On October 31, 1864, Nevada was admitted to the Union as the 36th state. The admission came during the Civil War, in part because Nevada’s silver resources were seen as important for the Union’s finances. Its new constitution was sent to Washington by telegraph, which was unusual at the time. The state’s nickname, the “Battle Born” state, reflects its entry during wartime. Nevada’s mining economy and later gambling industry shaped its development. Statehood gave residents representation in Congress and a formal role in national politics.
