In 1846, the United States and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War. Part of the treaty included transferring all the land in what is now Nevada from the Mexican government to the federal government of the United States. When Nevada became a state in 1864, its constitution explicitly said that the state wouldn’t claim any public land that wasn’t spoken for. This left the vast majority of Nevada’s land in the public estate, managed by the federal government. Today, Nevada contains forty-eight million acres of public land, amounting to 63 percent of the state, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
From 1846 to 1872, the federal government’s main role in Nevada was through the General Land Office, the agency that carried out the Homestead Act. Nevada’s wide-open range offered opportunities for cattle ranching and sheep herding on public land, on which grazing operators did not have to pay rent or property tax.
Mining has played a central role in Nevada’s economy since the discovery of silver in the Virginia City area in 1859. Nevada Congressional representatives helped to stabilize the legal environment for mining by passing several federal mining laws, the most important coming in 1866 and 1872. The 1872 Mining Act still provides the legal basis for BLM’s regulation of solid mineral mining today.
In 1934, Congress passed the Taylor Grazing Act to help cattle ranchers and sheep herders settle disputes over grazing and prevent over-grazing of public land. In 1936, the first seven employees of the new Grazing Service were transferred into the agency from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In 1946, Congress combined the General Land Office and the Grazing Service to create the Bureau of Land Management. In 1950, the Nevada-California Region II of the newly-created bureau moved its district grazing headquarters from San Francisco to Reno, creating the first BLM Nevada state office in the old post office building. The first BLM Nevada "regional grazier" was Edmund R. “Tiny” Greenslet, who was among the first seven transferred employees from USGS. In 1954, Greenslet became the first BLM State Supervisor for Nevada, a position he held until he retired in 1958.
In 1971, wild horses were added to the BLM’s mission by the Wild Horse and Burro Act. This law resulted from the efforts of Reno activist Velma Bronn Johnston. Johnston, whose family owned a children’s dude ranch and who worked as a secretary at an insurance company, began protesting against cruel treatment of Nevada’s wild horses in 1950. Known as “Wild Horse Annie,” Johnston led letter-writing campaigns that resulted in federal laws prohibiting the hunting and capture of wild horses, first in 1959 and then more comprehensively in 1971. Today, Nevada has more wild horses than the rest of the western states put together, managed by the BLM under the 1971 law.
BLM’s stewardship of public land in Nevada continues. Today, Nevada is home to the largest special recreation permit, the annual Burning Man Festival in the Black Rock Desert, and regular land sales in the Las Vegas Valley under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act fund new public parks and conservation initiatives.
I'm a seasoned expert in U.S. history, particularly with a focus on land policies and management. My knowledge extends to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Mexican-American War, and the intricate details of how land was transferred and managed in Nevada during crucial historical periods.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1846):
- This treaty ended the Mexican-American War, with one of its provisions transferring land, including what is now Nevada, from Mexican to U.S. control.
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Nevada Statehood (1864):
- Nevada's constitution explicitly stated that the state would not claim any unappropriated public land. This decision left the majority of Nevada's land in the public estate, managed by the federal government.
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Bureau of Land Management (BLM):
- The BLM manages a significant portion of Nevada's land, comprising 63 percent of the state or forty-eight million acres. The BLM's role evolved over time, combining the General Land Office and Grazing Service in 1946.
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Mining Laws (1866, 1872):
- Congressional representatives from Nevada played a crucial role in stabilizing the legal environment for mining by passing federal mining laws in 1866 and 1872. The 1872 Mining Act remains the legal basis for BLM's regulation of solid mineral mining.
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Taylor Grazing Act (1934):
- This act was enacted to settle disputes over grazing and prevent over-grazing of public land. It led to the creation of the Grazing Service, which later merged with the General Land Office to form the Bureau of Land Management in 1946.
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Wild Horse and Burro Act (1971):
- This act, influenced by activist Velma Bronn Johnston, added wild horses to the BLM's mission. Johnston, also known as "Wild Horse Annie," advocated against the mistreatment of wild horses, leading to federal laws in 1959 and 1971 protecting them.
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Burning Man Festival and Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act:
- The Burning Man Festival in the Black Rock Desert holds the largest special recreation permit in Nevada. Additionally, land sales in the Las Vegas Valley under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act fund public parks and conservation initiatives.
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BLM's Ongoing Stewardship:
- The article notes that BLM continues to steward public land in Nevada, emphasizing its role in managing various activities, including the Burning Man Festival and land sales for public initiatives.
If you have any specific questions or if there's another aspect you'd like me to elaborate on, feel free to ask.
