Nevada, once considered a barren desert of a state, is the second-fastest growing state in the nation, thanks to its blossoming oasis, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Sin City, has transformed its image from that of a gangster’s sinful playground to one of family fun and culture (of, course, there’s still a good bit of naughtiness for those in search of an "Adult Disneyland," as Vegas has been called), and, with that, Nevada’s population has skyrocketed.

In 2000, Nevada had about 1.9 million residents; in 2006 it was estimated to have almost 2.5 million people-a 20% increase. The only problem with this population explosion is that Nevada really is a barren desert. Except for the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevadas on the state’s California border, Nevada’s flat, hardscrabble landscape owes its austerity to its location in an area of the country known as The Great Basin. The Great Basin is a high-altitude desert that covers most of Nevada and parts of Utah, California and Idaho. It is a contiguous series of watersheds with no outlet to the sea. The Bonneville Salt Flats as well as the Mohave and Sonora Deserts, lie within this area. The Great Basin is actually marked by a series of tall, jagged mountain ranges and dry valleys below, so Nevada does have many mountain ranges, many of which are quite small compared to their towering cousins in California and Utah. The mountains, including the Monitor, Shoshone, Schell Creek, and Egan Ranges, cross the center of the state like a belt and provide some respite from the soaring desert temperatures below, but the state’s climate is overwhelmingly arid. As with many western states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, and New Mexico, finding enough water to support rapid population growth is a severe and pressing challenge.

Nevada’s economy is largely supported by tourism, and the state, itself, largely supports itself with taxation on gaming and boxing, which are primary industries supporting the tourism sector of the economy. Mining makes up another sector of the state’s economy; gold and silver are the major ore deposits. Nevada does have some agricultural outputs including cattle alfalfa, and potatoes. The average per capita personal income is about $32,000, 19^th in the country.

Though Las Vegas is the major population center and tourist destination, it isn’t the only vacation getaway in the state. Westerners love to ski Tahoe in the winter. Known for crystal clear, but icy-cold Lake Tahoe, the mountain village is popular getaway in the summer months too, especially for San Francisco residents, as the cool resort town is only a three-hour drive from the city. Reno, Nevada is also a popular destination for gamers, particularly poker players. The city offers all the fun of Las Vegas at a lower cost, and it throws in some old west history as well. Laughlin, on the Arizona-Nevada border, is a popular getaway for Arizonans looking for the gambling and shows of Vegas a little closer to home.