While most of Nevada is marked by desert, the state name means "snowy" and refers to the peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, whose designation dates back to Spanish colonial times. Nevada is located in the Western United States and has a population of about 3.1 million, most of whom live in the Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area. Due to the legalization of gambling and particularly loose marriage laws, the city of Las Vegas became one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world in the 20^th century. Nevada's capital is the independent city of Carson City. The state motto is "All for Our Country". 

In pre-Columbian times, Nevada was inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Paiute, Shoshone, Washoe and Mohave. The Spanish were the first Europeans to enter the region in the 1770s. In 1804, Nevada became part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later belonged to Mexico until the Mexican-American War. Peace was concluded in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Almost all of present-day Nevada lay within the State of Deseret, which was proposed by the Mormon pioneers in 1849. However, the U.S. did not recognize the state. After large silver deposits were discovered in 1859, mining developed into an important industry and Nevada officially became known as the "Silver State". Another nickname is the "Battle Born State", which was given to Nevada because it was admitted to the Union as the 36^th state during the Civil War in 1864.

Nevada is the driest U.S. state. It encompasses the Mojave Desert, several endorheic lakes, which are lakes with no outflow, and the most mountains after Alaska. The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is located about 15 miles (24 km) west of Las Vegas. Its large sandstone formations are especially popular with climbers and hikers.

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