<P> Francisco Garcés was the first European in the area . Nevada was annexed as a part of the Spanish Empire in the northwestern territory of New Spain . Administratively , the area of Nevada was part of the Commandancy General of the Provincias Internas in the Viceroyalty of New Spain . Nevada became a part of Alta California ( Upper California ) province in 1804 when the Californias were split . With the Mexican War of Independence won in 1821 , the province of Alta California became a territory - not a state - of Mexico , due to the small population . In later years , a desire for increased autonomy led to several attempts by the Alta Californians to gain independence from Mexico . Jedediah Smith entered the Las Vegas Valley in 1827 , and Peter Skene Ogden traveled the Humboldt River in 1828 . As a result of the Mexican -- American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe - Hidalgo , Mexico permanently lost Alta California in 1848 . The new areas acquired by the United States continued to be administered as territories . As part of the Mexican Cession ( 1848 ) and the subsequent California Gold Rush that used Emigrant Trails through the area , the state 's area evolved first as part of the Utah Territory , then the Nevada Territory ( March 2 , 1861 ; named for the Sierra Nevada ) . The capitol is Carson City </P>
<P> Francisco Garcés was the first European in the area . Nevada was annexed as a part of the Spanish Empire in the northwestern territory of New Spain . Administratively , the area of Nevada was part of the Commandancy General of the Provincias Internas in the Viceroyalty of New Spain . Nevada became a part of Alta California ( Upper California ) province in 1804 when the Californias were split . With the Mexican War of Independence won in 1821 , the province of Alta California became a territory - not a state - of Mexico , due to the small population . In later years , a desire for increased autonomy led to several attempts by the Alta Californians to gain independence from Mexico . Jedediah Smith entered the Las Vegas Valley in 1827 , and Peter Skene Ogden traveled the Humboldt River in 1828 . As a result of the Mexican -- American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe - Hidalgo , Mexico permanently lost Alta California in 1848 . The new areas acquired by the United States continued to be administered as territories . As part of the Mexican Cession ( 1848 ) and the subsequent California Gold Rush that used Emigrant Trails through the area , the state 's area evolved first as part of the Utah Territory , then the Nevada Territory ( March 2 , 1861 ; named for the Sierra Nevada ) . The capitol is Carson City </P>
who owned nevada before it became a state
who owned nevada before it became a state
Mexico
Mexico