<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section is empty . You can help by adding to it . (August 2014) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section is empty . You can help by adding to it . (August 2014) </Td> </Tr> <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> Nevada became part of the United States with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Mexico in 1848 . Mexico had never established any control in Nevada, but American mountain men were in Washoe (the early name for Nevada) as early as 1827 . A permanent American presence began in 1851 when the Mormons set up way stations en route to the California gold fields . In the absence of any governmental authority, some 50 Mormons and non-Mormon prospectors and cattle ranchers drew up the "Washoe code" to deal with land claims; its coverage eventually covered other governmental issues . There still was no federal presence in the area so religious tensions worsened and petitions of complaint went to Washington . Non-Mormons sought annexation to California . Utah Territory countered this by incorporating the area as a county . When Federal troops were sent to Utah in 1857, the Mormons left Washoe . The non-Mormons took over and launched a move for separate territorial status . </P>

Who owned nevada before it became a state