State of Nevada
Nicknames: The Silver State, The Sagebrush State, The Battle Born State
Motto(s): All for our country
Date of Statehood: October 31, 1864 (36th state)
State Song: “Home Means Nevada” by Bertha Raffetto
Nevada Flag History
The flag of Nevada, adopted in 1929 and later revised in 1991, is a symbol of the state’s pride and values. The flag is cobalt blue, representing the state’s clear blue skies. In the upper left quarter is a silver star, representing Nevada’s rich silver resources, and the name “Nevada” beneath it. Surrounding the star are two sprays of green sagebrush with yellow flowers, the state flower, forming a half-wreath. A golden-yellow scroll above the star bears the words “Battle Born,” indicating that Nevada was admitted into the Union during the Civil War.
The star symbolizes the state’s wealth in minerals, particularly silver and gold, and the sagebrush represents the state’s rugged beauty and its emblem, the sagebrush. The blue background reflects the state’s loyalty and unity.
The Nevada flag’s design reflects the state’s history as a major silver producer, its commitment to unity, and its pride in its natural resources. It symbolizes the state’s past, its prosperity, and its natural beauty, representing Nevada’s spirit and its role as a part of the nation.
Nevada Quick Facts
Capital City: Carson City
Abbreviation: NV
Population: Approximately 3.1 million
Region: West
Origin of State Name: Derived from the Spanish word “nevada,” meaning “snow-capped,” referring to the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Sports Teams: Las Vegas Raiders (NFL), Vegas Golden Knights (NHL), Las Vegas Aces (WNBA)
Bordering States: Oregon, Idaho, California, Arizona, Utah
Area Codes: 702, 725, 775
Highest Point: Boundary Peak at 13,140 feet (4,005 meters)
Lowest Point: Colorado River at 479 feet (146 meters)
Geography of Nevada
Area: 110,577 square miles (286,382 square kilometers), 7th largest
Land: 109,781 square miles (284,332 square kilometers), 7th largest
Water: 796 square miles (2,062 square kilometers), 44th largest
Coastline: None (landlocked state)
Shoreline: None (landlocked state)
Largest Cities:
- Las Vegas
- Henderson
- Reno
- North Las Vegas
- Sparks
- Carson City
- Fernley
- Elko
- Mesquite
- Boulder City
- Fallon
- Winnemucca
- West Wendover
- Ely
- Yerington
National Parks:
- Great Basin National Park
- Death Valley National Park (partly in Nevada)
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
Nevada State Symbols
Living Insignia
State Bird: Mountain Bluebird
State Animal: Desert Bighorn Sheep
State Amphibian: None
State Butterfly: None
State Fish: Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
State Flower: Sagebrush
State Horse Breed: None
State Insect: Vivid Dancer Damselfly
State Mammal: Desert Bighorn Sheep
State Reptile: None
Inanimate Insignia
State Fruit: None
State Gemstone: Nevada Turquoise
State Soil: Orovada series
State Tree: Single-leaf Pinyon, Bristlecone Pine
State Quarter: Issued in 2006 featuring wild mustangs, the setting sun, the state outline, and a banner reading “The Silver State”
State Beverage: None
State Colors: Silver and Blue
State Dance: None
State Food: None
State Fossil: Ichthyosaur
State Mineral: Silver
State Rock: Sandstone