Editing Nevada Territory (section)

{{short description|Former organized incorporated territory of the U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2013}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox Former subdivision
|conventional_long_name = Territory of Nevada
|common_name = Nevada Territory
|nation      = the United States
|subdivision = [[Organized incorporated territories of the United States|Organized incorporated territory]]
|event_pre   =
|date_pre    =
|year_pre    =
|event_start = Organic act
|date_start  = March 2
|year_start  = 1861
|event1      =
|date_event1 =
|year_event1 =
|event_end   = [[Nevada|Statehood]]
|date_end    = October 31
|year_end    = 1864
|p1          = Utah Territory
|flag_p1     = Flag of the United States (1859-1861).svg
|p2          =
|flag_p2     =
|s1          = Nevada
|flag_s1     = Flag of Nevada (1905–1915).svg
|s2          =
|flag_s2     =
|s3          =
|flag_s3     =
|image_flag  = Flag of the United States (1863-1865).svg
| flag              = Flag of the United States#Historical progression of designs
| flag_type         = Flag (1863–1864)
|image_map   = Nevada Territory in 1861.svg
|image_map_caption = The Nevada Territory in 1861, with the Utah and New Mexico Territories
|capital      =  [[Genoa, Nevada|Genoa]] (1861)<br />[[Carson City, Nevada|Carson City]] (1861–1864)
|government_type = [[Organized incorporated territory]]
|title_leader = Governor
|leader1      = [[James W. Nye]]
|year_leader1 = 1861 – 1864
|leader2      =
|year_leader2 =
|leader3      =
|year_leader3 = 
|leader4      =
|year_leader4 =
|legislature  =
}}

The '''Territory of Nevada''' (N.T.)<ref>The abbreviation "N. T." was often used and can be seen on many mining claims.</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=California Digital Newspaper Collection | url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=q&hs=1&r=1&results=1&txq=%22N.+T.%22&dafdq=02&dafmq=03&dafyq=1861&datdq=31&datmq=10&datyq=1864&puq=&txf=txIN&ssnip=txt&oa=&oa=1&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22N.+T.%22-------1}}</ref> was an [[organized incorporated territory of the United States]] that existed from March 2, 1861,<ref>{{USStat|12|209}}</ref> until October 31, 1864, when it was admitted to the [[United States|Union]] as the [[State of Nevada]].

Prior to the creation of the Nevada Territory, the area was part of western [[Utah Territory]] and was known as '''Washoe''', after the native [[Washoe (tribe)|Washoe]] people. The separation of the territory from Utah was important to the federal government because of its political leanings, while the population itself was keen to be separated because of animosity (and sometimes violence) between non-Mormons in Nevada and Mormons from the rest of the [[Utah Territory]].