NEVADA Click on colored links for more info! Nicknamed the Battle-born State, the Sagebrush State and the Silver State The name of Nevada was officially adopted in 1861 when territory was established by Congress; from Spanish meaning snow-capped. Nevada, a far western state of the United States is bordered by Utah (E), Arizona (SE), California (SW, W), and Oregon and Idaho (N). 1864--Admitted as the 36th state (7th largest) as the "State of Nevada" on October 31; a state holiday since 1939. Area: 110,540 sq mi (286,299 sq km)  483 miles long, 320 miles wide; seventh in size. Mileage Chart Population: 2,334,771 (2004 Census Bureau Estimate) Capital: Carson City, designated in July 1864; also territorial capital dating back to 1861. Largest City: Las Vegas  Motto: "All for Our Country" State Song: "Home Means Nevada" State Bird: Mountain Bluebird State Animal: Desert Bighorn Sheep State Flower: Sagebrush, adopted March 20, 1917  State Tree: Single-leaf piñon and Bristlecone Pine Nevada's riches do not grow from its land; rather, almost incredible wealth lies below its surface. Although copper mining is now much less dominant than before, Nevada is the nation's leading producer of gold, silver, and mercury. Petroleum, diatomite, and other minerals are also extracted. The state's manufactures include gaming machines and products, aerospace equipment, lawn and garden irrigation devices, and seismic monitoring equipment. Warehousing and trucking are also significant Nevada industries.  Nevada's economy, however, is overwhelmingly based on tourism, especially the gambling (legalized in 1931) and resort industries centered in Las Vegas and, to a lesser extent, Reno and Lake Tahoe. Gambling taxes are a primary source of state revenue. The service sector employs about half of Nevada's workers. Liberal divorce laws made Reno “the divorce capital of the world” for many years, but similar laws enacted in other states ended this distinction. Much of Nevada (almost 80% of whose land is federally owned) is given over to military and related use. Nellis Air Force Base and the Nevada Test Site have been the scene of much nuclear and aircraft testing. Carson City is the capital; Las Vegas is the largest city, and Reno the second largest. Outside the cities, visitors are attracted to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, with its facilities for fishing, swimming, and boating; Lake Tahoe and Death Valley National Park, both on the California line; Lehman Caves National Monument; Great Basin National Park; and restored mining ghost towns like Virginia City.   Some above information comes from the Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003