Nevada
NV · Data from 2022–2023 government sources
Nevada, the Silver State, is a land of extremes and contradictions. Best known for the neon-lit spectacle of Las Vegas, Nevada is actually one of the most sparsely populated states, with vast stretches of empty desert basin and mountain range. Beyond the Strip, Nevada offers ghost towns, ancient bristlecone pines, and some of the darkest night skies in America.
Think you know Nevada? Test your geography skills.
Play GeoProwlHistory
Nevada was home to the Shoshone, Paiute, and Washoe peoples for thousands of years. The area became part of the U.S. after the Mexican-American War in 1848. The discovery of the Comstock Lode — a massive silver and gold deposit near Virginia City — in 1859 triggered a rush that built the territory's population. Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864, during the Civil War, partly to provide additional electoral votes for Abraham Lincoln. The legalization of gambling in 1931 and the construction of Hoover Dam transformed the state's economy.
Economy
Tourism and gaming dominate Nevada's economy. Las Vegas hosts over 40 million visitors annually, generating billions in revenue from casinos, conventions, and entertainment. The state has no personal income tax and no corporate income tax, attracting businesses and residents from high-tax states. Mining (gold, silver, copper) remains important — Nevada is the top gold-producing state and one of the top producers globally. Tesla's Gigafactory near Reno and a growing data center industry are diversifying the economy.
Geography & Landmarks
Nevada covers 110,572 square miles of Basin and Range terrain — a series of north-south mountain ranges separated by flat desert basins. It is the driest state, receiving an average of just 9.5 inches of precipitation per year. The state's highest point is Boundary Peak at 13,140 feet. Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada features Lehman Caves, ancient bristlecone pine trees (some over 5,000 years old), and Wheeler Peak. Lake Tahoe straddles the California-Nevada border at 6,225 feet elevation. The Black Rock Desert in northwestern Nevada, a vast dry lakebed spanning over 300 square miles, is where the land speed record was set at 763 mph in 1997. Lehman Caves within Great Basin National Park contain rare shield formations and stalactites estimated to be hundreds of thousands of years old.
Death Valley National Park — NPS
Source: NPS API
Culture & Traditions
Nevada's cultural identity extends far beyond the Las Vegas Strip, though the city's influence on entertainment is undeniable — it pioneered the modern casino resort, launched the residency show format (from Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack era to Celine Dion and Adele), and remains the undisputed boxing capital of the world. Reno's National Automobile Museum houses one of the finest car collections in the country, including rare early automobiles and celebrity-owned vehicles. The Burning Man festival in the Black Rock Desert, held annually since 1991, draws 80,000 participants to a temporary city built on radical self-expression and communal art. Nevada's Basque heritage, centered in Elko and Winnemucca, is celebrated through traditional restaurants, handball courts, and the annual National Basque Festival. The National Finals Rodeo, held in Las Vegas since 1985, is professional rodeo's championship event and a major part of Nevada's Western cultural identity.
Notable Cities
Carson City
CapitalThe state capital, a small city near Lake Tahoe named after frontiersman Kit Carson. Home to the Nevada State Railroad Museum and the historic U.S. Mint building.
58,249
Population
$67,465
Median income
$390,800
Home value
$1,127
Median rent
42.1
Median age
4.6%
Unemployment
61.9%
Homeownership
6,883
Bachelor's+
Las Vegas
The Entertainment Capital of the World. The Las Vegas Strip features mega-resorts, world-class dining, Cirque du Soleil shows, and over 200,000 hotel rooms.
Reno
The Biggest Little City in the World, located near Lake Tahoe. A casino and outdoor recreation hub that has attracted tech companies including Tesla and Switch.
Henderson
Nevada's second-largest city, in the Las Vegas metro. A planned community known for high quality of life and proximity to Lake Mead.
Virginia City
A preserved silver mining town from the Comstock Lode era. Once one of the wealthiest cities in America, now a living ghost town and tourist destination.
Capital city data: Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022)
Intel File · Fun Facts
Nevada is the driest state in the U.S., averaging just 9.5 inches of precipitation per year.
Area 51, a classified U.S. Air Force facility in the Nevada desert, is one of the most famous (and secretive) military installations in the world.
Las Vegas uses less water today than it did in 2002, despite adding over 800,000 residents, thanks to aggressive conservation measures.
Nevada produces about 75% of all gold mined in the United States.
The Hoover Dam, on the Nevada-Arizona border, was the largest concrete structure in the world when completed in 1936.
Data & Statistics
Demographics
- Population
- 3,104,817
- Median income
- $71,646
- Median age
- 38.5
- Median home value
- $373,800
- Below poverty line
- 389,456
- Bachelor's degree+
- 371,761
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022)
Agriculture
- Total farms
- 3,122
- Cropland
- 653,891 acres
- Market value
- $960M
Source: USDA NASS, Census of Agriculture (2022)
Public Health
- Obesity rate
- 30.8%
- Diabetes rate
- 11.9%
- Smoking rate
- 14.2%
- High blood pressure
- 34.0%
- Uninsured
- 13.2%
Source: CDC BRFSS Prevalence Data (2023, 2022 fallback)
National Parks & Sites
- National parks
- 2
- Total NPS sites
- 7
- Sites
- California National Historic Trail, Death Valley National Park, Great Basin National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Old Spanish National Historic Trail, Pony Express National Historic Trail, Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
Source: National Park Service API
Climate
- Avg temperature
- 49.6°F
- Avg high
- 65.2°F
- Avg low
- 34.9°F
- Annual precipitation
- 8.8 in
- Annual snowfall
- 13.3 in
Source: NOAA Climate Normals (2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of Nevada?▾
Carson City is the capital of Nevada — not Las Vegas, as many assume. Carson City is a small city of about 58,000 people located near the California border.
Is Las Vegas in a desert?▾
Yes, Las Vegas is located in the Mojave Desert. Despite receiving only about 4 inches of rain per year, the city sustains over 2 million residents and 40+ million annual visitors through water from Lake Mead (via the Colorado River) and aggressive water recycling.
What is the Comstock Lode?▾
The Comstock Lode was a massive deposit of silver and gold discovered near Virginia City, Nevada in 1859. It was the first major silver ore discovery in the U.S. and produced over $400 million in silver and gold (worth tens of billions today), helping to finance the Union during the Civil War.
Why does Nevada have no income tax?▾
Nevada has no state personal income tax, relying instead on gaming taxes, sales tax, and mining taxes for revenue. This tax structure was designed to attract businesses and residents, and it has been a key factor in the state's rapid population growth.
Data sources
U.S. Census Bureau · USDA NASS · CDC BRFSS · National Park Service · NOAA CDO
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. This product uses the NASS API but is not endorsed or certified by NASS.
© 2026 GeoProwl. All rights reserved.