History of Nevada

The territory of Nevada was acquired by the United States in 1848 following the Mexican War. The first permanent white settlement in the state was found at Mormon trading post in 1850.

Nevada has been inhabited for about 12,000 years. The early inhabitants were fishermen, hunters and food gatherers. The first European to explore the region was the Spanish priest Francisco Garces, who visited southern Nevada in 1776. Later many fur traders penetrated the state. It was only when Peter Skene Ogden, a Hudson's Bay Company man entered northeast Nevada that a settlement was made. The gold rush of 1849 saw a rush of many travellers in the state and the first permanent European settlement was founded in 1850 at Mormon Station. This region later became part of Utah Territory.

Nevada was made a separate territory on March 2, 1861, following its separation from the Utah territory. Seeing the increase in population, the territory was enlarged by increasing its eastern boundary in 1862. Nevada achieve statehood on 31 October 1864, just eight days prior to the presidential election. However, its present borders were added years later on January 18, 1867.

Mining industry flourished in the state in the latter half of the nineteenth century. But the industry soon declined and the state fell into depression. The economy revived when silver was discovered at Tonopah in the 1900.

The twentieth century in the state saw many social reforms like the adoption of women's suffrage (1914). The economy collapsed in the first half of the century but revived soon with projects like the construction of the Hoover (Boulder) Dam (1936). Gambling was made legal and this also enhanced the economy. After the Second World War, gaming and casinos became the mainstay of the economy; tourism also evolved. Today, Nevada is one of the fastest growing states in the US and has many technological industries.