The following events affected political boundaries, record keeping, and family movements:

1821	Mexico claimed the area after a successful revolt against Spain.
1840s	Americans on the way to California traveled through the region.
1848	Nevada was part of the area ceded by Mexico to the United States.
1849	The first non-Indian settlement was made at Mormon Station (Genoa).
1850	When Utah Territory was organized, almost all of present-day Nevada was included except the southern tip, which was then part of the New Mexico Territory.
1859	The Comstock Lode of gold and silver was discovered at Virginia City, and many miners began coming from California.
1861	Congress created Nevada Territory. In 1862 the territory was enlarged by shifting the eastern boundary.
1863	Nevada became a state. In 1866 and 1867 more eastern land was gained from Utah Territory, and the southern tip was acquired from Arizona Territory.
1880-1890	As the Comstock Lode declined, the states population fell from 62,000 to 47,000.
1900	The discovery of silver at Tonopah, soon followed by gold strikes at Goldfield and the discovery of copper at Ely, led to a new mining boom that lasted until after World War I.