Nevada History

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Brief History
The following important events in the history of Nevada affected political jurisdictions, family movements, and record keeping


 * 1821: Mexico claimed the area after a successful revolt against Spain.
 * 1840's: Americans on the way to California traveled through the region.
 * 1848: Nevada was part of the area ceded by Mexico to the United States.
 * 1848: Mexican War
 * 1848':First settlement - Mormon trading post near Genoa
 * 1849: The first non-Indian settlement was made at Mormon Station (Genoa).
 * 1850: When Utah Territory was organized, almost all of present-day Nevada was included except the southern tip, which was then part of the New Mexico Territory.
 * 1859: The Comstock Lode of gold and silver was discovered at Virginia City, and many miners began coming from California.
 * 1859: Comstock Lode (Silver)
 * 1860: Pyramid Lake Indian Battle
 * 1860-1861: (April 3, - October 24,) Pony Express
 * 1861: (March 2,) Nevada Territory
 * 1861: Congress created Nevada Territory. In 1862 the territory was enlarged by shifting the eastern boundary.
 * 1863: Nevada became a state. In 1866 and 1867, more eastern land was gained from Utah Territory, and the southern tip was acquired from Arizona Territory.
 * 1864: (October 31,) Nevada became a state
 * 1880-1890: As the Comstock Lode declined, the states population fell from 62,000 to 47,000.
 * 1898: Over 300,000 men were involved in the Spanish-American War which was fought mainly in Cuba and the Philippines.
 * 1900: The discovery of silver at Tonopah, soon followed by gold strikes at Goldfield and the discovery of copper at Ely, led to a new mining boom that lasted until after World War I.
 * 1917–1918: More than 26 million men from the United States ages 18 through 45 registered with the Selective Service.  World War I over 4.7 million American men and women served during the war.
 * 1930's:  The Great Depression closed many factories and mills. Many small farms were abandoned, and many families moved to cities.
 * 1940–1945:  Over 50.6 million men ages 18 to 65 registered with the Selective Service. Over 16.3 million American men and women served in the armed forces during World War II.
 * 1950–1953:  Over 5.7 million American men and women served in the Korean War.
 * 1950's–1960's  The building of interstate highways made it easier for people to move long distances.
 * 1964–1972:  Over 8.7 million American men and women served in the Vietnam War.

Historical Content
Histories are great sources of genealogical information. Many contain biographical information about individuals who lived in the area, including:

Local Histories
Some of the most valuable sources for family history research are local histories. Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain accounts of families. They describe the settlement of the area and the founding of churches, schools, and businesses. You can also find lists of pioneers, soldiers, and civil officials. Even if your ancestor is not listed, information on other relatives may be included that will provide important clues for locating your ancestor. A local history may also suggest other records to search. Local histories are extensively collected by the Family History Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. The United States Research "History" page cites nationwide bibliographies of local histories which include histories of Nevada.


 * A Bibliography of American County Histories


 * United States Local Histories in the Library of Congress

State Histories Useful to Genealogists
Good genealogists strive to understand the life and times of their ancestors. In this sense, any history is useful. But certain kinds of state, county, and local histories, especially older histories published between 1845 and 1945, often include biographical sketches of prominent individuals. The sketches usually tend toward the laudatory, but may include some genealogical details. If these histories are indexed or alphabetical, check for an ancestor's name. Some examples for the State of Nevada:


 * History of Nevada is an especially helpful source for studying the history of Nevada

United States History
The following are only a few of the many sources that are available:


 * The Almanac of American History, This provides brief historical essays and chronological descriptions of thousands of key events in United States history.


 * Dictionary of American History, Revised ed This includes historical sketches on various topics in U.S. history, such as wars, people, laws, and organizations. A snippet view is available at Google books.


 * Webster's Guide to American History: A Chronological, Geographical, and Biographical Survey and Compendium  This includes a history, some maps, tables, and other historical information.


 * Writings on American History Has the full text available at Google Books

To find more books and articles about Nevada 's history use the Internet Google search for phases like "Nevada history." Family History Library Catalog Surname Search lists many more histories under topics like:
 * NEVADA - HISTORY
 * NEVADA, [COUNTY] - HISTORY
 * NEVADA, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - HISTORY
 * NEVADA, BIBLIOGRAPHY

Web Sites

 * Nevada History
 * Nevada History in Maps
 * Nevada State Library and Archives