1. Nevada officially became a state on October 31, 1864, but on January 2, 1931, it became the first state to legalize most forms of gambling, including slot machines and card games. This decision had a significant impact on the state's economy and the tourism industry.

2. On January 2, 1885, the town of Eureka suffered a devastating fire that destroyed much of the historic district. Many of the town's buildings were constructed with highly flammable materials, and the fire rapidly spread, leaving more than 1,000 people homeless.

3. In 1977, on January 2, the notorious mobster Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro, who had been tasked with overseeing organized crime activities in Las Vegas, was convicted of burglary in a Chicago court. This conviction marked the beginning of the end for Spilotro, who was later famously portrayed in the movie "Casino."

4. On January 2, 1942, the Tonopah Army Air Field was established in central Nevada. This airfield was an important training site for pilots during World War II and was also used for secret research and development projects related to aircraft and weapons.

5. Finally, on January 2, 2002, there was a deadly plane crash near the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. A small business jet crashed into a residential neighborhood, killing all three people aboard the plane, as well as a mother and daughter who were in their home at the time of the crash. The incident led to changes in the way the airport handled air traffic and increased safety measures for nearby residential areas.