The U.S. state ofNevada went through a period of dramatic change duringWorld War II that began immediately after theJapaneseattack on Pearl Harbor,Hawaii, in December 1941. The population of Nevada grew significantly, largely due to an influx of servicemen who were stationed at several newly built military bases. The economy also improved as the number of workers steadily increased and new jobs became available.^[1][2][3]

Mining was one of Nevada's main industries at the beginning of the World War II era. As duringWorld War I, the mines and the towns right next to them began to thrive once again due to a wartime increase in demand for copper and silver. This increase is exemplified by the rise in production from$24,945,376 in 1938 to $43,864,107 in 1940. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and America's entry into the war,SenatorPat McCarran and other Nevada officials campaigned successfully inWashington, D.C. to have the military build new bases, such asairfields, and other military installations within the state. The construction of new bases brought in thousands of workers from outside of Nevada and when they were finished building the workers were replaced by military personnel. Towns and cities next to the military's facilities greatly profited from the new arrivals and also grew in size. Nevada's population in 1940 was 110,247 and by 1950 it had grown to 160,083. Although this number was very small compared to the population ofCalifornia, for example, it represented a 45.2% increase. TheLas Vegas andReno areas were affected most by the increase in population. Las Vegas was just a town of 8,422 people in 1940. By 1950 it had grown to 24,624, a gain of 192.4%. Reno went from a population of 21,317 in 1940 to 32,492 in 1950.^[1][4]

Mining and the military industries were not the only industries to benefit from the war. It was during World War II and the years immediately afterward that Nevada'sgambling andtourist industries began to take off. People likeBugsy Siegel, aNew York Citygangster, flocked to Nevada to take advantage of the growing communities. Many people visited Nevada's snow-topped mountains during the war years toski. Thered-light districts also attracted many people, including many servicemen from California the military pressured Nevada's government to close all of thebrothels in 1943.^[1][3]

Like other states in theDesert Southwest, most of the new military installations built wereUnited States Army airbases. The state's weather, wide open spaces, railroad connections, and access to California made it an ideal location for training pilots.Las Vegas Army Airfield andTonopah Army Airfield were created from existing airports and the military built four additional fields in 1942, includingIndian Springs Field,Reno Army Airbase, andNaval Air Station Fallon. Ranges and emergency strips included theBattle Mountain Flight Strip, theBlack Rock Desert Gunnery Range,Churchill Flight Strip, andOwyhee Flight Strip. Tonopah Army Air Field and Indian Springs each had five auxiliary airstrips, including Indian Springs'Forty-Mile Canyon Field andGroom Lake Field.Camp Williston, located atBoulder City, provided security forHenderson's Basic Magnesium Plant and theHoover Dam.^[1][5][6]

Nevada did not have anyprisoner of war camps orinternment camps like so many of the other states, the latter becauseGovernorEdward P. Carville refused to allow the federal government to use his state as a "dumping ground for enemy aliens." However, enemy aliens, includingJapanese Americans, residing within Nevada faced new restrictions which had never been implemented before. Although little research has been done about the topic, it appears thatGerman andItalian aliens received very few of the restrictions and little antagonism when compared to the aliens of the World War I-era. The Japanese, however, were subjected to forced removal by the military and the seizure of their property by the government. Conditions were not bad for the entire Japanese community though; not all were forced to move torelocation camps. As aliens they had to register in accordance with the law and were required to turn in all weapons andshort-wave radios. Some experienced little interference with their daily lives, while others were relocated to WRA internment camps.^[1][7]

Army and Air Forces

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Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard

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  The Hoover Dam, seen here in 1942, was protected by 800 men stationed at Camp Williston inBoulder City, Nevada.^[6]
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  The text of a monument inWest Wendover, Nevada is a quote from PresidentHarry Truman about the use ofatomic weapons.

• American Theater (1939–1945)
• Arizona during World War II
• Desert Training Center
• Military history of the United States during World War II
• New Mexico during World War II
• United States home front during World War II

• 1940s in Nevada
• History of Nevada
• United States during World War II by state
• Economy of Nevada
• Military history of Nevada

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