Nevada is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas. The state's official nickname is "The Silver State", due to the large number of silver deposits that were discovered and mined there. In 1864, Nevada became the 36th state to enter the union, and the phrase "Battle Born" on the state flag reflects the state's entry on the Union side during the American Civil War.

Much of Nevada is desolate wilderness, from the Mojave Desert in the south to the Great Basin in the north, and about 86% of the state's land is actually controlled by the US federal government under various jurisdictions including military. As of 2006, the population of the state was about 2.6 million, with over 85% residing in the metropolitan areas around Las Vegas and Reno. The state is well known for its easy marriage and divorce proceedings, legalization of gambling and, in some counties, prostitution. It also has some of the country's strictest drug laws.