The story goes that Nevada became a state during the Civil War because the Union needed the silver from mines such as Virgina City (just east of Reno) although the truth has more to do with needed electoral votes than heavy metals. The casino's now mine a much more lucrative "silver".

The split between the urban Clark County ( Las Vegas) and the rest of the state to the north is exhibited through a number of ongoing rivalries such as in high school sporting events and music competitions. It is perhaps most obvious between the two universities: UNR in Reno (the "Wolf Pack", its colors are silver and blue) and UNLV in Las Vegas (the "Runnin' Rebels", its colors are red and silver.) World 66 Travel Guide