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History of Nevada

Nevada, situated in the western region of the United States of America, is nicknamed as ‘The Silver State’ owing to a significant number of silver deposits that were discovered and mined here. The first permanent settlement in the region was known as the ‘Mormon Station’. The Nevada Territory seceded from the Utah Territory on March 2, 1861 and took on its current name, abridged from the Spanish word, Sierra Nevada.

Nevada was admitted to the Union as the 36th U. S. State on October 31, 1864, just 8 days prior to the presidential election. This was done to ensure the post-Civil War Republican dominance in Congress and the re-election of Abraham Lincoln on November 8, 1864. On May 5, 1866, Nevada occupied the portion of Pah-Ute County in the Arizona Territory, west of the Colorado River and thus, achieved its present-day boundaries. The transfer was actually incited by the discovery of gold in this area. This area is now recognized as the Clark County.

Mining was the major industry in Nevada until the late 19th century, when both population and industry suffered a serious decline. However, the economy and the population of the state rebounded after the rich silver strike at Tonopah in 1900 and the subsequent strikes at Goldfield and Rhyolite. Owing to the decline in the mining and agricultural sectors, gambling was re-legalized on March 9, 1931. As re-outlawing gambling has never been considered earnestly since, the gambling industry has become primary source of revenue in Nevada in the present scenario. Other significant events in the history of Nevada include the construction of the Hoover Dam in 1935; development of war industries, such as the Basic Magnesium Plant; and the establishment of the Nevada Test Site on January 11, 1951.