According to babyinger, Nevada is located in the western United States and is bordered by Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and California. The state covers an area of 110,567 square miles making it the 7th largest state in the US. Nevada is a landlocked state with no ocean coastline but does have shorelines along several of its lakes.
The geography of Nevada is defined by its rugged mountain ranges and vast deserts. Most of the state lies within the Great Basin Desert which spans across most of the western US. This desert covers nearly 80% of Nevada with elevations ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level.
The highest point in Nevada is Boundary Peak which stands at an elevation of 13,147 feet above sea level located in White Pine County near the border with California. The lowest point in the state is Badwater Basin which lies 282 feet below sea level located within Death Valley National Park on the border with California.
Nevada also has several large mountain ranges including the Toiyabe Range which runs along much of the eastern border as well as the Snake Range located near Great Basin National Park and Wheeler Peak which stands at an elevation of 13,065 feet above sea level located within Great Basin National Park near Ely.
In addition to its mountain ranges and deserts Nevada also has several lakes including Lake Tahoe on its western border with California as well as Pyramid Lake near Reno and Walker Lake near Hawthorne. These three lakes are all part of a larger system known as Pyramid-Walker-Tahoe Lakes that span across parts of both California and Nevada.
Administrative Regions in Nevada
According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, Nevada is divided into 17 counties and is further divided into incorporated cities and towns as well as unincorporated communities. The largest city in Nevada is Las Vegas, located in Clark County. It is the most populous city in the state with a population of over 641,000 people. Other major cities in Nevada include Henderson, Reno, and North Las Vegas.
The state capital of Nevada is Carson City located in the center of the state near Lake Tahoe. Other major towns include Elko, Sparks, Mesquite, and Boulder City.
Each county has its own government which provides services to its residents such as law enforcement, public health services, and road maintenance. Each county also elects a board of commissioners who are responsible for setting policies for their county government and ensuring that all laws are enforced properly within their jurisdiction.
In addition to counties Nevada also has several special districts such as school districts and water districts which provide services to specific areas within the state. These special districts are governed by boards made up of elected representatives from their respective areas who are responsible for setting policies for their district as well as overseeing budgets and operations.
The federal government also plays an important role in governing Nevada with its agencies providing services such as healthcare through Medicare/Medicaid programs, national parks management through the National Park Service, military bases with Air Force installations throughout the state, and other various programs that assist residents throughout Nevada.
Demographics of Nevada
The population of Nevada is estimated to be 3,080,156 as of 2019. The state has seen an increase in population since the 2000 census, with a rate of growth of over 29%. This growth is largely attributed to the influx of people moving from California and other states to take advantage of the state’s booming economy and low taxes.
The racial makeup of Nevada is 73.4% White, 8.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 5.5% Black or African American and 2.5% Native American or Alaska Native alone according to the 2018 US Census Bureau estimates. The remaining 1.0% are two or more races, 0.3% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander alone and 0.1% are some other race alone.
According to the 2018 US Census Bureau estimates Nevada’s median household income was $60,345 in 2018 which is higher than both the national median household income ($61,937) and the median income for all states ($63,179). The poverty rate in Nevada was 13%, slightly lower than the national average (13.1%).
Nevada is home to several large cities such as Las Vegas (population 641,676), Henderson (302,539), Reno (248,853), North Las Vegas (236,719) and Sparks (95,346). These cities make up a majority of the state’s population with over 1 million residents living in each city alone according to 2018 US Census Bureau estimates.
The largest age group in Nevada is 25-44 years old which makes up 28 percent of the state’s total population according to 2018 US Census Bureau estimates followed by 45-64 years old at 21 percent and 18-24 years old at 19 percent respectively. Other age groups make up 13 percent for 65+ years old and 9 percent for under 18 years old respectively making up a total of 100 percent for all age groups combined in Nevada.
Transportation in Nevada
The state of Nevada has an extensive transportation system that serves the needs of its residents. The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the state’s highways, airports, and public transit systems.
Nevada’s highway system is made up of over 6,000 miles of roads. Interstate highways include I-15 which runs along the western border and I-80 which runs east to west across northern Nevada. Other major highways include US Route 50 (the “Loneliest Road in America”), US Route 95 which connects Las Vegas to Reno and US Route 93 which connects Las Vegas to Phoenix.
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada operates public bus routes throughout Clark County including Las Vegas and Henderson. The RTC also operates a light rail system known as the Strip & Downtown Express (SDX). The RTC also offers several other services such as vanpools, bike paths, carpool lanes, and paratransit services for disabled individuals.
The Reno-Tahoe International Airport is located in Reno and serves as a hub for commercial air travel throughout Northern Nevada. Other major airports located in the state include McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas Airport, Elko Regional Airport in Elko and Fallon Municipal Airport in Fallon.
In addition to air travel there are several Amtrak routes that serve Nevada including the California Zephyr which runs from Emeryville to Chicago via Reno; the Southwest Chief which runs from Los Angeles to Chicago via Kingman; and the Sunset Limited running from Los Angeles to New Orleans via El Paso with a stop in Las Vegas.
Nevada also offers a variety of other transportation options such as Greyhound buses which operate throughout the state; long distance taxi services; intercity shuttle services such as Terrible Herbst Express; ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft; chartered buses for group travel; limousines for airport transfers; rental cars available at all major airports; bicycles available for rent at various locations throughout each city; carpooling options through ZipCar or Car2Go; scooter rentals through Lime or Bird electric scooters; and other alternative modes of transport like walking or horseback riding.