Nevada joined the United States on October 31, 1864 as the 36th state. The name Nevada is derived from a Spanish word meaning 'snow-capped'. It's the 7th largest state in the Union based on land area with 110,540 square miles. It's the 35th most populous state with approximately 2.5 million people. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Nevada has been the fastest growing state for 19 consecutive years until 2006 when it came in second to Arizona.

Nevada is allotted 2 senators and 3 representatives to the U.S. Congress. The Nevada state government is formatted like the U.S. government in that it has an Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch. The Nevada State Constitution and the Nevada Revised Statutes guide the function of each office. There are 19 senatorial districts and 42 assembly districts within the state.

Nevada is comprised of 17 counties. The terrain and climate differ from the low-lying desert areas to the high mountain peaks. Nevada has been called the Sagebrush State, the Battle-Born State, and, most popularly, the Silver State. The state animal is the desert bighorn sheep, the state reptile is the desert tortoise, and the state fossil is the ichthyosaur. It's a beautiful land with a history rich in mining and agriculture.

Though the state is best known for legalized gambling, it is also a great place for exploration. Among the treasures that Nevada has to offer are numerous ghost towns that can transport you back to yesteryear. Outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and hiking are favorites. There is a stark contrast between the fast paced city life of Las Vegas and Reno and the slow paced rural life of the towns like Amargosa and Gabbs.

Nye County, established in 1864, encompasses an 18,147 square mile land area in south and west central Nevada, making it the largest county in the state. The county was named after James Warren Nye who was Governor of Nevada Territory and a U.S. Senator from Nevada. Nye County is the 3rd largest county in the United States based on land area. The U.S government owns over 90% of the land in Nye County. The county seat is located in Tonopah, which in 2006 had an estimated population of 2,600. The largest town in Nye County is Pahrump with an estimated population of 36,645, in 2006, which is the majority of the county population of 44,795. This number continues to rise as more and more people are moving into the Pahrump Valley.

Nye County is home to a lot of towns. The majority of the population reside in the Amargosa Valley, Beatty, Gabbs, Pahrump, Round Mountain, and Tonopah. The county is rural in nature and the county government is comprised of a board of county commissioners. This board consists of five commissioners who are elected by the constituents within their designated district. There are currently no incorporated towns/cities within Nye County. Some of the towns have an elected town board while others have an advisory board only.

Nye County is home to the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest, the National Wild Horse Management Area, the Desert National Wildlife Range, Nellis Air Force Range, the Nevada Test Site and the controversial Yucca Mountain Repository. It's a place for the outdoorsman and the conservationist. It's a place for business and for fun.