About Nevada
Nevada is the driest state in the U.S., with an average annual rainfall of about 7 inches.
Much of the state is uninhabited desert, but areas like Reno and Las Vegas have carved out small oases that pull in millions of visitors each year for the gambling, shows, and parties.
Although Vegas is arguably the party capital of the world, Nevada hasn’t always had that reputation.
The state was first settled by trappers, traders, miners, and Mormons. In 1859, the Comstock Lode was discovered, which turned out to be the richest known silver deposit in the U.S. that also produced massive quantities of tungsten, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, gold, and barite.
Then, in the early 20th century the state created the gambling industry, which led it to becoming the entertainment center of the nation.
Nevada has one of the highest crime rates in the nation, ranking number 44 on the USA.com crime index rankings.
They have higher rates of hate, violent, property, and auto crimes than the national averages and a below average number of law enforcement employees per capita.
Also, given the large total area of the state, Nevada has a lower number of crimes per square mile than the national average.
