Nevada State Day, Motto, and Nickname

State Day October 31 (celebrated last Friday of October) Status Official Date of Admission to United States October 31, 1864 Ranking in State Admission 36th Former Designations Utah Territory Nevada Territory History On March 21, 1864, Congress approved the Nevada Enabling Act, granting Nevada separate territorial status from Utah. During this time, Nevada provided much needed silver and gold to the Union cause during the Civil War—so much so, in fact, when the question of statehood arose it was settled quickly. On October 31 of the same year, President Abraham Lincoln admitted Nevada as the 36th state by proclamation. Motto "All for Our Country" Nevada's motto reflects the dedication to the Union expressed by the leadership of Nevada before and after statehood. Nicknames "The Silver State," "The Battle Born State," "The Sage State," "The Sagebrush State" Nevada is famous for its silver strikes of the 1850s—when silver was so plentiful it was literally shoveled off the ground—hence the state's most famous nickname, "The Silver State." "The Battle Born State" is actually the official motto of Nevada, however, and appears on the state seal, reflecting the fact that Nevada became a state during the Civil War. "The Sage State" and "The Sagebrush State" refer to Nevada’s official plant, which can be found in virtually every part of the state.