Nevada

State in southwestern USA, one of the Rocky Mountain states, bordered to the east by Utah and Arizona, to the south and west by California, and to the north by Oregon and Idaho; area 284,448 sq km/109,826 sq mi; population (2006) 2,495,500; capital Carson City. Physically stark, mountainous, and arid, its nicknames derive from the abundance of sagebrush shrubs and silver mines. Most of Nevada lies in the Great Basin between the Wasatch Mountains to the east and the Sierra Nevada mountains, for which the state is named, to the west. The Mojave Desert lies to the south. Nevada is a famous gambling and entertainment centre, and is also known historically as the state where marriages and divorces can be quickly obtained. The discovery of gold and silver in the 19th century created Nevada's first boom period, and mining and cattle ranching dominated the state's economy until 1931 when gambling was legalized; tourism and related industries now generate more than half of the state's income. Over 80% of the land is owned by the US government, much of it being given over to wilderness areas and weapons testing sites. Las Vegas is Nevada's largest city. Other major towns and cities include Reno, Sparks, and Henderson. Nevada's indigenous peoples include the Shoshone, Washoe, and Paiute. The region was claimed by Spain in the mix-16th century and ceded to the USA after the Mexican War (1846–48). Nevada was admitted to the Union in 1864 as the 36th US state.