NEVADA FROM A TO Z

C IS FOR CAPITAL, COMMUNICATIONS, & COUNTIES

• The CAPITAL of Nevada is Carson City. It is one of 2 capitals in the country that border another state.

• All forms of COMMUNICATION is available throughout Nevada including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, telephone, and Internet. The state has 2 telephone area codes. There are many Web Cams , and Internet service is available throughout the state.

• Nevada has 16 COUNTIES and 1 independent city. The largest county is Elko & Carson City is the smallest county. Clark County has the largest population & Esmeralda has the smallest. The term county is the level of local government below the state itself.

• Nevada has many DAMS and Reservoirs. Some dams are hydroelectric. Hoover Dam is the 2nd highest dam in the country. The United States Society on Dams is involved in the maintenance, construction, operation, and safety of dams. The state has a Dam Safety Program. Alternate forms of energy include Solar Power which is being used and Wind Power is being investigated.

• In 2006 the first DINOSAUR fossil was found in Nevada. The state has an interesting paleontology history and a variety of fossils have been found. The State Fossil is Ichthyosaur

• Nevada experiences many EARTHQUAKES and is the 3rd most seismically active state in the country. The 1st recorded earthquake occurred about 1852 and the most recent in 2009. The largest quake occurred in 1915 with a magnitude of 7.0. FEMA provides information for kids about earthquakes.

• The Nevada Department of EDUCATION oversees public education in Nevada. It is provided free and is compulsory for any child age between 7 and 17 years of age. The State also has private schools that are required to comply with state standards and regulations. More information about schools is available at GreatSchools and SchoolBug.

• A variety of EVENTS are held throughout Nevada during the year. The state observes State & Federal Holidays.

• Many species of FISH are found in lakes, & rivers of Nevada, and fishing is a popular activity. The State Fish is the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. Several species of fish are Protected. Nevada has 4 Fish Hatcheries.

• The phrase "Battle Born" on the State FLAG reflects the state's entry on the Union side during the American Civil War. The state also has Municipal Flags and County Flags. The State Seal show many aspects of Nevada. The State Motto is "All for Country". The state Colors are Silver and Blue. The State Artifact is the Tule Duck Decoy.

• Nevada has FOOD Festivals and events. The food of Nevada is rich with all kinds foods from different time periods. Nevada (at least in Las Vegas) is known for buffets. The American "all you can eat" buffet was originated by Mr. Herb McDonald in Las Vegas in 1946. The state has a Program to help people with little or no income to buy food.

• Nevada has 2 National FORESTS - Homboldt and Toiyabe. There are 2 State Trees - the Single-leaf Anyon Pine and the Bristlecone Pine. Nevada has Big Trees, Famous Trees, and Historic Trees. The Turbinella Oak Tre is a State and National Tree.

• Nevada has a very unique GEOLOGY Gold is the most important mineral mined. Other minerals include silver, copper, gypsum, diatomite, and lithium. The US Geological Survey has programs in Nevada and provides information about geology in the state. Treasure Hunting is a popular pastime. The State Metal is Silver. Gemstones include Rock Crystal and Citrine. The State precious gemstone is the Virgin Valley Black Fire Opal, and the State semiprecious stone is the Nevada Turquoise. The State Rock is Sandstone. The state's Hidden Treasure is oil. The single most productive oil well in the country is in Nevada in Railroad Valley.

• The GLOBAL POSITION of Nevada is approximately 38 degrees north and 116 degrees west. The geographic center is in Lander. The highest place is Boundary Peak and the lowest place is The Colorado River. NOAA provides information about the topography of the state. Geocaching is a popular game using a global positioning finder, and there are many geocaches in Nevada.

• Nevada has hundreds of GHOST TOWNS. Alder has pretty scenery and the mill runs. Berlin has aboaut a dozen buildings, and is the only ghost town on record to be declared a State Park. Kingsley has many mines. Gold Bar has ruins of a large mine. Palasade has 2 small wooden cabins and about 2 dozen people live in the area.

• Many HISTORIC SITES in Nevada are on the National Register of Historic Places. Several Historic sites are endangered. The National Trust helps protect historic places in the state.

• The HISTORY of Nevada dates back thousands of years. Prehistoric peoples lived in what is now Nevada as early as 11,000 years ago. Present Nevada was part of an area held by Spain. Recorded history began in the 18th century when the southern tip was crossed by the Spanish Trail from Santa Fe to California. Nevada participates in National History Day.

• Nevada has several INDUSTRIES including tourism, mining, machinery, printing and publishing, food processing, and electric equipment. Outside of the Las Vegas and Reno areas mining and cattle ranching are major economic industries. Trade Shows are held throughout the year.

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  A wide variety of INSECTS are found in Nevada including many species of butterflies & moths. School students are trying to get a State Insect.

• Nevada has over a dozen ISLANDS. Most of them are on Lake Mead.

• JAZZ is popular in Nevada and a Jazz Festival is held in Las Vegas. Jazz Clubs can be found in Las Vegas and Reno. Many other musical events are held each year. There are several Opera Companies and Bands & Orchestras in the state. The State Song is Home Means Nevada. The State March is Silver State Fanfare.

Nevada has KARST. The Lehman Show Cave is one of the highest show caves in the country. The National Speleological Society has 2 chapters in Nevada that provide information about caving. The National Park Service has a Cave and Karst Program.
• Many aspects of life in Nevada focus on KIDS, and the state has a Kids Page. NOAA has a Kids Page about the weather. AG in the Classroom has a Kids Page about agriculture in the state. The National Agriculture Statistic Service has a Nevada has many LAKES, reservoirs, rivers, and streams.

• Public, Academic, & Special LIBRARIES are located throughout Nevada. Most of them have internet access & special programs, and some have bookmobiles. The State Library is in Carson City.

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  Nevada has 2 MILITARY installations - Nellis Air Force Base and Fallon Naval Air Station. Both the Army and Air National Guard are active in the state. The state has many Forts. Storey County had several forts. There is a historical marker at Fort Halleck and Fort Churchill is a Historic Park.

• Nevada has many MOUNTAINS and Peaks.

• Many MUSEUMS are located throughout Nevada including Art Museums, Galleries, and Centers. There are many Historical Museums.

The name Nevada was shortened from Sierra Nevada, Spanish for Snowy Range. It is nicknamed the Silver State, Sagebrush State, and Battle Bar State.
• The first residents of Nevada were NATIVE AMERICANS. The state has many Tribes and 27 are Federally recognized. Many Powwows are held during the year. There are several Casinos and there are 2 Indian Themed license plates.

• The Jack Davis OBSERVATORY is a public research-level observatory and has 3 telescopes. Nevada has several astronomical societies. Many places observe Astronomy Day.

• Nevada has a wide variety of including National Parks and State Parks and County Parks. The Great Basin National Park was the first National Part in the State. A small part of the Death valley National Park is located along the western boundary of California. The state also has Theme Parks and Amusement Parks.

• Nevada has a POPULATION of over 2 million people. Many well-known people have called Nevada their home.

• A QUARTER was issued by the U.S. Mint for each state according to its admission date. Nevada was admitted to the union in 1864 and a quarter was issued in its honor in 2006.

• QUILTING is popular in Nevada and Quilt Guilds are located throughout the state. There is also a Weaving & Spinning Guild.

• Take a QUIZ about Nevada
  1.map quiz 2.Trivia quiz

• Nevada is home to many species of REPTILES and amphibians. Seven of them are venomous. Three species of amphibians are Protected. The State Reptile is the Desert Tortoise and is considered a threatened species.

• Nevada has many RIVERS. The major rivers are the Humboldt, Colorado, and Truckee. There are several White Water Paddling places. American Rivers is an organization that protects and restores river systems in the country.

• Nevada offers a wide variety of SPORTS and has several sports teams. The state has over 100 golf courses - both public & private. It also has Auto Race Tracks. Several great sports figures have come from the state.

• Nevada has a State TARTAN and participates in National Tartan Day (click on state). The Las Vegas Celtic Society hosts a Celtic Gathering & Highland Games.
• Nevada has many types of TRAILS including Horse & Mule Trails and celebrates National Trails Day. The state has many Scenic Byways and Roadside Attractions.

• Nevada has many forms of TRANSPORTATION. The State Department of Transportation maintains highways, bridges, and tunnels. There are some Adopt-A-Highway Programs in the state. The Federal Highway Administration provides information on traffic and road closures in Nevada. A variety of license plates are available. To celebrates its 50th birthday, Matchbox cars issued a car for each state in the order in which it was admitted into the union. The car for Nevada was the The International Armored Car.

• Nevada has many public UNIVERSITIES and Colleges both public and private.

• At least 4 ships have borne the name Nevada. The 1st Nevada was a screw steamer built in 1863 but never armed and sold in 1872. The 2nd USS Nevada was a monitor. The 3rd USS Nevada was a battleship, commissioned in 1916 and damaged in the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was repaired and served during World War II, used as a target for Operation Crossroads after the war in 1946, and finally sunk for practice in 1948. The 4th USS Nevada>/a> is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine commissioned in 1986.

• Nevada has a variety of VEGETATION The State Flower is the Sagebrush. The State Grass is Indian Ricegrass. The Nature Conservancy helps preserve the land in Nevada. Many types of vegetation are protected. The The state has a wide range of Plant Zones

• Nevada has VOLCANOES and volcanics. Northern Nevada has extensive young volcanic deposits. Southwestern Nevada is where the most crustal extension is occurring these days along with recent volcanism. The Walker Lane is visible paralleling the diagonal border with southern California. Southern Nevada has Volcanic Rock Aquifers. Federal Emergency Management Agency has information about volcanoes.

• Nevada has several WATERFALLS. Most of them are in the Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest, Carson County.

• Nevada has an interesting WEATHER History. The state is made up of mostly desert areas where temperatures can get up to 115 degrees in summer and can as low as 20 degrees in winter. The winter season in the southern part of the state tends to be short and mild. Most parts of Nevada receive little precipitation during the year. Most rain falls on the east and northeast slopes of the Sierra Nevada Range. Average annual rainfall is about 7 inches with the wettest parts getting around 40 inches. The Nevada State Climate Office provides information about the weather. NOAA provides information about the climate in the state. The Environmental Protection Agency provides information about Climate Change.

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  Nevada has a great diversity of WILDLIFE and many Wildlife Refuges and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers. Some species of wildlife are endangered. The State Animal is the Desert Bighorn Sheep and is considered an endangered species. The Nature Conservancy protects lands & water needed for plants & animals to survive. The state has Wildlife Viewing Areas. Nevada participates in the Wildlife Protection Program(go to state).

• XMAS is the common abbreviation for Christmas and it is celebrated in Nevada much like the rest of the country and around the world. The National Christmas Tree Association has information about Christmas trees.

• YMCA organizations are located throughout Nevada.

• There are several YOUTH HOSTELS (go to choose state) in Nevada. The state also has Elder Hostels.

• The use of ZIP CODES began in 1963. Zip codes in Nevada all start with the number 89.

• The United States has 9 Time ZONES Nevada is in the Pacific Time Zone. The Department of Agriculture lists Nevada in zones 5 thru 8 for plant hardiness.

• Nevada has ZOOS, and habitats. There are 3 Petting Zoos.