Old Boundary

For six years this latitude was the bottom edge of Nevada. The line — the 37th parallel — was first drawn under the Compromise of 1850 to divide Utah Territory from New Mexico, and when Nevada was cut from western Utah in 1861 it became the new territory's southern boundary. Then Nevada kept growing: in 1867 Congress handed it the slice of Arizona Territory lying south of here, west of the Colorado River, and the state reached the shape it holds today. The marker stands on a border that no longer exists.

What the plaque says

Nevada’s Southern Boundary 1861-1867. The 37th degree north latitude is marked at this point as the dividing line between the Territories of Utah and New Mexico under the provisions of the Compromise of 1850 which originally organized the land ceded by Mexico in 1848. When the Territory of Nevada was carved from western Utah in 1861, this line became the southern boundary of the new territory and continued to serve as such when the Territory and State were enlarged by extensions to the east in 1862 and 1866 respectively. In 1867, the Nevada Legislature approved the action of Congress to add that portion of the Territory of Arizona which lay to the south of this line, west of the 114 degree west longitude and the Colorado River, and to the east of the boundary of California. This action, taken on January 18, 1867, gave to the State of Nevada the permanent boundaries as they are today.

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Pahranagat Valley — 24 mi