| NV State Facts |
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| Territory: Mar 2, 1861 |
| Statehood: Oct 31, 1864 |
| Counties: 16 |
| Borders: ND, AZ, CA, ID, OR and UT |
| NV Resources |
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NV Military Databases |
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Today’s Nevada counties did not always exist in the present form. They went through many different changes in the space of a few short years. Nevada Counties were first formed while part of the Mississippi Territory, and after that the Nevada Territory.
Nevada Territorial Counties
On November 25, 1861, the first Nevada Territorial Legislature established nine counties.
The Nevada Territory, was organized on March 2, 1861. Nevada was admitted to the Union on October 31, 1864 as the 36th State with 11 counties.
Nevada Counties Today
Today, Nevada is currently divided into 16 counties and 1 Independent City. States bordering Nevada are Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon and Utah.
Carson City, the state capital, is also an independent city, which doesn’t belong to any county. However, it has a similar status to that of the 16 counties in the state.
Carson City used to be the county seat of Ormsby County, but the two were consolidated in 1969.
Nevada is divided into political jurisdictions designated as counties. Carson City is officially a consolidated municipality; however, for many purposes under state law it is considered to be a county.
There are some Nevada counties that no longer exist because they were discontinued, renamed or merged with another county. These are important for genealogy research purposes.
Fun Facts about Nevada Counties
Counties by Year
- Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lake, Lyon, Ormsby, Storey and Washoe Counties was the original 9 counties created when Nevada Territory formed on November 25, 1861.
- Pershing County was the last county created on March 18, 1912.
County Size Facts
- Nye County (18,147 sq mi) is the largest county in Nevada.
- Carson City (144 sq mi) is the smallest county in Nevada.
County Population Facts
- Esmeralda County (783) is the least populated county in Nevada.
- Clark County (2,204,079) is the most populated county in Nevada.
Nevada City Facts
Nevada’s 10 largest cities (2010 est.) are:
- Las Vegas (583,756) is in Clark County
- Henderson (257,729) is in Clark County
- Reno (225,221) is in Washoe County
- North Las Vegas (216,961) is in Clark County
- Sparks (90,264) is in Washoe County
- Carson City (55,274) is a Independent City
- Fernley (19,368) is in Lyon County
- Elko (18,297) is in Elko County
- Mesquite (15,276) is in Clark County
- Boulder City (15,023) is in Clark County
Boundary Changes of Nevada Counties from XXXX to XXXX
This Interactive Map of Nevada Counties show the historical boundaries, names, organization, and attachments of every county, extinct county and unsuccessful county proposal from XXXX to XXXX.
List of Nevada Counties
List of Old Former / Extinct Nevada Counties
Nevada contains some counties that no longer exist because they were discontinued, renamed or merged with another county. These are important for genealogy research purposes.
The below counties formerly within the area of the State of Nevada no longer exist:
Bullfrog County, Nevada
Created on June 29, 1987 from a portion of Nye County. This creation was an effort by Nevada to discourage construction of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste disposal site.
On May 3, 1889, it was abolished and lost all territory to Nye County, following a Nevada District Court ruling that the creation was unconstitutional.
Carson County, Utah Territory
Created on January 17, 1854 from the far western parts of Weber, Desert, Tooele, Juab, Millard, and Iron counties. It was attached to Millard County for election, revenue and judicial purposes.
It was enlarged in 1856, then discontinued in 1857. It was reorganized as part of Utah in 1859. On March 2, 1861, it was eliminated.
Humboldt County, Utah Territory
was created in 1856 by Utah Territory with jurisdiction over an area now in Churchill, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, and Pershing counties; abolished in 1861
Lake County, Nevada
was created in 1861 as an original county; renamed Roop in 1862; annexed in 1883 by Washoe County
Ormsby County, Nevada
was created in 1861 as an original county; combined with Carson City to form the independent municipality of Carson City in 1969
Roop County, Nevada
was Created in 1861 as an original county called Lake; renamed Roop in 1862; annexed in 1883 by Washoe County.
Saint Mary’s County, Utah Territory
was created in 1856 by Utah Territory with jurisdiction over an area now in Elko, Eureka, and White Pine counties; abolished in 1861.
- Pah-Ute County was created in 1864 by Arizona Territory with jurisdiction over an area now in Clark County; abolished in 1871
- Rio Virgin County was created in 1869 by Utah Territory with jurisdiction over an area now in Clark County; abolished in 1872