Nevada Day – October 30, 2026

History of Nevada Day

Nevada wasn’t always the gorgeous, contemporary, cutting-edge destination it is today. Native American groups, including the Washoe, Paiute, and Shoshone, once lived throughout the state. When the Spaniards initially colonized the land, the tribes were displaced. They named the state ‘Nevada,’ which means ‘covered in snow’ in Spanish because the mountains are covered with snow throughout the winter months.

As part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, Mexico took sovereignty over Nevada after gaining independence in 1821. However, following the U.S. victory in the Mexican-American War in 1848, the state was rapidly recaptured by the U.S. and became part of the Utah Territory in 1850.

In 1859, Nevada established itself as a vital contributor to American soil after the discovery of silver at the Comstock Lode. This discovery made Nevada known to many people as the “Silver State.” This also led to a population boom, which was vital in its departure from the Utah Territory in 1861. On October 31, 1864, Nevada officially became the 36th state to be a part of the U.S. Union. Along with West Virginia, Nevada was one of the only two states to be granted statehood during the Civil War. This was after telegraphing the Constitution of Nevada days before the Presidential Election on November 8. At the time, this was recorded as the biggest and most expensive telegraph transmission ever. Its statehood was rushed to ensure three elector votes for Abraham Lincoln’s reelection, which also added to the Republican congressional majorities.