The topography of the state is characterized by a patchwork of mountain ranges, which are commonly about 10 miles wide and rarely longer than 80 miles, and intervening valleys. The geologic structure that controls this basin-and-range topography is dominated by faults. Nearly every mountain range is bounded on at least one side by a fault that has been active, with large earthquakes, during the last 1.6 million years. For the last several million years, these faults have raised and occasionally tilted the mountains and lowered the basins. Over the years, these basins have filled with sediments that are derived from erosion of the mountains and that are tens of thousands of feet thick in some places.

The climate of Nevada is closely tied to the geologic structure and resultant topography.   Judging from evidence of plants that grew in different parts of California and Nevada in the past (from fossils in sediments that were deposited in basins), the Sierra Nevada in California and far western Nevada rose to current elevations only within the last six million years. Today these mountains trap moisture coming off the Pacific Ocean and leave Nevada the driest state in the 2 nation.

Only a few rivers leave Nevada. These include the Jarbidge and Owyhee Rivers in northeastern Nevada, which flow north into the Snake River in Idaho, and the White and Virgin Rivers in southeastern Nevada, which flow into the Colorado River. The Colorado, which is the biggest river in Nevada, gets the bulk of its water from the Rocky Mountains to the east and provides much of the municipal and industrial water for Las Vegas. Source:  http://www.nevadapacificgold.com/i/pdf/Geology_Nevada.pdf

The name Paiute means "true Ute" or "water Ute,’ indicating their kinship with the Ute Indians. Like the Utes, all Paiute groups spoke dialects of the Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family. The numerous bands are usually divided into three main groups for study: the Northern, the Owens Valley and the Southern Paiute. Only the Southern Paiute reside on the Colorado Plateau, where it meets the Great Basin in the southwestern corner of Utah. Most scholars agree that the Paiutes entered Utah about 1100-1200 A.D.

The large-scale migration to California by Anglo-European explorers and settlers in the 1840s was the beginning of the end of the traditional way of life for the Southern Paiutes. As more and more of their territory was claimed by whites, conflicts increased. After two Southern Paiute girls were kidnapped and raped by traders at a Pony Express station, the so-called Paiute or Pyramid Lake War began. The tribe was defeated at Pinnacle Mountain by an 800-man volunteer army led by Colonel Jack Hays. The U.S. Government subsequently moved to extinguish Indian land claims in Utah and to confine all Indians on reservations. The Southern Paiute refused to go to the Uintah Reservation and eventually settled in the uninhabited hills and desert areas of southern Utah. In the early twentieth century several groups of Southern Paiutes finally received tracts of reserved land, but were left with little choice but to work in the wage economy. Some also raised cattle.

In 1970, the Southern Paiute received $7.25 million for the U.S. government in a lawsuit over tribal lands that had been wrongfully taken. Many bands used this money to start small businesses. Further efforts at self-determination have included the development of mineral deposits on reservation lands, utilization of water resources, development of recreation and tourism, and industrial development to provide employment for tribal members.  Source:  http://www.cpluhna.nau.edu/People/southern_paiute.htm

The Southern Paiute did a lot of hunting too, yet not migrating as much one. They did a lot of hunting the whole calendar year. They hunted large game such as the deer. The Paiute men hunted the deer in large groups. The Paiute men also hunted smaller game such as the rabbit. The S. Paiute would eat the meat of their game as well as the crushed bones of the animal. They did not waste anything. In addition to meat, the Paiute ate plant life. The women of the S. Paiute would cultivate a number of crops using water sources that were available. The women would plant corn, squash, pumpkins, muskmelons, beans and sunflowers. They also grew wheat during the late 18th century. Gathering various seeds and leafy greens to supplement their diet was very important as well. The Paiute women did a lot of basket weaving with help from their children.

Source:  http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/northamerica/paiute.html

Spanish traders en route to Los Angeles along the Spanish Trail in the early 1700s sought a route that would pass through the then unexplored Las Vegas valley. A young scout named Rafael Rivera was the first person of European ancestry to look upon the valley. The valley was named Las Vegas, Spanish for "The Meadows."

In 1855, Brigham Young assigned 30 Mormon missionaries to build a fort in the Las Vegas valley. The fort constituted the first non-Indian settlement in the region. This fort is still located on the corner of Washington Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. Their primary purpose was to teach the Paiute Indians farming techniques. The Paiutes rejected the teachings and occasionally raided the fort until it was abandoned in 1857.

The discovery of minerals, including precious metals, led to the beginning of the mining industry in the late 19th century. The State Land Act of 1885 offered sections of land at $1.25 per acre.

The completion of the main railway, linking Southern California with Salt Lake City in 1905, established Las Vegas as a railroad town. The availability of water made Las Vegas an ideal refueling point and rest stop. 

Las Vegas was founded as a city on May 15, 1905, when 110 acres of land situated between Stewart Avenue on the north, Garces Avenue to the south, Main Street to the west, and 5th Street (Las Vegas Boulevard) to the east, were auctioned off.

The city was governed as part of Lincoln County until 1909 when it became the county seat for the newly established Clark County. The city encompassed 19.18 square miles, and had approximately 800 inhabitants, less than 1 percent of the states total population..

By 1930, Las Vegas had grown to a population of 5,165. In 1931, three events occurred that would forever change the face of Nevada and the city of Las Vegas.

On March 19, 1931 gambling was legalized in the State of Nevada. One month later, the city issued six gambling licenses.

Divorce laws were liberalized in the State of Nevada, making residency easier to attain. A "quickie" divorce could be attained after six weeks of residency. These short-term residents stayed at "dude ranches" which were the forerunners of the sprawling Strip hotels.

Beginning in 1931, the construction of Hoover Dam brought an influx of construction workers that started a population boom and gave the Valley’s economy, which was in the grips of the Great Depression, a needed boost. The country's attention was focused on the dam as it was completed in 1935. The dam served as a magnet for federal appropriations, thousands of tourists and new residents and an endless supply of power and electricity. Also, as the country prepared for World War II. Tens of thousands of pilots and gunners trained at the Las Vegas Aerial Gunnery School, opened by the government on 3 million acres north of town. Today this property is home to Nellis Air Force Base and the Nevada Test Site.

By 1940 Las Vegas' population had grown to 8,422. The outbreak of World War II brought the defense industry to the valley. The isolated location, along with plentiful water and inexpensive energy, made Las Vegas an ideal site for military and defense related industries.  Today, resident know the site as Nellis Air Force Base. NBy the early 1940s, downtown Las Vegas had several luxury hotels and a dozen small but successful gambling clubs.

In 1941 a businessman by the name of Thomas Hull, who owned a string of motor inns in California, decided to open the El Rancho Las Vegas, just outside the city limits right off the highway from Los Angeles. The El Rancho had 100 motel rooms, a western styled casino, it was located right off the highway and had a large parking lot with an inviting swimming pool in the middle. The El Rancho's quick success led to the building of another property down the road called the Last Frontier Hotel. Thus the Las Vegas Strip was born.

During the 1960s, a phenomenon lead by Howard Hughes occurred in Las Vegas. Corporations started building and/or buying hotel/casino properties. Gambling had become "gaming" and thus began transition into legitimate business.

Throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, corporations continued to invest in the hotel/casino industry. Gaming was now a legitimate business and some properties had stock traded on the market.

Starting in the mid 1980s, a period of unprecedented growth began. Annual population increases averaging nearly 7 percent caused the city's population to almost double between 1985 and 1995, increasing from 186,380 to 368,360 during that time, a 97.6 percent increase.

Las Vegas is the largest metropolitan city in the United States that was founded in 20th century. Approximately 98% of Nevada is owned by the federal Government And the growth continues still. The latest population prediction in the Las Vegas valley is 2 million people by 2007.  As the valley runs out of commutable housing space, high rise condominiums dot the master plans for the Las Vegas of tomorrow.