1895 Map of Nevada

Nevada History & Genealogy

Nevada, one of the western United States, is bounded on the north by Oregon and Idaho; on the east by Utah; on the south by Arizona; and on the west by California. It lies between about 35º and 42º north latitude, and between 114º 2′ and 120º west longitude. The state measures about 485 miles from north to south and about 320 miles from east to west. It contains approximately 110,572 square miles, or 70,766,080 acres.

This state project is part of the much larger American History & Genealogy Project or better known by the abbreviation of AHGP. It has been in existence online since 2000 and over the years has been spread out across the web. These pages are an attempt to consolidate it under one website of the larger project.

Nevada Information

The name Nevada is derived from the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains, which means “snow-capped mountain range” in Spanish. The land comprising the modern state was inhabited by Native Americans of the Paiute, Shoshone, and Washoe tribes prior to European contact. It was subsequently claimed by Spain as a part of Alta California until the Mexican War of Independence brought it under Mexican control. The United States gained the territory in 1848 following its victory in the Mexican-American War and the area was eventually incorporated as part of Utah Territory in 1850. The discovery of silver at the Comstock Lode in 1859 led to a population boom that was an impetus to the creation of Nevada Territory out of western Utah Territory in 1861. Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864.

Nevada History

The Old Spanish Trail (1829-1848) passed through the southeastern part of the state. Starting with the California Gold Rush, The California Trail and its variants passed through the northern portion of the state. (See The California Trail through the Great Basin, at Wikipedia.) Later the Pony Express Trail (1860-1861) passed through the middle of this state.

Nevada Genealogy

  • 1881 History of Nevada by Myron Angel, with illustrations and biographical Sketches of its prominent men and pioneers
  • Nevada Biographies
    Transcribed from Sketches of the Inter-Mountain States, Utah, Idaho and Nevada, Published by The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1909.

Nevada Counties

1895 Map of Nevada
1895 Map of Nevada

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