1. On January 31, 1865, Nevada officially became the 36th state in the United States of America. Prior to achieving statehood, the Nevada Territory had been established in 1861 in order to support the Union during the American Civil War.

2. In 1987, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake hit the Reno area on January 31, causing significant damage to buildings and prompting Governor Richard Bryan to declare a state of emergency. Despite the intensity of the quake, no fatalities were reported.

3. The first Reno Air Races were held on January 31, 1964, marking the beginning of an annual tradition that would draw thousands of aviation enthusiasts to the city each year. The event remains one of Nevada's most exciting and popular attractions to this day, featuring high-speed aircraft races and impressive aerial maneuvers.

4. On January 31, 1938, the Hoover Dam was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a lavish ceremony attended by thousands of onlookers. The massive engineering feat had taken more than five years to construct and had provided jobs for thousands of unemployed Americans during the Great Depression.

5. In 2020, Nevada held its presidential caucus on January 31, giving voters across the state their first chance to weigh in on the Democratic Party's crowded field of candidates. The caucus was closely watched by political observers around the world, as Nevada was seen as a key battleground state in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.