When did Nevada Become a State
Nevada is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. It is a large state in terms of area, but it relatively low in population. It is bordered by Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and California. The region has a long history of human habitation that dates back thousands of years, but European history is relatively recent. Let’s take a brief look at the history of Nevada and find out when it became a state.
Brief history of Nevada
Spanish explorer Francisco Garcés is thought to be the first European to have entered the region in the 18th century. The area proved to be of little interest to the Europeans, but was claimed by Spain as part of Alta California in the early 18th century. It became Mexican territory in 1821 at the end of the Mexican War of Independence. Mexico did little to establish official control of the area now called Nevada and American mountain men were commonly found in the area from 1827. The United States formally gained control of the region in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo after the Mexican-American War.
Move towards statehood
After being transferred to the United states it was included in Utah Territory in 1850. A year later Mormon stations were established in the area. Relations between the Mormons and other settlers soon soured and Federal troops were sent to control the situation. The settlers soon launched a bid for separate territory and, along with the discovery of silver in the region, this proved to be successful. The Nevada Territory was created in 1861 and existed until 1864. Despite the fact that Nevada had far less than the 40,000 people required, statehood was granted after the Carson City convention and a public vote. Nevada officially became the 36th state of the United States on October 31, 1864.
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