The Chronicles Of Grant County
Nevada Avenue is one of the streets that is part of Hurley in Grant County. The street is named after the State of Nevada. The state itself is named after the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. According to the Office of the Secretary of State of Nevada, "Nevada" means "snow-covered" in Spanish.
Imagine New Mexico potentially having two communities named "Las Vegas."
A portion of the lands that are now part of Nevada were at one time part of New Mexico Territory. Portions of Clark (including Las Vegas), Lincoln, and Nye Counties were initially part of New Mexico Territory when sections of Mexico were added to the United States of America as part of the implementation of the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo between the two countries.
Nevada is known as the "Silver State" for the importance of silver mining in that state. The Comstock Lode was the first major discovery of silver ore in the United States. At the time of the announcement of the silver ore in northern Nevada in 1859, much of today's state was part of the Utah Territory. Within a couple of years, parts of present-day Nevada were separated from Utah Territory and became their own separate territory. That territory then became the State of Nevada in 1864.
In addition to mining and casinos (who can forget the casinos?), Nevada is known for allowing certain activities that are considered illegal in the rest of the United States. Brothels, for example, can be found in a number of communities in Nevada. While prostitution is illegal in Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City, and other larger municipalities, the activity is legal – and highly regulated – in some of the more rural areas of the state.
One thing Nevada does not have – that most states do have – is a state income tax.
Do you have questions about communities in Grant County?
A street name? A building?
Your questions may be used in a future news column.
Contact Richard McDonough at chroniclesofgrantcounty@mail.com.
© 2020 Richard McDonough