.93%	5.38%
Hispanic or Latino(any race)	393,970	716,501	890,257	19.72%	26.53%	28.68%
Total	1,998,257	2,700,551	3,104,614	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Ethnic composition as of the 2020 census

Race and Ethnicity[59]	Alone		Total
White (non-Hispanic)	45.9%	45.9	50.6%	50.6
Hispanic or Latino[e]	—		28.7%	28.7
Multiracial	—		14.0%	14
African American (non-Hispanic)	9.4%	9.4	11.1%	11.1
Asian	8.6%	8.6	10.7%	10.7
Native American	0.8%	0.8	2.1%	2.1
Pacific Islander	0.7%	0.7	1.5%	1.5
Other	0.6%	0.6	1.4%	1.4

According to the 2022American Community Survey, 30.3% of Nevada's population were ofHispanic or Latinoorigin (of any race):Mexican(22%),Cuban(1.5%),Salvadoran(1.5%),Puerto Rican(1%), and other Hispanic or Latino origin (4.3%).^[60]The largest European ancestry groups were:German(8.9%),English(8.1%),Irish(7.2%), andItalian(4.8%).^[61]The largest Asian ancestry groups in the state wereFilipino(6.4%) andChinese(1.9%).^[62]

In 1980, non-Hispanic whites made up 83.2% of the state's population.^[63]

Nevada historical racial composition

Racial composition	1970[63]	1980	1990[63]	2000[64]	2010[65]	2020[66]
White	91.7%	87.5%	84.3%	75.2%	66.2%	51.2%
Black	5.7%	6.4%	6.6%	6.8%	8.1%	9.8%
Asian	0.7%	1.8%	3.2%	4.5%	7.2%	8.8%
Native	1.6%	1.7%	1.6%	1.3%	1.2%	1.4%
Native Hawaiianand other Pacific Islander	–	–	–	0.4%	0.6%	0.8%
Other race	0.3%	2.7%	4.4%	8.0%	12.0%	14.0%
Two or more races	–	–	–	3.8%	4.7%	14.0%
Hispanic or Latino(of any race)	5.6%	6.7%	10.4%	19.7%	26.5%	28.7%
Non-Hispanic white	86.7%	83.2%	78.7%	65.2%	54.1%	45.9%

As of 2011, 63.6% of Nevada's population younger than age1 were minorities.^[67]Las Vegas is amajority-minoritycity. According to the United States Census Bureau estimates, as of July 1, 2018, non-Hispanic Whites made up 48.7% of Nevada's population.^[68]

InDouglas,Mineral, andPershingcounties, a plurality of residents are of Mexican ancestry. InNye CountyandHumboldt County, residents are mostly of German ancestry;Washoe Countyhas many Irish Americans. Americans of English descent form pluralities inLincoln County,Churchill County,Lyon County,White Pine County, andEureka County.

Asian Americans lived in the state since the California Gold Rush of the 1850s brought thousands of Chinese miners to Washoe county. They were followed by a few hundredJapanesefarmworkers in the late 19th century. By the late 20th century, many immigrants from China, Japan, Korea, thePhilippines,Bangladesh, India, andVietnamcame to the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The city now has one of America's most prolific Asian American communities, with a mostly Chinese andTaiwanesearea known as "Chinatown" west of I-15 on Spring Mountain Road.Filipino Americansform the largest Asian American group in the state, with a population of more than 202,000. They comprise 59.8% of the Asian American population in Nevada and constitute about 6.4% of the entire state's population.^[69]

Mining booms drew many Greek and Eastern European immigrants to Nevada.^[70]In the early twentieth century,Greeks,Slavs,Danes,Japanese,Italians, andBasquespoured into Nevada.^[71]Chileanswere found in the state as early as 1870.^[72]During the mid-1800s, a significant number of European immigrants, mainly fromIreland,EnglandandGermany, arrived in the state with the intention of capitalizing on the thriving mining sector in the region.^[73]

Native American tribes in Nevada are theNorthernandSouthern Paiute,Western Shoshone,Goshute,Hualapai,Washoe, andUtetribes.^[74]

Whites remain the largest racial or ethnic group in Nevada.^[75]Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group in Nevada.^[76]There is a growing Mexican and Central American population in Nevada. Many of Nevada's Latino immigrants are from Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.^[77]Nevada also has a growing multiracial population.^[78]

The top countries of origin for immigrants in Nevada wereMexico(39.5 percent of immigrants), thePhilippines(14.3 percent),El Salvador(5.2 percent),China(3.1 percent), andCuba(3 percent).^[79]

The majority of people in Nevada are of white (European) ancestry. A small portion trace their ancestry to Basque people recruited as sheepherders. Hispanics in Nevada are mainly of Mexican and Cuban heritage. Latinos comprise about one-fourth of Nevada's residents and are concentrated in the southeast in Nevada. African Americans live mainly in the Las Vegas and Reno area and constitute less than one-tenth of the population. Native Americans of the Paiute, Shoshone, and Washoe tribes live on several reservations in the state and make up a small fraction of Nevada's population.^[80]

The most common ancestries in Nevada include Mexican, German, Irish, English, Italian and Asian.^[81]

Nevada is the third most diverse state in the country, behind only Hawaii and California.^[82][83]

Birth data

Note: Births within the table do not add up, due to Hispanics being counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number.

Live Births by Single Race/Ethnicity of Mother

Race	2013[84]	2014[85]	2015[86]	2016[87]	2017[88]	2018[89]	2019[90]	2020[91]	2021[92]	2022[93]
White	27,293 (77.9%)	27,638 (77.1%)	27,648 (76.2%)	...	...	...	...	...	...	...
Non-Hispanic White	14,951 (42.7%)	15,151 (42.2%)	14,937 (41.2%)	13,918 (38.4%)	13,171 (36.8%)	13,021 (36.5%)	12,479 (35.6%)	11,602 (34.5%)	11,800 (35.0%)	10,961 (33.0%)
Black	4,215 (12.0%)	4,603 (12.8%)	4,803 (13.2%)	4,205 (11.6%)	4,471 (12.5%)	4,564 (12.8%)	4,514 (12.9%)	4,533 (13.5%)	4,457 (13.2%)	4,334 (13.1%)
Asian	3,097 (8.8%)	3,145 (8.8%)	3,337 (9.2%)	2,666 (7.3%)	2,685 (7.5%)	2,613 (7.3%)	2,587 (7.4%)	2,467 (7.3%)	2,372 (7.0%)	2,548 (7.7%)
Pacific Islander	...	...	...	308 (0.8%)	322 (0.9%)	340 (1.0%)	372 (1.1%)	358 (1.1%)	331 (1.0%)	358 (1.1%)
American Indian	425 (1.2%)	475 (1.3%)	510 (1.4%)	303 (0.8%)	305 (0.9%)	280 (0.8%)	277 (0.8%)	234 (0.7%)	239 (0.7%)	218 (0.7%)
Hispanic(of any race)	12,718(36.3%)	13,006(36.3%)	13,225(36.4%)	13,391(36.9%)	13,176(36.8%)	13,307(37.3%)	13,238(37.7%)	12,763(37.9%)	12,842(38.1%)	13,019(39.2%)
Total Nevada	35,030(100%)	35,861(100%)	36,298(100%)	36,260(100%)	35,756(100%)	35,682(100%)	35,072(100%)	33,653(100%)	33,686(100%)	33,193(100%)

• Since 2016, data for births ofWhite Hispanicorigin are not collected, but included in oneHispanicgroup; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

A small percentage of Nevada's population lives in rural areas. The culture of these places differs significantly from major metropolitan areas. People in these rural counties tend to be native Nevada residents, unlike in the Las Vegas and Reno areas, where the vast majority of the population was born in another state. The rural population is also less diverse in terms of race and ethnicity. Mining plays an important role in the economies of the rural counties, with tourism being less prominent.^[94]Ranching also has a long tradition in rural Nevada.^[95]

Ranked by per capita income in 2020

Rank	Place	Per capita income	County
1	Crystal Bay	$180,334	Washoe
2	Glenbrook	$102,963	Douglas
3	Zephyr Cove	$94,920	Douglas
4	Genoa	$86,185	Douglas
5	Incline Village	$74,294	Washoe
6	Kingsbury	$68,215	Douglas
7	Round Hill Village	$67,659	Douglas
8	East Valley	$67,169	Douglas
9	Summerlin South	$65,633	Clark
10	Mount Charleston	$57,583	Clark
Further information: Nevada locations by per capita income

Church attendancein Nevada is among the lowest of all U.S. states. In a 2009Galluppoll only 30% of Nevadans said they attended church weekly or almost weekly, compared to 42% of all Americans (only four states were found to have a lower attendance rate than Nevada's).^[97]In 2020, the Public Religion Research Institute determined 67% of the population were Christian,^[98]reflecting a 1% increase in religiosity from 2014's separate Pew study.^[99]

Major religious affiliations of the people of Nevada were, according to the Pew Research Center in 2014:Protestant35%,Irreligious28%,Roman Catholic25%,Latter-day Saints4%,Jewish2%,Hinduless than 1%,Buddhist0.5% andMuslimless than 0.1%. Parts of Nevada (in the eastern parts of the state) are situated in theMormon Corridor.

The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2010 were theRoman Catholic Churchwith 451,070;The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintswith 175,149; and theSouthern Baptist Conventionwith 45,535;Buddhist congregations14,727;Baháʼí Faith1,723; andMuslim1,700.^[100]The Jewish community is represented by TheRohr Jewish Learning InstituteandChabad.^[101][102]According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6.2% of Nevadans are adherents, making it the sixth highest percentage state in the Union.^[103]

The most common non-English languages spoken in Nevada areSpanish,TagalogandChinese.^[104]Indigenous languages of Nevadainclude Northern Paiute, the Southern Paiute, Shoshone, and Washo.^[105]

The top seven languages spoken in Nevada according to the U.S. Census data areSpanish,Tagalog,Chinese,Vietnamese,Korean,AmharicandThai.^[106]

The economy of Nevada is tied to tourism (especially entertainment and gambling related), mining, and cattle ranching. Nevada's industrial outputs are tourism, entertainment, mining, machinery, printing and publishing, food processing, and electric equipment. The Bureau of Economic Analysis^[108][109]estimates Nevada's total state product in 2018 was $170billion.^[110]The state'sper capita personal incomein 2020 was $53,635, ranking 31st in the nation.^[111]Nevada's state debt in 2012 was calculated to be $7.5billion, or $3,100 per taxpayer.^[112]As of May 2021, the state's unemployment rate was 7.8%.^[113]

In portions of the state outside of the Las Vegas and Reno metropolitan areas mining plays a major economic role. By value, gold is by far the most important mineral mined. In 2022, 4,040,000 troy ounces (126 t) of gold worth $7.3billion were mined in Nevada, and the state accounted for 4% of world gold production. Other minerals mined in Nevada include construction aggregates, copper, gypsum, diatomite and lithium.^[114][115]Despite its rich deposits, the cost of mining in Nevada is generally high, and output is very sensitive to world commodity prices.

Cattle ranching is a major economic activity in rural Nevada. Nevada's agricultural outputs are cattle, hay, alfalfa, dairy products, onions, and potatoes. As of January 1, 2006, there were an estimated 500,000 head of cattle and 70,000 head of sheep in Nevada.^[116]Most of these animals forage onrangelandin the summer, with supplemental feed in the winter. Calves are generally shipped to out-of-statefeedlotsin the fall to be fattened for the market. Over 90% of Nevada's 484,000 acres (196,000 ha) of cropland is used to growhay, mostly alfalfa, for livestock feed. This livestock is usually used for food.

The largest employers in the state, as of the first fiscal quarter of 2011, are the following, according to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation:^[117]

Rank	Employer
1	Clark County School District
2	Washoe County School District
3	Clark County
4	Wynn Las Vegas
5	Bellagio LLC
6	MGM Grand Hotel/Casino
7	Aria Resort & Casino LLC
8	Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
9	Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
10	Caesars Palace
11	University of Nevada, Las Vegas
12	The Venetian Casino Resort
13	The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
14	The Mirage Casino-Hotel
15	University of Nevada, Reno
16	University Medical Center of Southern Nevada
17	The Palazzo Casino Resort
18	Flamingo Las Vegas Operating Company LLC
19	Encore Las Vegas
20	Luxor Las Vegas

Amtrak'sCalifornia Zephyrtrain uses the Union Pacific's originaltranscontinental railroadline in daily service from Chicago toEmeryville, California, servingElko,Winnemucca, and Reno. Las Vegas has had no passenger train service since Amtrak'sDesert Windwas discontinued in 1997.Amtrak Thruwaybuses provide connecting service from Las Vegas to trains atNeedles, California, Los Angeles, andBakersfield, California; and fromStateline, Nevada, toSacramento, California. There have been a number of proposals to re-introduce service to eitherLos AngelesorSouthern California.

TheUnion Pacific Railroadhas some railroads in the north and south of Nevada.Greyhound Linesprovide some bus service to the state.

Interstate 15(I-15) passes through the southern tip of the state, serving Las Vegas and other communities.I-215andI-515also serve the Las Vegas metropolitan area.I-80crosses through the northern part of Nevada, roughly following the path of the Humboldt River from Utah in the east and the Truckee River westward through Reno into California. It has a spur route,I-580. Nevada also is served by several U.S. highways:US6,US50,US93,US95andUS395. There are also 189Nevada state routes. Many of Nevada's counties have a system of county routes as well, though many are not signed or paved in rural areas. Nevada is one of a few states in the U.S. that do not have a continuousinterstate highwaylinking its two major population centers – the road connection between the Las Vegas and Reno areas is a combination of several different Interstate and U.S. highways. TheInterstate 11proposed routing may eventually remedy this.^[118]

The state is one of just a few in the country to allowsemi-trailer truckswith three trailers – what might be called a "road train" in Australia. But American versions are usually smaller, in part because they must ascend and descend some fairly steep mountain passes.

RTC Transitis the public transit system in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The agency is the largest transit agency in the state and operates a network of bus service across theLas Vegas Valley, including the use ofThe Deuce,double-decker buses, on theLas Vegas Stripand several outlying routes. RTC RIDE operates a system of local transit bus service throughout the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area. Other transit systems in the state include Carson City's JAC. Most other counties in the state do not have public transportation at all.

Additionally, a 4-mile (6.4 km)monorailsystem provides public transportation in the Las Vegas area. TheLas Vegas Monorailline services several casino properties and theLas Vegas Convention Centeron the east side of the Las Vegas Strip, running near Paradise Road, with a possible future extension toHarry Reid International Airport. Several hotels also run their own monorail lines between each other, which are typically several blocks in length.

Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas is the busiest airport serving Nevada. TheReno-Tahoe International Airport(formerly known as the Reno Cannon International Airport) is the other major airport in the state.

External image
Map of Nevada electricity grid

Nevada has had a thrivingsolar energy sector. An independent study in 2013 concluded that solar users created a $36million net benefit. However, in December 2015, the Public Utility Commission let the state's only power company,NV Energy, charge higher rates and fees to solar panel users, leading to an immediate collapse of rooftop solar panel use.^[119]

In December 1987, Congress amended the Nuclear Waste Policy Act to designateYucca Mountain nuclear waste repositoryas the only site to be characterized as a permanent repository for all of the nation'shighly radioactive waste.^[120]

In 2018, theNational Low Income Housing Coalitioncalculated the discrepancy between available affordable housing units and renters who earn below the poverty line. In Nevada, only 15 affordable rental homes are available per 100 extremely low income (ELI) households.^[121]The shortage extended to a deficit in supply of 71,358 affordable rental homes. This was the largest discrepancy of any state. The most notable catalyst for this shortage was theGreat Recessionand housing crisis of 2007 and 2008. Since then, housing prices have increased while demand has increased, and supply has struggled to match the increase in demand. In addition, low-income service workers were slowly being pushed out by an influx of tech professionals. In Nevada there is essentially a standard of six-figure income to affordably rent asingle-family home.^[122]Considering theaverage salaryin Nevada, $54,842 per year, this standard is on average, unaffordable.^[123]The disproportionate cost of housing compared to average salary has led to 112,872 renters to be paying more than half of their yearly income towards housing.^[124]

The definition of an affordable home is "one that a household can obtain for30 percent or less of its annual income". So, there is clearly a long way to go in order to close the gap between housing prices and relative income in the state. Renters are looking for solutions to still be able to live in the state in a way that their income can support. As a result, single adults are being forced to split rent with other renters or move residences to farther outside metro areas. One solution being offered is to increase the supply of higher income positions within the state to make things more affordable. However, this would require Nevadans to retrain in new jobs or careers.

Education in Nevada is achieved through public and privateelementary,middle, andhigh schools, as well as colleges and universities.

A May 2015 educational reform law expanded school choice options to 450,000 Nevada students who are at up to 185% of thefederal poverty level. Education savings accounts (ESAs) are enabled by the new law to help pay the tuition for private schools. Alternatively, families "can use funds in these accounts to also pay for textbooks and tutoring".^[125][126]

Approximately 86.9% of Nevada residents have attained at least a high school degree or equivalent, which is below the national average of 88.6%.^[127]

Public school districts in Nevada include:

• Desert Research Institute

The Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame provides educational resources and promotes the aerospace and aviation history of the state.^[128]

Under theConstitution of the State of Nevada, the powers of theNevada governmentare divided among threeseparate departments: theexecutiveconsisting of thegovernor of Nevadaand their cabinet along with the other elected constitutional officers; thelegislativeconsisting of theNevada Legislature, which includes theAssemblyand theSenate; and thejudicialconsisting of theSupreme Court of Nevadaand lower courts.

The governor is thechief magistrateof Nevada,^[129]the head of the executive department of the state's government,^[129]and the commander-in-chief of thestate'smilitary forces.^[130]The current governor isJoe Lombardo, a Republican. The executive branch also consists of an independently electedlieutenant governor,secretary of state,state treasurer,state controller, andattorney generalwho function as a check and balance on the power of the governor.^[131]

The Nevada Legislature is abicameralbody divided into an Assembly and Senate. Members of the Assembly serve two years, and members of the Senate serve four years. Both houses of the Nevada Legislature enacted term limits starting in 2010, with senators and assemblymen/women who are limited to a maximum of twelve years in each body (by appointment or election which is a lifetime limit) – a provision of the constitution which was upheld by the Supreme Court of Nevada in a unanimous decision. Each session of the legislature meets for a constitutionally mandated 120 days in every odd-numbered year, or longer if the governor calls a special session.

On December 18, 2018, Nevada became the first in the United States with a female majority in its legislature. Women hold nine of the 21 seats in the Nevada Senate, and 23 of the 42 seats in the Nevada Assembly.^[132]

The Supreme Court of Nevada is thestate supreme courtand the head of theNevada Judiciary. Original jurisdiction is divided between thedistrict courts(with general jurisdiction), and justice courts and municipal courts (both of limited jurisdiction). Appeals from District Courts are made directly to the Nevada Supreme Court, which under a deflective model of jurisdiction, has the discretion to send cases to theCourt of Appealsfor final resolution.^[133]

Incorporated townsin Nevada, known as cities, are given the authority to legislate anything not prohibited by law. A recent movement has begun to permithome ruleto incorporate Nevada cities to give them more flexibility and fewer restrictions from the Legislature. Town Boards forunincorporated townsare limited local governments created by either the local county commission, or by referendum, and form a purely advisory role and in no way diminish the responsibilities of the county commission that creates them.

In 1900, Nevada's population was the smallest of all states and was shrinking, as the difficulties of living in a "barren desert" began to outweigh the lure of silver for many early settlers. HistorianLawrence Friedmanhas explained what happened next:

Nevada, in a burst of ingenuity, built an economy by exploiting its sovereignty. Its strategy was to legalize all sorts of things that were illegal in California... after the easy divorce came easy marriage andcasinogaming. Even prostitution is legal in Nevada, in any county that decides to allow it. Quite a few of them do.^[134]

With the advent ofair conditioningfor summertime use and Southern Nevada's mild winters, the fortunes of the state began to turn around, as it did forArizona, making these two states the fastest growing in the Union.

Nevada is the only state whereprostitutionis legal – in a licensedbrothelin a county which has specifically voted to permit it. It is illegal in larger jurisdictions such as Clark County (which contains Las Vegas),Washoe County(which contains Reno), and the independent city ofCarson City.

Nevada's early reputation as a "divorce haven" arose from the fact that before theno-fault divorcerevolution in the 1970s, divorces were difficult to obtain in the United States. Already having legalized gambling and prostitution, Nevada continued the trend of boosting its profile by adopting one of the most liberal divorce statutes in the nation. This resulted inWilliams v. North Carolina (1942),317U.S.287(1942), in which theU.S. Supreme CourtruledNorth Carolinahad to give "full faith and credit" to a Nevada divorce. The Court modified its decision inWilliams v. North Carolina(1945),325U.S.226(1945), by holding a state need not recognize a Nevada divorce unless one of the parties was domiciled there at the time the divorce was granted and the forum state was entitled to make its own determination.

As of 2009, Nevada's divorce rate was above the national average.^[135]

Nevada's tax laws are intended to draw new residents and businesses to the state. Nevada has nopersonal income taxorcorporate income tax.^[136]Since Nevada does not collect income data it cannot share such information with the federal government, theIRS.^[137]

The statesales tax(similar to VAT or GST) in Nevada is variable depending upon the county. The statewide tax rate is 6.85%, with five counties (Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, and Mineral) charging this amount. Counties may impose additional rates via voter approval or through approval of the state legislature; therefore, the applicable sales tax varies by county from 6.85% to 8.375% (Clark County). Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, imposes four separate countyoption taxesin addition to the statewide rate: 0.25% for flood control, 0.50% for mass transit, 0.25% for infrastructure, and 0.25% for more law enforcement. In Washoe County, which includes Reno, the sales tax rate is 7.725%, due to county option rates for flood control, the ReTRAC train trench project, and mass transit, and an additional county rate approved under the Local Government Tax Act of 1991.^[138]The minimum Nevada sales tax rate changed on July 1, 2009.^[139]

The lodging tax rate in unincorporated Clark County, which includes the Las Vegas Strip, is 12%. Within the boundaries of the cities of Las Vegas and Henderson, the lodging tax rate is 13%.

Corporations such asApple Inc.allegedly have set up investment companies and funds in Nevada to avoid paying taxes.^[140]

In 2009, theNevada Legislaturepassed a bill creating a domestic partnership registry which enables gay couples to enjoy the same rights as married couples. In June 2015, gay marriage became legal in Nevada due to the U.S. Supreme Court caseObergefell v. Hodges.

Nevada provides a friendly environment for the formation of corporations, and many (especially California) businesses have incorporated in Nevada to take advantage of the benefits of the Nevada statute.Nevada corporationsoffer great flexibility to the board of directors and simplify or avoid many of the rules that are cumbersome to business managers in some other states. In addition, Nevada has nofranchise tax, although it does require businesses to have a license for which the business has to pay the state.

Similarly, many U.S. states haveusurylaws limiting the amount ofinteresta lender can charge, but federal law allows corporations to "import" these laws from their home state. Nevada has no cap on interest rates that may be agreed to in contracts.^[141]

Nevada has very liberalalcohollaws. Bars are permitted to remain open 24hours, with no "last call".Liquor stores,convenience storesand supermarkets may also sell alcohol 24hours per day and may sell beer, wine and spirits.

In 2016, Nevada voters approvedQuestion2, which legalized the possession, transportation and cultivation of personal use amounts ofmarijuanafor adults age 21 years and older, and authorized the creation of a regulated market for the sale of marijuana to adults age 21 years and older through state-licensed retail outlets.^[142]Nevada voters had previously approvedmedical marijuanain 2000, but rejected marijuana legalization in a similar referendum in 2006. Marijuana in all forms remains illegal under federal law.

Aside from cannabis legalization, non-alcohol drug laws are a notable exception to Nevada's otherwise libertarian principles. It is notable for having the harshest penalties for drug offenders in the country. Nevada remains the only state to still usemandatory minimum sentencingguidelines for possession of drugs.^[143]

TheSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA) reported, in their Behavioral Health Barometer for Nevada, published in 2014, changes to substance abuse patterns and addiction across the southwestern state.^[144]Between 2012 and 2013, adolescents in Nevada abused illicit substances at a slightly higher percentage than nationally. 10.2 percent of Nevada's adolescents abused illicit drugs compared to 9.2 percent across the United States. Between 2009 and 2013, 11.7 percent of all adolescents in the state reported abusing illicit, intoxicating substances in the month prior to the survey; this represents 25,000 adolescents.

Nevada voters enacted a smoking ban ("The Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act") in November 2006 which became effective on December 8, 2006. It outlaws smoking in most workplaces and public places. Smoking is permitted in bars, but only if the bar serves no food, or the bar is inside a larger casino. Smoking is also permitted in casinos, certain hotel rooms, tobacco shops, and brothels.^[145]However, some businesses do not obey this law and the government tends not to enforce it.^[146]In 2011, smoking restrictions in Nevada were relaxed for certain places which allow only people 21 or older inside.^[147]

In 2006, thecrime ratein Nevada was about 24% higher than the national average rate, though crime has since decreased.Property crimesaccounted for about 85% of the total crime rate in Nevada, which was 21% higher than the national rate. The remaining 20.3% wereviolent crimes.^[148]A complete listing of crime data in the state for 2013 can be found here:^[149]

Party registration as of July 2024 ^[150]

Party		Total voters	Percentage
	Democratic	711,296	30.07%
	Republican	663,415	28.05%
	Independent American	106,095	4.49%
	Libertarian	21,077	0.89%
	Other parties	47,346	2.00%
	Nonpartisan	816,123	34.50%
Total		2,365,352	100.00%

Due to heavy growth in the southern portion of the state, there is a noticeable divide between the politics of northern and southern Nevada. Historically, northern Nevada has been veryRepublican. The more rural counties of the north are among the most conservative regions of the state. Carson City, the state's capital, is a Republican-leaning swing city/county. Washoe County, home to Reno, has historically been strongly Republican, but now has become a fairly balanced swing county, like the state as a whole. Clark County, home to Las Vegas, has been a stronghold for the Democratic Party since it was founded in 1909, having voted Republican only six times and once for a third-party candidate.^{[citation needed]}Clark and Washoe counties have long dominated the state's politics. Between them, they cast 87% of Nevada's vote, and elect a substantial majority of the state legislature. The last Republican to carry Clark County wasGeorge H. W. Bushin 1988, and the last Republican to carry Washoe County wasGeorge W. Bushin 2004. The great majority of the state's elected officials are from either Las Vegas or Reno.^[151]

In 2014, RepublicanAdam Laxalt, despite losing both Clark and Washoe counties, was electedAttorney General. However, he had lost Clark County only by 5.6% and Washoe County by 1.4%, attributable to lower turnout in these counties.^[152]

Nevada has been won by the winner of nearly every presidential election since its first in 1864, only being carried by the defeated candidate eight times since statehood, most of which were before 1900. Since 1912 Nevada has been carried by the presidential victor the most out of any state (27 of 29 elections), the only exceptions being1976when it voted forGerald FordoverJimmy Carterand2016when the state was carried byHillary ClintonoverDonald Trump. This gives the state status as a politicalbellwether. It was one of only three states won byJohn F. Kennedyinthe American Westin the election of1960, albeit narrowly.^[153]

United States presidential election results for Nevada ^[154]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	669,890	47.67%	703,486	50.06%	32,000	2.28%
2016	512,058	45.50%	539,260	47.92%	74,067	6.58%
2012	463,567	45.68%	531,373	52.36%	19,978	1.97%
2008	412,827	42.65%	533,736	55.15%	21,285	2.20%
2004	418,690	50.47%	397,190	47.88%	13,707	1.65%
2000	301,575	49.52%	279,978	45.98%	27,417	4.50%
1996	199,244	42.91%	203,974	43.93%	61,061	13.15%
1992	175,828	34.73%	189,148	37.36%	141,342	27.92%
1988	206,040	58.86%	132,738	37.92%	11,289	3.22%
1984	188,770	65.85%	91,655	31.97%	6,242	2.18%
1980	155,017	62.54%	66,666	26.89%	26,202	10.57%
1976	101,273	50.17%	92,479	45.81%	8,124	4.02%
1972	115,750	63.68%	66,016	36.32%	0	0.00%
1968	73,188	47.46%	60,598	39.29%	20,432	13.25%
1964	56,094	41.42%	79,339	58.58%	0	0.00%
1960	52,387	48.84%	54,880	51.16%	0	0.00%
1956	56,049	57.97%	40,640	42.03%	0	0.00%
1952	50,502	61.45%	31,688	38.55%	0	0.00%
1948	29,357	47.26%	31,291	50.37%	1,469	2.36%
1944	24,611	45.38%	29,623	54.62%	0	0.00%
1940	21,229	39.92%	31,945	60.08%	0	0.00%
1936	11,923	27.19%	31,925	72.81%	0	0.00%
1932	12,674	30.59%	28,756	69.41%	0	0.00%
1928	18,327	56.54%	14,090	43.46%	0	0.00%
1924	11,243	41.76%	5,909	21.95%	9,769	36.29%
1920	15,479	56.92%	9,851	36.22%	1,864	6.85%
1916	12,127	36.40%	17,776	53.36%	3,413	10.24%
1912	3,196	15.89%	7,986	39.70%	8,933	44.41%
1908	10,775	43.93%	11,212	45.71%	2,539	10.35%
1904	6,864	56.66%	3,982	32.87%	1,269	10.47%
1900	3,849	37.75%	6,347	62.25%	0	0.00%
1896	1,938	18.79%	8,376	81.21%	0	0.00%
1892	2,811	25.84%	714	6.56%	7,353	67.60%
1888	7,088	57.73%	5,149	41.94%	41	0.33%
1884	7,193	56.21%	5,578	43.59%	26	0.20%
1880	8,732	47.60%	9,613	52.40%	0	0.00%
1876	10,383	52.73%	9,308	47.27%	0	0.00%
1872	8,413	57.43%	6,236	42.57%	0	0.00%
1868	6,480	55.39%	5,218	44.61%	0	0.00%
1864	9,826	59.84%	6,594	40.16%	0	0.00%

The state's U.S. Senators are DemocratsCatherine Cortez MastoandJacky Rosen. The Governorship is held byJoe Lombardo, a Republican.

Nevada is the only U.S. state to have anone of the aboveoption available on its ballots. Officially calledNone of These Candidates, the option was first added to the ballot in 1975 and is used in all statewide elections, including president, US Senate and all state constitutional positions. In the event "None of These Candidates" receives apluralityof votes in the election, the candidate with the next-highest total is elected.^[155]

In a 2020 study, Nevada was ranked as the 23rd on the "Cost of Voting Index", which is a measure of "the ease of voting across the United States."^[156]

Resort areas like Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, andLaughlinattract visitors from around the nation and world. In fiscal year 2022 Nevada casinos (not counting those with annual revenue under a million dollars) brought inUS$10.7billion in gaming revenue and anotherUS$15.7billion in non-gaming revenue.^[157]

Nevada has by far the most hotel rooms per capita in the United States. According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, there were 187,301 rooms in 584 hotels (of 15 or more rooms). The state is ranked just below California, Texas, Florida, and New York in the total number of rooms, but those states have much larger populations. Nevada has one hotel room for every 14 residents, far above the national average of one hotel room per 67 residents.^[158]

Prostitution is legal in parts of Nevadain licensed brothels, but only counties with populations under 400,000 have the option to legalize it. Although prostitution is not a major part of the Nevada economy, employing roughly 300 women as independent contractors, it is a very visible endeavor. Of the 14 counties permitted to legalize prostitution under state law, eight have chosen to legalize brothels. State law prohibits prostitution in Clark County (which contains Las Vegas), and Washoe County (which contains Reno). However, prostitution is legal in Storey County, which is part of theReno–Sparks metropolitan area.

The Las Vegas Valley is home to theVegas Golden Knightsof theNational Hockey Leaguewho began to play in the2017–18 NHL seasonatT-Mobile Arenaon the Las Vegas Strip inParadise, theLas Vegas Raidersof theNational Football Leaguewho began play atAllegiant Stadiumin Paradise in 2020 aftermoving from Oakland, California, and theLas Vegas Acesof theWNBAwho began playing in 2018 atMandalay Bay Events Centerafter relocating fromSan Antonio. TheOakland AthleticsofMajor League Baseballplan to move to Las Vegas by 2027.^[159][160]

Nevada takes pride in college sports, most notably its college football. College teams in the state include theNevada Wolf Pack(representing the University of Nevada, Reno) and theUNLV Rebels(representing the University of Nevada, Las Vegas), both in theMountain West Conference(MW).

UNLV is most remembered forits men's basketball program, which experienced its height of supremacy in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Coached byJerry Tarkanian, the Runnin' Rebels became one of the most elite programs in the country. In 1990,UNLVwon the Men's DivisionI Championship by defeatingDuke103–73, which set tournament records for most points scored by a team and largest margin of victory in the national title game.

In1991, UNLV finished the regular season undefeated, a feat that would not be matched in DivisionI men's basketball formore than 20 years. ForwardLarry Johnsonwon several awards, including theNaismith Award. UNLV reached the Final Four yet again, but lost their national semifinal againstDuke79–77. The Runnin' Rebels were theAssociated Presspre-season No.1 back to back (1989–90, 1990–91).North Carolinais the only other team to accomplish that (2007–08, 2008–09).

The state's involvement in major-college sports is not limited to its local schools. In the 21st century, the Las Vegas area has become a significant regional center for college basketball conference tournaments. The MW,West Coast Conference, andWestern Athletic Conferenceall hold their men's and women's tournaments in the area, and the Pac-12 holds its men's tournament there as well. TheBig Sky Conference, after decades of holding its men's and women's conference tournaments at campus sites, began holding both tournaments in Reno in 2016.

Las Vegas has hosted severalprofessional boxingmatches, most recently at theMGM Grand Garden Arenawith bouts such asMike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield,Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson II,Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd MayweatherandOscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiaoand at the newerT-Mobile ArenawithCanelo Álvarez vs. Amir Khan.

Along with significant rises in popularity inmixed martial arts(MMA), a number of fight leagues such as theUFChave taken interest in Las Vegas as a primary event location due to the number of suitable host venues. TheMandalay Bay Events CenterandMGM Grand Garden Arenaare among some of the more popular venues for fighting events such as MMA and have hosted several UFC and other MMA title fights. The city has held the most UFC events with 86 events.

The state is also home to theLas Vegas Motor Speedway, which hostsNASCAR'sPennzoil 400andSouth Point 400. Two venues in the immediate Las Vegas area host major annual events inrodeo. TheThomas & Mack Center, built for UNLV men's basketball, hosts theNational Finals Rodeo. The PBR World Finals, operated by the bull riding-onlyProfessional Bull Riders, was also held at the Thomas & Mack Center before moving to T-Mobile Arena in 2016.

The state is also home to famous tennis player,Andre Agassi, and current baseball superstarBryce Harper.

Team	Sport	League	Venue (capacity)	Established	Titles
Las Vegas Athletics	Baseball	MLB	New Las Vegas Stadium(33,000)	2025 or 2028	9[f]
Las Vegas Raiders	Football	NFL	Allegiant Stadium(65,000)	2020	3[g]
Vegas Golden Knights	Ice hockey	NHL	T-Mobile Arena(17,500)	2017	1
Las Vegas Aces	Women's basketball	WNBA	Michelob Ultra Arena(12,000)	2018	2

Team	Sport	League	Venue (capacity)	Established	Titles
Las Vegas Aviators	Baseball	MiLB(AAA–PCL)	Las Vegas Ballpark(10,000)	1983	2
Reno Aces			Greater Nevada Field(9,013)	2009	2
NBA G League Ignite	Basketball	NBAGL	Dollar Loan Center(5,567)	2020	0
Las Vegas Royals		ABA			0
Vegas Ballers		TBL	Tarkanian Basketball Center (N/A)		0
Henderson Silver Knights	Ice hockey	AHL	Dollar Loan Center(5,567)	2020	0
Las Vegas Lights FC	Soccer	USLC	Cashman Field(9,334)	2018	0
Nevada Storm	Women's football	WFA	Damonte Ranch High School(N/A) Fernley High School(N/A) Galena High School(N/A)	2008	0
Sin City Trojans			Desert Pines High School(N/A)		0
Vegas Knight Hawks	Indoor football	IFL	Dollar Loan Center(6,019)	2021	0
Las Vegas Desert Dogs	Box lacrosse	NLL	Michelob Ultra Arena(12,000)		0

Team	Sport	League	Venue (capacity)	Established	Titles
Reno Ice Raiders	Ice hockey	MWHL	Reno Ice	2015	0
Vegas Jesters			City National Arena(600)	2012	0
Las Vegas Thunderbirds		USPHL		2019	0
Las Vegas Legends	Soccer	NPSL	Peter Johann Memorial Field (2,500)	2021	0
Nevada Coyotes FC		UPSL	Rio Vista Sports Complex (N/A)	2016	0

School	Team	League	Division	Conference
University of Nevada, Las Vegas(UNLV)	UNLV Rebels	NCAA	NCAA Division I	Mountain West
University of Nevada, Reno(UNR)	Nevada Wolf Pack
College of Southern Nevada(CSN)	CSN Coyotes	NJCAA	NJCAA Division I	Scenic West
Western Nevada College(WNC)	WNC Wildcats

SeveralUnited States Navyships have been namedUSSNevadain honor of the state. They include:

• Nevada(1865 screw frigate)
• USSNevada(BM-8)
• USSNevada(BB-36)
• USSNevada(SSBN-733)

Area 51is nearGroom Lake, a dry salt lake bed. The much smallerCreech Air Force Baseis inIndian Springs, Nevada;Hawthorne Army DepotinHawthorne; theTonopah Test RangenearTonopah; andNellis AFBin the northeast part of theLas Vegas Valley.Naval Air Station FalloninFallon; NSAWC, (pronounced "EN-SOCK") in western Nevada. NSAWC consolidated three Command Centers into a single Command Structure under a flag officer on July 11, 1996. The Naval Strike Warfare Center based at NAS Fallon since 1984, was joined with the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and theCarrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School, which both moved from NAS Miramar as a result of a Base Realignment and Closure decision in 1993 which transferred that installation back to the Marine Corps as MCAS Miramar. The Seahawk Weapon School was added in 1998 to provide tactical training for Navy helicopters.

These bases host a number of activities including theJoint Unmanned Aerial Systems Center of Excellence, theNaval Strike and Air Warfare Center,Nevada Test and Training Range,Red Flag, theU.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, theUnited States Air Force Warfare Center, theUnited States Air Force Weapons School, and theUnited States Navy Fighter Weapons School.

• Index of Nevada-related articles
• Outline of Nevada– organized list of topics about Nevada
• List of people from Nevada

• "Nevada"(official state website).
• "Nevada State Guide". Library of Congress.
• "Nevada State Databases". ALA. Archived fromthe originalon January 6, 2014. RetrievedMay 11,2008.Annotated list of searchable databases produced by Nevada state agencies and compiled by the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association.
• State Tourism website
• Nevada State Library and Archives
• Energy Profile for Nevada
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Nevada
• US Census Bureau
• 1875 County Map at Texas Tech Southwest Collection
• County Maps of NevadaFull color maps. List of cities, towns and county seats
• Nevada State Facts from USDA
• Forgotten Nevada – Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of Nevada
• Nevada's Historical Markers
• Nevada State Seal
• NevadaatCurlie
• Geographic data related toNevadaatOpenStreetMap
• Online Nevada Encyclopedia, Nevada Humanities
• Nevada Corporation Headquarters

Preceded by West Virginia

List of U.S. states by date of statehood Admitted on October 31, 1864 (36th)

Succeeded by Nebraska

39°N117°W / 39°N 117°W /39; -117 (State of Nevada)