Nevada became a state during the Civil War, so there was a state government, but I'm curious about the census in these very remote areas. Did Census workers ride on horseback to every small location at the turn of the century? How was the data gathered?
Yes, the Constitution prescribes enumeration every 10 years, for the purpose of adjusting the representatives alloted each state. Thus, the Census Bureau must hire enumerators to make a list of all inhabitants, and this was typically compiled one small geographic area at a time. In much of the country, rural areas were listed by township and then by enumeration district (often a precinct or other political division); big cities were generally aggregated by ward or similar district. In the 19th and early 20th century, enumerators were most often schoolteachers, who typically had good handwriting and were available during summer months.
Here is the 1900 Census enumeration page covering Las Vegas Precinct of Lincoln County, Nevada. A well-known location on the Old Spanish Trail, Las Vegas was not nearly as remote as most areas of Nevada.
