What is the abbreviation for Nevada, and what region is it in?

Nevada's two-letter postal abbreviation is NV. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the West region, in the Mountain division, and about 3.10 million people lived there in the 2020 census.

When did Nevada become a state, and what number state was it?

Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864, during the Civil War, which is why its official slogan is "Battle Born." To meet the deadline before the 1864 election, Nevada sent the full text of its constitution to Washington by telegraph, one of the longest telegrams sent up to that time.

How did Nevada become part of the United States?

Mexico ceded the region to the United States in 1848 at the end of the Mexican-American War. It was part of the Utah Territory until Congress created the Nevada Territory in 1861, after the 1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode silver deposit brought a rush of miners.

What does the name Nevada mean?

Nevada is a Spanish word meaning "snow-covered," taken from the Sierra Nevada mountain range along the state's western edge.

What is the capital of Nevada, and has it always been the capital?

Carson City has been the capital since the territory was organized in 1861 and remained so at statehood. Its State Capitol, completed in 1871, is known for its silver-colored dome. Las Vegas is the state's largest city.

What states border Nevada?

Nevada borders five states: Oregon and Idaho to the north, Utah to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and California to the west and southwest.

How much of Nevada does the federal government own?

About 80 percent of Nevada's land is owned by the federal government, the highest share of any state. Most of it is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, with large areas also held by the military, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Department of Energy.

What are Nevada's nicknames, motto, and symbols?

Nevada is called "The Silver State," and "Battle Born" is its official slogan. Its motto is "All For Our Country." Its state bird is the mountain bluebird, its flower is the sagebrush, and its tree is the single-leaf piñon.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Nevada have?

Based on the 2020 census, Nevada has 4 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the same as before, which gives it 6 votes in the Electoral College.

U.S. State36th State • October 31, 1864

Nevada NV

"The Silver State"

A state born in wartime, built on silver, and reinvented by gambling, Nevada is America's most improbable success story: a vast, scorched desert that became the entertainment capital of the world.

State Debt - FY2024

$2.9 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$15.0 billion

Total Nevada state tax collections in fiscal 2024. Nevada has no individual or corporate income tax, so collections are led by the state sales and use tax ($8.4B), followed by gaming and Modified Business (payroll) taxes.

Borrowing

Nevada issues general obligation bonds backed by its full faith and credit, with a constitutional cap tied to assessed property value, sold to investors in the tax-exempt municipal market. Much of the state's general obligation debt is additionally secured by dedicated fees and taxes. The state reported about $123 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

3.2M

Population

36th

State (1864)

40M+

Visitors/Year

928

Nuclear Tests

Nevada's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Hey there, Nevada. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing a governor, a lieutenant governor, the rest of the statewide offices, your member of the U.S. House, your state legislators, and two statewide ballot questions.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. There's no U.S. Senate race in Nevada this year.

Both ballot questions are second votes: Nevada voters already approved them in 2024, and constitutional amendments proposed by petition have to pass twice. Most active voters get a ballot in the mail, so check yours when it arrives.

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 5, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Mail ballots start going out	Monday, October 5
Registration deadline in person or by mail	Tuesday, October 6
Online registration deadline (after this, register in person at early voting or on Election Day)	Wednesday, October 21
In-person early voting	Saturday, October 17, to Friday, October 30
Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; mail ballots must be dropped off or postmarked today	Tuesday, November 3
Last day for postmarked mail ballots to arrive	Saturday, November 7

How Voting Works in Nevada

Register by October 6 in person or by mail, or online through October 21. Missed it? You can register and vote the same day at an early voting site or on Election Day; bring a Nevada driver's license or ID card with your current address, or another ID plus a document showing your address.

Most active voters get a ballot in the mail. Return it at a drop box or voting site by 7 p.m. on Election Day, or mail it with a postmark no later than November 3; it has to arrive by November 7.

Prefer to vote in person? Early voting runs October 17 to October 30, and polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. In Clark and Washoe counties, you can vote at any vote center in your county.

Find your sample ballot and voting sites at nvsos.gov or your county election office.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Nevada's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. There's no U.S. Senate race in Nevada this year.

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 5, 2026

Key Dates

Mail ballots start going out

Monday, October 5

Registration deadline in person or by mail

Tuesday, October 6

Online registration deadline (after this, register in person at early voting or on Election Day)

Wednesday, October 21

In-person early voting

Saturday, October 17, to Friday, October 30

Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; mail ballots must be dropped off or postmarked today

Tuesday, November 3

Last day for postmarked mail ballots to arrive

Saturday, November 7

How Voting Works in Nevada

Most active voters get a ballot in the mail. Return it at a drop box or voting site by 7 p.m. on Election Day, or mail it with a postmark no later than November 3; it has to arrive by November 7.

Find your sample ballot and voting sites at nvsos.gov or your county election office.

Nevada's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Nevada

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Nevada's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Nevada

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading