World Country Guide

General Information

Nickname
Silver State

State bird
Mountain Bluebird

State flower
Sagebrush

Capital
Carson City

Date of admission to the Union
October 31 1864

Population
2,334,771 (official estimate 2004)

Population density
8.2 per sq km

2003 total overseas arrivals/US ranking
1,370,000/5

Time
Pacific (GMT - 8). Daylight Saving Time is observed.

The State
Explorer John C Fremont’s 1844/5 expedition with legendary scout Kit Carson opened up the region called Nevada, previously part of Mexico. The name ‘Nevada’, meaning ‘snow-capped’ in Spanish, was adopted in 1861 when the territory was established. The State has since been sectioned off into ‘territories’. The Cowboy Country, found along the I-80 corridor across northern Nevada, was once the main trail across the State, used by thousands of pioneers on horseback and in covered wagons. The Reno-Tahoe Territory, situated on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, contains many of Nevada’s most scenic and historic sights. The Pony Express Territory, named after the famous riders, offers one of the last opportunities to experience the Old West. In the Pioneer Territory, which encompasses south central Nevada, visitors can trace the story of Nevada’s rich mining history.
Las Vegas, Nevada’s largest city, is one of the major gambling and entertainment centres of the world. Luxury hotels, casinos and show venues line The Strip, a section of Las Vegas Boulevard South; a lower-priced, smaller version is found at the Downtown Casino Center, which also features the Fremont Street Experience, a four-block canopied street mall with nightly light shows. Outdoor sports, top restaurants and nightclubs are also on offer. Las Vegas is probably the easiest place in the world in which to get married. Around 230 marriage licences are issued per day.
Reno, another entertainment and casino city, is known for its quiet residential areas, and surrounding historic and natural attractions.