V.

Education and Cultural Institutions

A.

Education

Nevada has been confronted with unusual problems in providing education for its widely scattered population. The public school system is directed by the state department of education, which is headed by a superintendent of public instruction. Attendance is compulsory for children from the ages of 7 to 17. Private schools enroll 4 percent of the state’s children.

In the 2002–2003 school year Nevada spent $8,110 on each student’s education, compared to a national average of $9,299. There were 19 students for every teacher (the national average was 15.9 students). Of those older than 25 years of age in 2004, 86.3 percent had a high school diploma, while the nation as a whole averaged 82.8 percent.

A.1.

Higher Education

Nevada has 7 public and 13 private institutions of higher education. Among these are the University of Nevada, with campuses in Reno and Las Vegas (see Nevada, Las Vegas, University of; Nevada, Reno, University of); Great Basin College in Elko; and Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village. The University of Nevada is a land-grant college, originally established at Elko. Its Mackay School of Mines is internationally known for its programs in geological, geophysical, and hydrologic sciences. The Desert Research Institute, with Nevada campuses in Reno and Las Vegas, is a world-renowned research institution affiliated with the university system. See also Nevada, University and Community College System of.

B.

Libraries and Museums

Most Nevada libraries are small, and there are just 22 systems in the state. Each year the libraries circulate an average of 5.5 books for every resident. The State Library and Archives in Carson City provides reference and research services to the state government, the state libraries, and citizens. It collects state and federal publications, historical publications dealing with Nevada and the West, and statistical publications. The Nevada Historical Society and the libraries of the University of Nevada, including the Mackay School of Mines DeLaMare Library, are in Reno. Museums operated in conjunction with these libraries display objects and materials of historical or geological interest. The old United States Mint in Carson City has been converted into the Nevada State Museum. The tunnels in its basement show a mine in replica. The National Automobile Museum in Reno includes more than 200 historic vehicles. The Fleischmann Planetarium is also in Reno. Las Vegas has a natural history museum and the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum.

C.

Communications

The first newspaper printed in Nevada was the Territorial Enterprise, which was founded by Alfred James and W. L. Jernegan in 1858 and began publication at Genoa. Shortly thereafter, the paper was moved to Carson City, and later to Virginia City. American author Mark Twain was a reporter and editor of this paper in the 1860’s, and his book Roughing It (1872) describes his experiences in Nevada. Other literary figures who wrote for the paper were Bret Harte and William Wright, under the pseudonym Dan DeQuille. In 2002 Nevada had 6 daily newspapers. Influential dailies included the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Las Vegas Sun, and the Reno Gazette-Journal.

The state’s first radio station, KOH in Reno, was licensed in 1928. KOLO-TV in Reno and KLAS-TV in Las Vegas, Nevada’s first television stations, began operation in 1953. In 2002 Nevada had 18 AM and 27 FM radio stations and 13 television stations.