55 Interesting Facts About Nevada

Last updated on April 30th, 2023

47. The films “Sister Act,” “The Muppets,” and many other feature films have been shot in Reno since 1947.^[25]

48. Andre Agassi of tennis fame and former First Lady of the U.S. Patricia Nixon were born in Nevada.

49. There’s no corporate or individual tax in Nevada.

50. Las Vegas, Nevada is known as the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”

51. One of Reno’s top tourist destinations, the National Automobile Museum is an interactive collection of displays, activities, and one-of-a-kind vehicles from history and the future. There are four galleries full of historic cars, odd vehicles and even some of the Moon Rover contraptions.^[11]

52. Top attractions at the National Automobile Museum include a 1913 Mercer, a 1961 Beatnik Bandit, and a 1907 Thomas Flyer.^[13]

53. There are between 2,500 and 3,500 mountain lions in Nevada. The animals tend to scout for food in about a 100-square-mile area, are loners for the most part, and avoid human contact if possible. If you spot a mountain lion nearby, face it, walk slowly backwards away from it, and try to get to a secure location (like a car or house) as soon as possible. If you run, the lion’s hunting instinct will make it want to chase you.^[14]

54. Even though the chances of dangerous deer encounters, as in car crashes, are a common danger, people tend to perceive mountain lions and rattlesnakes as the biggest dangers in Nevada. The truth is that deer-car crashes actually result in hundreds of serious injuries and some deaths every few years, while mountain lion attacks are extremely rare.^[14]

55. According to the United States Census Bureau, Nevada and Idaho were the nation’s fastest-growing states between July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018. Following Nevada (2.1 percent) and Idaho (2.1 percent) for the largest percentage increases in population were Utah (1.9 percent), Arizona (1.7 percent), and Florida and Washington (1.5 percent each).

About the Flag of Nevada

1. Design and Symbolism

The flag of Nevada has a blue field with the state emblem in the upper left corner. Within it is a silver star that represents the old mining industry and the nickname “Silver State.”

Under the star is the word “NEVADA,” while above it is a scroll that says, “BATTLE BORN.” This motto highlights that Nevada attained statehood during the Civil War in 1864.

At the bottom of the emblem are two sprays of sagebrush — the state flower, Artemisia tridentata, known to grow in the semi-arid conditions of the Great Basin.

2. Adoption

The adoption of the current state flag happened on July 25, 1991. It is Nevada’s fourth official flag.

3. Technical Details

The rectangular flag has a proportion of 2:3. The field’s exact hue is cobalt blue.

4. History

The First Flag

In 1905, Nevada adopted the first state flag with a dark blue field — the same shade of blue found in the US flag. It focused on natural resources with the words “SILVER” and “GOLD” at the top and bottom, respectively. At the center is the state name in large bold letters. Between the words are two rows of silver and gold stars.

The Second Flag

In 1915, Nevada started to use a second flag. It has a cobalt blue field and two arcs of stars. In the middle, you will find a stylized shield with images found in the state seal.

It depicts the mountains of the Sierra Nevada in the background and a bustling town in the foreground. The word “NEVADA” appears on top, while “All for our country” is below the shield.

The Third Flag

In 1926, the government announced a design contest for a new flag design. Louis Shellback III won, but the two houses of congress could not agree on the placement of “Nevada.” The state legislature found a compromise and rearranged the state name.

In 1929, the third flag became official. It resembles the current flag with a blue field, scroll, and sagebrush. However, the letters in “NEVADA” are arranged clockwise around the star, with “N” at the top. It indicates the state’s northern position in the civil war.

The Fourth Flag

In 1991, a new law simplified the design by placing “NEVADA” as a single word under the star, making it much easier to read. It has a slight curvature, just like the motto “Battle Born.”

5. Other Flags

The Governor’s Flag

A variant flag features the state emblem at the center, while the four corners have one star each. It serves as the flag of the governor of Nevada.

The Vetoed Flag

In 1953, people complained that the state flag was expensive to produce. They wanted a new one with a simple and more affordable pattern. The proposed tri-color design featured the map of Nevada in the middle, with the motto “Battle Born.” Under it is the state name. It passed in the legislature, but the governor did not go along. He vetoed the bill it saying that the new flag lacked dignity.

Nevada – quick facts and state symbols