This Day in History: Nevada becomes the 36th State in the Union

On October 31, 1864, just before the presidential election, Nevada was admitted as the 36th state in the United States, even though it had only about 40,000 residents and did not meet the usual requirement of 60,000. Governor James W. Nye expedited the admission process by sending the state constitution via a costly telegraph, marking a significant moment in U.S. history that was strategically timed to support Abraham Lincoln’s reelection campaign.

Nevada is notable for being one of only two states to expand its borders after gaining statehood, alongside Missouri. In the years following its admission, Nevada acquired additional territory, including parts of the Utah Territory and land from the Arizona Territory, largely due to the discovery of valuable minerals like gold and silver, which promised to boost its population and economy.

The discovery and exploitation of minerals, especially silver, played a pivotal role in shaping Nevada’s economy, leading to speculation and significant wealth. Although there were fluctuations in mining and population in the late 19th century, the discovery of rich silver deposits led to renewed booms, further cementing Nevada's economic foundation based on mining.

For further details, you can read the full article on Wikipedia.