Nevada

Nevada State Facts and Symbols - information compiled from several web sites and sources)

Welcome to the Great State of Nevada! Many great cities, communities, and attractions draw people to visit and to live. The Las Vegas Valley is known throughout the world. However, many other cities provide great hospitality and culture.

The Silver State

Nevada, known as "The Silver State", has a fabulous history. It is rich in culture and resources. Nevada, meaning "Snow Capped" in Spanish was named in 1861 when the territory was established. In 1851 Genoa and Dayton were settled by missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and miners and traders. On October 31, 1864 Nevada became a state during the Civil War and the motto "All for our Country" was adopted.

Growth

Nevada is comprised of 17 counties with Clark County containing a major portion of the State's population accounting for nearly 80% of the state's growth in recent years. With regards to state population, as of the beginning of 2004 Nevada was the fastest growing state in the nation.

Great Climate

Nevada is home to mountainous and desert terrain. Winter snow falls at higher elevations as lower elevations stay warm (hot) year round. Some parts of the state offer an average 310 days of sunlight which can be healthy for some. However, if you like your seasons and snow you can find that too. The risk of damaging storms (hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, etc.) is less due to the climate. In fact, many data centers are located in Southern Nevada because of assessed risk levels of adverse weather and earthquakes.

Hunting and Fishing

Some like to hunt. Restrictions on hunting within the state serve to produce some of the best hunting one can find. Animals are allowed to mature and survive. Annual special drawings allow for a finite number of hunters so herds can remain strong. Fishing is also available to those who enjoy the sport. Many bodies of water are stocked to maintain successful fishing environments.

State Resources

Resources within the state abound. Silver and other precious metals are mined and marketed.

Tax Benefits

Because gambling is legalized and successful, property taxes are low in comparison to the rest of the nation and there is no state income tax for most.

Government

Government agencies within the state have traditionally supported growth and industry. Nevada has a strong sense of patriotism as it was founded during times of political decision.

Nevada is a patriotic state full of resources and great living environments. People from all over the world come to live.

If you have any questions about Nevada and its resources, agencies, communities, cities, etc. please contact us so we can get you the answers you seek.

State Seal

The Nevada State Seal depicts the great mining industry along with agriculture. Many of the communities were established directly or indirectly because of the settlement of miners. The state slogan is "The Silver State" for the ores that are common.

The seal of Nevada was approved on November 29th, 1861.

Odd Fact: The original design of this seal had the smoke from the train going in one direction, and the smoke from the mill stack in another.

State Flag

The Nevada State Flag has a cobalt blue background and in the upper left quarter is a silver five-pointed star between two branches of sagebrush forming a half wreath. Across the top of wreath is a golden scroll with the words, in black letters "Battle Born." The name "Nevada" is below the star and above the sagebrush in golden letters. Design modified June 8, 1991, original design approved on March 21, 1929.

NRS 235.020

State Bird

The Nevada State Bird is the Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides). It was selected in a 1967 session of the legislature.

NRS 235.060

State Flower

The Sagebrush (Artemisia tridenta), an enduring plant occupying vast areas of the Great Basin serves as Nevada’s official state flower and emblem. It was adopted March 17, 1917.

NRS 235.050

State Tree

Both the Single-Leaf Piñon and the Bristlecone Pine share the state tree title.

NRS 235.040

State Grass

Indian Ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides) is a feed source for wildlife and range livestock. It is found throughout the state and is known for its ability to reseed and establish itself on sites damaged by fire or over grazing.

NRS 235.055

State Tartan

The tartan was designed by Richard Zygmunt Pawlowski.

The colors and design of the tartan represent the following features of the great state of Nevada:

Blue represents one of the state colors of Nevada, the waters of Lake Tahoe, and the mountain bluebird - the official state bird.
Silver represents the other state color, the official state mineral, the granite composition of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the silver country of northern Nevada.
Red represents the Virgin Valley black fire opal, the official state precious gemstone, and the red rock formations of southern Nevada.
Yellow represents sagebrush - the official state flower, and symbolizes the great basin region of central Nevada.
White represents the name of this state meaning "snow-covered" in Spanish.
The crossing of the yellow and red stripes represents the different colors of Nevada sandstone - the official state rock.
The white intersection on the silver field stands for the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
The four blue lines represent the four main rivers of Nevada: Colorado River, Truckee River, Humboldt River and Walker River.
The intersecting blue lines in the silver field represent the Colorado River as it meets Hoover Dam and creates Lake Mead.
The small solid “boxes” of silver and blue number 8 by 8, or 64, to signify the year (1864) that Nevada was admitted into statehood.
The 13 solid-colored intersections of the small stripes represent Boundary Peak, the highest point in Nevada, which stands at an elevation of 13,143 feet.
The 16 solid silver intersections and the solid white intersection in the center of the tartan represent the 16 counties and the one consolidated city-county government of Nevada.

The official state tartan can only be reproduced in the colors, pattern and dimension of pattern as described above.

State Animal

Desert Big Horn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), Adopted 1973

NRS 235.070

State Fish

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Salmo clarki henshawi)

NRS 235.075

State Reptile

Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) - Adopted 1989

NRS 235.065

State Fossil

ICHTHYOSAURUS (ICHTHYOSAUR) [Nevada]—The chief genus of Ichthyosauria, also known by a prior name, Proteosaurus. An ancient, extinct marine reptile whose name means "fish-lizard" and who ruled the world's oceans during the Mesozoic era some 200 million years ago. Fossil remains of the Ichthyosaur have been found on every continent except Africa. Possessing a fish-like body, porpoise-like snout, short neck, dorsal and caudal fins with limbs flattened into paddles, the Ichthyosaur ruled the seas for some 135 million years as the pre-eminent marine predator. The Ichthyosaur attained a length of approximately 60-70 feet. The Ichthyosaurus shonisaurus popularis was the name given to a species discovered in Nevada in 1928.

NRS 235.080
Taken from the North American Lake Management Society web site.

State Artifact

The Tule duck decoy was chosen as the state artifact in 1995. Supposedly, there are eleven ducks (decoys) each formed of a bundle of bullrush (tule) stems. The decoys are shaped to resemble a canvasback duck.An archaeologists discoverd the duck in 1924 at Lovelock Cave. It's estimated the decoys were created almost 2,000 years ago.

NRS 235.085

State Metal

Nevada has an official state metal: silver which is considered a precious gemstone, semiprecious gemstone, and rock. Nevada is the only state with an official state metal. It was adopted in 1977 because of the importants of mining to the state. For seventy-five years, many mining towns flourished throughout Nevada, which came to be known as the Silver State and the Mining State.

NRS 235.09

State Rock

Sandstone, which is found throughout the state as regular sandstone or as quartzite, makes up some of Nevada’s most spectacular scenery. A fifth grade class is responsible for promoting the symbol. Ballots at Gene Ward Elementary School were sent to elementary schools throughout Nevada, and students voted for sandstone as the official rock.

NRS 235.120

State Soil

"Every state has a soil symbol, some of which have been officially adopted. The state soil symbol for Nevada is Orovada. Orovada soils occur in northern and central Nevada, southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon. They are found on calderas, fan piedmonts, fan aprons, inset fans, partial ballenas, fan aprons, draws, and hills. About 359,000 acres have been mapped to date in Nevada. They formed in loess (fine sediments associated with Ice Age glaciers deposited by the wind) high in volcanic ash over alluvium derived from mixed rocks. Orovada soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. The present vegetation is mainly Wyoming big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, bottlebrush squirreltail, and Sandberg bluegrass."

State Precious Gemstone

The Nevada precious gemstone is the Virgin Valley Black Fire Opal. It was adopted on May 27, 1987. It is considered one of the most beautiful of Nevada’s gemstones. Virgin Valley in Northern Nevada is the only place in North America where black fire opal is found in any significant quantity.

NRS 235.100

State Semiprecious Gemstone

Turquoise, also known as the “jewel of the desert”, is found in many parts of the state. Native Americans used it to create jewelry. Nevada designated it on May 27, 1987.

NRS 235.110

Official Motto

"ALL FOR OUR COUNTRY"

The motto has always been part of the state seal but there is no documented source of its originality.

State Slogan/Nickname

"The Battle Born State" was adopted March 26, 1937.

Original State Song

"Home Means Nevada" written by Mrs. Bertha Raffetto, Reno was adopted February 6, 1933.

New State Song

In 1991, Nevada's 125th (Birthday) Celebration Committee commissioned George Dare of Henderson, Nevada to write a new state song. The Commission was headed up by Attorney General Frankie Del Pappa.

NEVADA'S LULLABY

From the mountains, rich with treasure
Top of snow'y white
To the sparkling city deserts
Twinkling in the night
Listen closely you will hear an echo in the sky . . .
That we have come to know -- "Nevada's Lullaby

To the West the people came
To find this land of dreams
Full of life and filled with beauty
Wild and of so free
Then, "Battle Born" she came to form
And gave for freedom's light
Yes, we have come to know -- "Nevada's Lullaby"

Oh Nevada, we sing your name (we sing your name)
As it rings throughout the mountains and the plains
Oh Nevada, we sing on high (we sing on high)
For the whole world longs to hear your lullaby

(Instrumental Break)

Listen closely you will hear an echo in the sky . . .
That we have come to know -- "Nevada's Lullaby"
Yes, we have come to know -- "Nevada's Lullaby"

State Christmas Tree

A Colorado blue spruce planted near the state capitol in 1876 by George Washington Gale Ferris, Sr. (father of the inventor of the Ferris Wheel) was approved for decoration with Christmas lights on December 15, 1937.

State Colors

Silver and blue were adopted as the official state colors in 1983.

NRS 235.025