Nevada Information and Facts

Official Website: http://silver.state.nv.us/

Income

The population of Nevada in 2002 was 2,167,455. Its rank was 35th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Nevada had a per capita personal income of $30,559. This per capita personal income ranked 19th in the United States and was 99 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 0.7 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Nevada was $22,084 and ranked 12th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 3.3 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Nevada had a total personal income of $66,235,332. This total personal income ranked 32nd in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Nevada was $29,843,820 and ranked 35th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 4.2 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 8.3 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Nevada. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 67.7 percent of total personal income (compared with 67.0 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 20.7 percent (compared with 20.8 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 11.6 percent (compared with 12.2 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 3.7 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 1.2 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 13.3 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 8.4 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 8.3 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 7.8 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Nevada increased from $48,460,530 in 2001 to $50,311,489 in 2002, an increase of 3.8 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $23,097,795 to the 2002 estimate was 8.1 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Nevada's area is 286,367 sq km (110,567 sq mi), of which inland waters make up 1971 sq km (761 sq mi). It ranks seventh in size among the states. From north to south, at its maximum, the state measures 777 km (483 mi) and from east to west, 517 km (321 mi). The mean elevation is about 1680 m (about 5500 ft).

Climate - Nevada has an arid climate and receives the least precipitation of all the states. Skies are clear, sunshine is abundant, and relative humidity is low. There are wide ranges of temperature between day and night. The climate pattern, however, is complicated by differences in elevation. Mountainous areas are far damper and cooler than low-lying areas. Mean annual temperatures vary greatly within Nevada because of the comparatively long distance from north to south within the state. In the south, summers are extremely hot and winters are short and mild. The average July temperature at Las Vegas is 32° C (90° F), and the highest temperature ever recorded there was 48° C (118° F). Las Vegas' January average high temperature is in the lower 10°s C (lower 50°s F), and average lows are near freezing. The growing season, the period from the last killing frost in spring to the first in fall, in this area averages more than 230 days per year. In the northeast, winters are long and cold and summers short and hot. San Jacinto's average temperature in January is -4° C (24° F), but it has recorded readings as low as -46° C (-50° F) in the winter. The July average at San Jacinto is 19° C (66° F), and the average growing season is about 80 days per year. Reno, in the west-central part of the state, has mean temperatures that fall between the averages at San Jacinto and Las Vegas. The growing season is about 155 days. Night-to-day temperature changes are sharp throughout Nevada because the clear dry air permits both the rapid gain of heat in the day and its rapid loss after dark. Most of the precipitation comes in winter, and in the mountains much of it is snow. Summer rainfall is generally slight. However, heavy thunderstorms occasionally occur, bringing cloudbursts that in a few minutes drench an area with as much rain as would normally fall over a period of several months. Precipitation over the state as a whole averages less than 230 mm (9 in) annually. It is lowest in west central and southern Nevada, where the average drops to less than 100 mm (4 in) a year in some localities. Annual precipitation at Elko, in the northeast, is 230 mm (9 in); at Reno, about 180 mm (about 7 in); and at Las Vegas, just under 100 mm (4 in). Mountain areas above 1800 to 2100 m (6000 to 7000 ft) receive more than 380 mm (15 in) of precipitation annually. The greatest annual precipitation, 690 mm (27 in), occurs at Marlette Lake, on the lee slope of the Sierra Nevada.

State Flag

State Flower - Sagebrush

State Capitol - Carson City
Nevada is governed under its original constitution adopted in 1864, as amended. An amendment to the constitution may be proposed by a constitutional convention, by the legislature, or by initiative. In the latter two cases, the amendment must be approved by a majority of the people voting on the issue in a general election in order to be ratified.

Famous People

Abby Dalton actress, Las Vegas
Andre Agassi tennis player, Las Vegas
Ben Alexander actor, Garfield
David Derek Stacton author, Minden
Edna Purviance actress, Reno
Eva Adams U.S. Mint, Wonder
Harry M. Reid politician, Searchlight
Helen Delich Bentley newspaperwoman, Ruth
Henry Fountain Ashurst politician, Winnemucca
Hobart Cavanaugh actor, Virginia City
Jack Kramer tennis player, Las Vegas
Jack Wilson Paiute Indian prophet, Esmeralda Cty
James Hubert Bilbray politician, Las Vegas
Lute Pease cartoonist
Sarah Hopkins Winnemucca author, Paiute interpreter, peacemaker, Humboldt River
Thelma Pat Nixon First Lady, Ely