One of the largest but least populated states in the United States, Nevada ranks seventh in size but 39th in population. It is among the most mountainous of the 50 states. It also has vast desert areas. Part of Nevada's interior is so desolate that it is used as a testing range for nuclear devices. Other areas attract so many visitors that tourism is Nevada's greatest single source of income. Nevada takes its name from a Spanish word meaning "snow-covered," which refers to the higher mountain ranges where the snow sometimes remains year-round. Throughout the state are many scenic mountain ranges that run in a north-south alignment. There are majestic mountains with such names as Opal, Rainbow, Ruby, and Blue to describe their distinctive colors. Between the mountain ranges are vast ranches as well as some valleys with salt flats and sand dunes. Clear, dry air and bright sunshine bring out the brilliant colors of mountains and desert. Scenery, climate, entertainment, gambling, and sports resorts have made the tourist industry Nevada's major source of income.

Nevada was largely the story of its mining cycles. The opening of the Comstock Lode and other deposits in 1859 introduced a 20- year boom. From about 1880 to 1900 there was little mining and the population of Nevada declined. Another boom began after 1900 with silver and gold strikes at Tonopah and Goldfield and the development of copper mining at Ely. Another decrease in mining occurred in the period between the two world wars. World War II inaugurated a third boom in mineral production. In the postwar era the economy thrived on the state's fabulous year-round resorts.

The settlement of Nevada was based chiefly on the state's great wealth of mineral resources. Although many ore deposits have been worked out, the production of minerals is still a major industry in the state. Other natural resources are the long stretches of open range and forests. Large herds of cattle and sheep graze on the ranges, and the forestland covers about 7 million acres (2.8 million hectares), of which some 100,000 acres (40,000 hectares) are commercial timberland. Trees primarily pinon and juniper, with pine, fir, and hemlock at higher levels grow on the mountainsides.

AGRICULTURE AND MINING

The United States government owns about 87 percent of Nevada's total land area. For example, the Bureau of Land Management administers 48 million acres (19 million hectares). Another 25 million acres (10 million hectares) are controlled by agencies such as the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the National Park Service. Department of Defense agencies, furthermore, control more than 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) of the state. Much of the public land is open, nevertheless, to ranchers for cattle grazing. There are about 2,400 farms and ranches in the state. Many farms contain huge range areas for cattle and sheep grazing. Because of the fragility of the rangeland, there are strict grazing regulations and the land is monitored regularly. The size of the average Nevada farm is about 3,500 acres (1,400 hectares). Such factors as water availability, a short growing season, soil quality, and the mountainous terrain limit the land areas that can be cultivated. Croplands are heavily dependent on irrigation, even in river valleys. More than half of the state's agricultural income is derived from the cattle and calves industry. The cattle industry has an average annual inventory of 640,000 head, but inventories have been steadily declining since 1982. Milk, sheep, wool, pigs, and eggs are also significant. Among the major crops are alfalfa which also produces a profitable seed crop hay, potatoes, wheat, and barley. Mining has been a major industry since the discovery of the Comstock Lode at Virginia City. At one time Nevada yielded more silver than all the other states combined. Today more than two dozen minerals are obtained from Nevada. The output in kinds and quantities each year is determined by market prices and other factors. The state's most valuable mineral by far is gold, and Nevada ranks first in output in the United States. Nevada also ranks high among the states in the production of barite, magnesite, mercury, diatomite, lithium, and gemstones. More than 10 million acres (4 million hectares) in Nevada have a potential for geothermal energy development. Geothermal sources are concentrations of hot water and steam beneath the Earth's surface. These sources have the potential to provide a clean power alternative to nonrenewable fossil fuels and other more expensive and less desirable sources of energy.

THE PEOPLE OF NEVADA

The first white men to enter the Nevada country found several different tribes of Indians in the area. In the north lived the Shoshone and the Northern Paiute. In the southern part of the state lived the Southern Paiute. The Washo were in the west near Lake Tahoe. These tribes were peaceful and nomadic hunters and seed gatherers. (See also Indians, American.) There are about 14,000 American Indians living in the state today, more than half of them on reservations. The largest reservations are Pyramid Lake, in Washoe County; Walker River, east of Carson City; and Western Shoshone, on the Nevada-Idaho border. The discovery of the Comstock Lode one of the richest silver deposits in North America in 1859 and later ore strikes attracted miners and prospectors from all over the world. They came from the East, from California, and from abroad. Today Nevada has about 54,000 persons of foreign birth. Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany lead as countries of origin of Nevada's foreign population. Blacks make up more than 6 percent of the total population. The Hispanic population is about 50,000.

CITIES

More than half of the people in the state live in the vicinity of Las Vegas and Reno. Nevada's largest city is Las Vegas. Once a campsite on the Old Spanish Trail, it is now the gateway to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. A booming tourist and entertainment industry has made Las Vegas the fastest-growing city in the state (see Las Vegas). Reno, the entertainment and commercial center of its area, also has the main campus of the University of Nevada. North Las Vegas, Sparks, Henderson, and Carson City are other Nevada cities with populations of more than 20,000. Sparks is just east of Reno and is part of the same trading area. Elko is the chief city of northeastern Nevada in the heart of a livestock and mining region. Carson City, the state capital, is near Lake Tahoe (see Carson City). More than 23,000 workers are engaged in manufacturing. Chief industries include the manufacture of technical electronic instruments, fabricated metal products, food and food products, and chemicals and related products. Printing and publishing and warehousing are also valuable industries.