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| - Originally a part of the Utah Territory, Nevada was carved out as a separate territory in 1861 because of animosity between the mostly Christian residents and the Mormons who controlled the rest of the region. In 1864, despite its low population, Nevada was allowed to enter the union as the 36th US state in part to swing support behind President Abraham Lincoln in the US presidential election of that year. The early history of the state was rooted in mining, primarily of silver and gold deposits, which saw many towns, expand rapidly. The decline of mining in the early 20th Century coupled by the Great Depression took a dramatic toll on the state’s economy, helping to usher in the legalization of gambling which would have a profound effect. Gambling, and associated service industries such a
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| abstract
| - Originally a part of the Utah Territory, Nevada was carved out as a separate territory in 1861 because of animosity between the mostly Christian residents and the Mormons who controlled the rest of the region. In 1864, despite its low population, Nevada was allowed to enter the union as the 36th US state in part to swing support behind President Abraham Lincoln in the US presidential election of that year. The early history of the state was rooted in mining, primarily of silver and gold deposits, which saw many towns, expand rapidly. The decline of mining in the early 20th Century coupled by the Great Depression took a dramatic toll on the state’s economy, helping to usher in the legalization of gambling which would have a profound effect. Gambling, and associated service industries such as hotels and entertainment, would come to account for most of the state’s economy by 1983. It would also transform the small community of Las Vegas into a massive city renowned throughout the world for its entertainment and gambling. By 1983, the city would account for more than half of the state’s population of over 800,000 people. With the initiation of atomic weapons, the US government established the Nevada Test Site in 1951 about 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, using the area to conduct research and development involving atomic weapons including the above ground testing of nuclear bombs. Although the last such test had been in 1962, underground testing was still ongoing. The town of Mercury, established by the US Atomic Energy Commission inside the site, was home to about 10,000 people, most scientists and workers involved in testing. Additionally, Nevada had a long relationship with the US military dating back to before World War II and was home to several military bases:
* Nellis Air Force Base, located in North Las Vegas, was a major USAF facility. It housed a number of units including the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, and was also home to the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center.
* Indian Spring Air Force Auxiliary Field, located near Indian Springs, was an auxiliary air field which came under the control of the Tacticial Air Command. It was being used to train pilots in the operation of fighter aircraft including Soviet warplanes.
* Groom Lake Air Force Facility, also known as Area 51, located on the edge of Groom Lake about 83 miles north-northwest of Las Vegas. The facility was site for the testing and development of a number of experimental weapons as well as rumored to be the storage area for a downed extraterestrial craft.
* Fallon Naval Air Station (NAS), located near Fallon.
* Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, located in Hawthorne. The largest US Army ammunition storage site in the nation, it covered over 147,000 acres and held some 2,400 bunkers.
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