NEVADA

State of Nevada

ORIGIN OF STATE NAME: Named for the Sierra Nevada, nevada meaning "snow-covered" in Spanish. NICKNAME: The Silver State; also, the Sagebrush State and the Battle Born State. CAPITAL: Carson City. ENTERED UNION: 31 October 1864 (36th). SONG: "Home Means Nevada." MOTTO: All for Our Country. FLAG: On a blue field, two sprays of sagebrush and a golden scroll in the upper lefthand corner frame a silver star encircled by the word "Nevada"; the scroll, reading "Battle Born," recalls that Nevada was admitted to the Union during the Civil War. OFFICIAL SEAL: An ore-crushing mill, ore cart, and mine tunnel symbolize Nevada's mining industry; a plow, sickle, and sheaf of wheat represent its agricultural resources. In the background are a railroad, a telegraph line, and a sun rising over the mountains. Encircling this scene are 36 stars and the state motto. The words "The Great Seal of the State of Nevada" surround the whole. ANIMAL: Desert bighorn sheep. BIRD: Mountain bluebird. FISH: Lahontan cutthroat trout. FLOWER: Sagebrush. TREE: Bristlecone pine and single-leaf pinon. GRASS: Indian ricegrass. METAL: Silver. FOSSIL: Ichthyosaur. LEGAL HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., 3rd Monday in January; Washington's Birthday, 3rd Monday in February; Memorial Day, last Monday in May; Independence Day, 4 July; Labor Day, 1st Monday in September; Nevada Day, 31 October; Veterans Day, 11 November; Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November; Christmas Day, 25 December. TIME: 4 AM PST = noon GMT.