10.2 percent of Nevada's adolescents abused illicit drugs compared to 9.2 percent across the United States. The first Europeans to explore the region were Spanish. No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher. Jedediah Smith entered the Las Vegas Valley in 1827, and Peter Skene Ogden traveled the Humboldt River in 1828. They called these mountains Sierra Nevada (snowy range). That was record time for statehood; by contrast, next door, Arizona was declared a territory in 1863 and didn't become a state until 1912 (the 48th state). Four days later, Nevada reported its first death. We are an online publication that creates actionable advice, guidance, statistics, and helpful resources on doing business and living in the United States. The discovery of silver It is kind of ironic to me that Nevada is the "Silver State". Fourth most seismically active state in the Among them was a decidedly political message: The Union Must and Shall Be Preserved.. Nevada predominantly supported the Union cause, although support for the north was not unanimous.