Introduction to Geography of Nevada
Nevada, a state in the western United States. It is bounded on the north by Oregon and Idaho, on the east by Utah and Arizona, and on the south and west by California.
With an area of 110,567 square miles (286,368 km 2), including 761 square miles (1,971 km 2) of inland water, Nevada is the seventh largest state. Its greatest dimensions are about 490 miles (790 km), north-south; and 320 miles (515 km), east-west.
Nevada's state bird is the mountain bluebird.Nevada in briefGeneral informationStatehood: Oct. 31, 1864, the 36th state.State abbreviations: Nev. (traditional); NV (postal).State capital: Carson City, Nevada's capital since the Nevada Territory was created in 1861.State motto: All for Our Country.Popular name: The Silver State.State song: "Home Means Nevada." Words and music by Bertha Raffetto.Symbols of NevadaState bird: Mountain bluebird.State flower: Sagebrush.State trees: Nevada has two state trees--the bristlecone pine and the single-leaf pinon.State flag and seal: Nevada's state flag, adopted in 1929, bears a silver star. The words Battle Born signify Nevada's admission to the Union during the Civil War. On the state seal, adopted in 1866, a railroad and a telegraph line symbolize Nevada's importance as a corridor between the Midwest and the West Coast. A tunnel, an ore cart, and an ore-crushing mill stand for the state's mineral wealth. A plow, a sickle, and a sheaf of wheat represent agriculture.Land and climateArea: 110,567 mi2 (286,367 km2m), including 761 mi2 (1,971 km2) of inland water.Elevation: Highest--Boundary Peak, 13,140 ft (4,005 m) above sea level. Lowest--470 ft (143 m) above sea level along the Colorado River in Clark County.Record high temperature: 125 degrees F (52 degrees C) at Laughlin on June 29, 1994.Record low temperature: –50 degrees F (–46 degrees C) at San Jacinto on Jan. 8, 1937.Average July temperature: 73 degrees F (23 degrees C).Average January temperature: 30 degrees F (–1 degree C).Average yearly precipitation: 9 in (23 cm).PeoplePopulation: 1,998,257.Rank among the states: 35th.Density: 18 per mi2 (7 per km2), U.S. average 78 per mi2 (30 per sq. km).Distribution: 92 percent urban, 8 percent rural.Largest cities in Nevada: Las Vegas (478,434); Paradise (186,070); Reno (180,480); Henderson (175,381); Sunrise Manor (156,120); Spring Valley (117,390).EconomyChief productsAgriculture: beef cattle, hay, milk, sheep.Manufacturing: concrete, electronics, fabricated metal products, food products, machinery, plastic products.Mining: barite, diatomite, gold, silver.GovernmentState governmentGovernor: 4-year term.State senators: 21; 4-year terms.Assembly members: 42; 2-year terms.Counties: 17.Federal governmentUnited States senators: 2.United States representatives: 3.Electoral votes: 5.Sources of informationFor information about tourism, write to: Nevada Commission on Tourism, 401 N. Carson Street, Carson City, NV 89701. The Web site at http://www.travelnevada.com also provides information.For information on the economy, write to: Commission on Economic Development, 108 E. Proctor Street, Carson City, NV 89701-4240. The state's official Web site at http://www.state.nv.us also provides a gateway to much information on Nevada's economy, government, and history.Physical Geography
Nevada is a state in the western United States.LandExcept for a tip of the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains in the west and a small section of the lava-underlaid Columbia Plateau in the north, Nevada lies within the Basin and Range region of the United States. Most of the state is within a large section of the Basin and Range known as the Great Basin.
The Great Basin is a broad area without drainage to the sea. It is surrounded by areas of higher elevation and crossed by many elongated and eroded mountain ranges, separated by broad valleys. Most of the ranges are capped by peaks of 8,000 to 11,000 feet (2,400 to 3,400 m) and trend mainly northeast-southwest. Among the many ranges are the Independence Mountains and Santa Rosa Range in the north; the Egan, Schell Creek, and Snake ranges in the east; and the Spring Mountains and Sheep Range in the south. Central Nevada is crossed by the Toiyabe, Toquima, Monitor, Pancake, and other ranges.
The state's highest point is Boundary Peak, reaching 13,143 feet (4,006 m) above sea level. It is in the White Mountains, which extend into Nevada from the Sierra Nevada range to the west. The lowest point, 470 feet (143 m) above sea level, lies on the banks of the Colorado River in the extreme southeast.
Nevada is largely semiarid or arid, consisting mainly of steppes and barren deserts. Most prominent among the deserts are the Black Rock and Smoke Creek deserts in the northwest. Both occupy permanently dry old lake beds. Salt flats (also called playas, sinks, and alkali flats) occur throughout much of the state. There are also mesas, buttes, and other eroded rock formations.
One of Nevada's two state trees is the bristlecone pine.WaterFew rivers in the Great Basin flow throughout the year; most are intermittent streams, flowing only after rains. Those that have a continuous flow either empty into marshes and lakes without outlets or disappear gradually into the arid land.
Chief among the Great Basin's rivers is the southwesterly flowing Humboldt River in the north. It ends at Humboldt Sink. From the Sierra Nevadas flow the Walker River (to Walker Lake), the Carson River (through Lahontan Reservoir to Carson Sink), and the Truckee River (to Pyramid Lake). Pyramid Lake, a remnant of a prehistoric body of water, is the largest lake entirely within the state. High in the Sierras on the Nevada-California state line is Lake Tahoe, one of the most scenic lakes in the United States.
The Colorado River forms the Nevada-Arizona boundary in the southeast. Impounding its water for hydroelectric power, irrigation, recreation, and other uses are Hoover and Davis dams. Hoover Dam's reservoir is Lake Mead; Davis Dam's, Lake Mohave.
One of Nevada's two state trees is the single-leaf pinon.ClimateNevada has a middle-latitude steppe and desert climate, except in the extreme south around Las Vegas, where an almost subtropical desert climate prevails. Weather throughout the state is characterized by little precipitation except in the high mountains, wide ranges in temperature, much bright sunshine, and extreme dryness and clarity of air.
The limited rainfall is due mainly to Nevada's position on the leeward side of the Sierra Nevadas, depriving the state of the moisture brought by westerly winds from the Pacific Ocean. Most of Nevada receives less than 10 inches (250 mm) annually; some areas, less than 5 inches (125 mm). Only a few mountain localities receive more than 16 inches (410 mm) annually, partly in the form of heavy snows.
Temperatures vary greatly, mainly because of differences in latitude and elevation. Summers are hot and increase in length and severity from north to south. Average July temperatures range from about 70° to 90° F. (21° to 32° C.). There are extremely high daytime temperatures during summer —often reaching 90° F. (32° C.) to well over 100° F. (38° C.). Nights are normally considerably cooler, by as much as 50° F. (28° C.).
Winters are long and cold in the northeast, short and mild in the extreme south. January averages range from about 25° to 45° F. (-4° to 7° C.). As in summer there are great differences between highs and lows.
VegetationBecause of its dry climate, Nevada supports mainly scrub vegetation such as sagebrush. In the driest and hottest parts of the extreme south, creosote bushes, cacti, and yuccas are found. Forested areas cover roughly one percent of the land, and are mainly in the mountains. Pine forests predominate. The state's forests are generally not of commercial quality.
Nevada's state flower is the sagebrush.Interesting facts about NevadaThe city of Aurora once took part in elections in two states. When the city was first settled, its inhabitants were not sure whether it was part of Nevada or California. Elections were held in 1863, and the citizens of Aurora selected candidates for offices in both states. A survey later determined that Aurora was in Nevada.Reuel C. Gridley, an Austin grocer, collected $275,000 in 1864 by auctioning a single sack of flour over and over again. He gave all the money to the Sanitary Fund of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, the forerunner of the American Red Cross.Several rare species of fish live in Nevada, the driest of the 50 states. These species include the cui-ui, a large sucker found only in Pyramid Lake, and the Devils Hole pupfish, which is found only in Devils Hole. These fish evolved separately from more common fish as a result of becoming isolated as prehistoric lakes dried up.The only United States coins with a double mint mark were those produced by the U.S. mint at Carson City from 1870 to 1893. They bore the mark CC. Gold coins, such as double eagles (face value $20), eagles ($10), and half eagles ($5), carried the distinctive mark. Silver coins, such as dollars, trade dollars, and half dollars, also had the double mint mark.The federal government owns about 85 percent of Nevada's land. This percentage is the largest of any of the 50 states. Agencies that control the land include the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the United States Navy, and the United States Air Force.Economy
The Nevada quarter features images of wild horses. The coin also includes the state’s most common nickname, the Silver State, and has a border of sagebrush, the state flower. Nevada is home to many wild horses. The nickname Silver State comes from the vast amounts of silver that were once taken from Nevada’s numerous mines.Until the mid-1900's, mining and the raising of livestock provided livelihoods for most of the people in Nevada. Today, tourism accounts for a substantial portion of the state's employment. Casinos featuring gambling and famous entertainers, principally in Las Vegas and Reno, attract many visitors and generate a large share of Nevada's tax revenue.
Service IndustriesNevada's service industries in the Las Vegas-Paradise and Reno-Sparks metropolitan areas provide the larges portion of the state's gross domestic product. These areas rely heavily on the tourist trade. Hotels, restaurants, and trade are the chief service industry groups, with most of the workers employed in casino hotels. Other leading businesses include government, car dealerships, gas stations, department and grocery stores, real estate, finance, insurance, community, business, transportation, communication, and personal services.
ManufacturingNevada's manufacturing industries are based primarily on the processing of products from farms and mines. Foods, primary metals, and stone, glass, and clay products are, by value added, the state's most important manufactured items. In the past few decades, production has become increasingly diversified, with electric and electronic equipment and chemicals becoming important products. About 5 percent of the state's workers are employed in manufacturing. Production centers in the Las Vegas and Reno areas.
AgricultureCattle ranching and irrigated farming are the most important forms of agriculture in Nevada. The average farm size is almost 3,600 acres (1,460 hectares), many times larger than the average for the nation.
Cattle ranches are the most numerous type of farm. Ranchers lease much of their grazing land from the federal government, which owns about 85 per cent of the state's land. Beef cattle, by value, are the state's most important farm commodity. Sheep ranching and dairying are also significant activities. Livestock raising is done mostly in the northern half of the state.
Cropland accounts for only about 1 per cent of the state's total land area. In general, hay and alfalfa seed are the most important crops, by value, followed by potatoes and wheat. Most of the cropland is irrigated. Irrigated land is found mostly in the Reno-Carson City area and along the Humboldt River.
MiningMining is done throughout the state; silver, for example, is mined in almost all counties. In most years Nevada is the nation's leading producer of silver, gold, and mercury. Other metallic minerals mined include copper, lead, zinc, and tungsten. Nevada's output of nonmetals includes large amounts of barite, diatomite, sand, gravel, stone, and clay; and small amounts of petroleum.
Transportation. Motor vehicles provide the principal means of transportation in Nevada. Federal Interstate highways cross the northern and extreme southern parts of the state. Many rural roads are unpaved. Railroads carry freight almost exclusively; Amtrak provides limited passenger service. The main airports are at Las Vegas and Reno.
The People
Nevada's population density is 18.2 persons per square mile (7.0 per km 2), roughly 23 per cent that of the United States as a whole. Whites make up 75.2 percent of the population and blacks, 6.8 percent. People of Hispanic origin make up 19.7 percent.
Annual events in NevadaJanuary-MarchNational Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko (January); Laughlin Desert Challenge (January); NASCAR Busch Series Nevada 300 in Las Vegas (March).April-JuneNevada Passage Adventure Race, statewide (May); Reno River Festival in Reno (May); Spring Wings Bird Festival in Fallon (May); Carson City Rendezvous (June); Motorcycle Jamboree in Elko (June); Reno Rodeo (June); Gridley Days in Austin (June); Winnemucca Mule Show and Races (June).July-SeptemberAmerican Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Lake Tahoe (July); Hot August Nights in Reno (August); Nevada State Fair in Reno (August); Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off in Sparks (August and September); National Championship Air Races in Reno (September); Annual Virginia City International Camel Races (September); Great Reno Balloon Race (September); OATBRAN—Tour Bike Ride Across Nevada (September).October-DecemberFrys.com Open at Las Vegas (October); Nevada Day Celebration and Parade in Carson City (October); Pomegranate Art Festival in Overton (October); New Las Vegas Marathon (December); Hometowne Christmas in Sparks (December); Parade of Lights in Boulder City (December); National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas (December).Education
Education is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 17, and free between the ages of 5 and 17. The superintendent of public instruction is the chief education officer of the state. The superintendent is appointed by the state board of education, whose members are elected.
The state-supported University of Nevada, a land-grant institution, has campuses in Reno and Las Vegas. It was chartered in 1864, and opened at Elko in 1874. In 1885 it was moved to Reno; college-level instruction began in 1887. The Las Vegas campus was opened in 1951. The Reno campus houses the colleges of agriculture, arts and sciences, business administration, education, and engineering; the Mackay school of mines; and schools of nursing, medicine, and home economics. The Las Vegas branch offers degrees in business administration and economics, education, engineering, liberal arts, science and mathematics, hotel administration, and health professions.
Government
Nevada's State Capitol is in Carson City, the capital since the Nevada Territory was created in 1861.Nevada is governed under its original constitution, which was adopted in 1864. The state legislature consists of the Senate of 21 members elected for four-year terms and the Assembly of 42 members elected for two years. The legislature convenes in January of odd-numbered years.
The elected state officials include the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, and controller. They are all elected for four-year terms.
The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court of five justices elected for six years. Other tribunals include district courts and justices of the peace.
Nevada is divided into 16 counties; Carson City is independent of any county. The state is represented in Congress by two senators and three representatives.