Reno, Nevada

Reno is a city in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Nevada, close to the border with California. It is the most populous city in Washoe County and is known as "The Biggest Little City in the World." At the time of the 2020 census, Reno had a population of 264,165, making it the 78th most populous city in the United States and the third most populous city in Nevada.

The city is named after Major General Jesse L. Reno, who served in the American Civil War and was killed in action. Today, Reno is a popular tourist spot, famous for its casino gambling. It is also close to beautiful places like Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Reno is home to the University of Nevada at Reno, the second-largest university in the state. For much of the last century, Reno was well-known because of Nevada's easy divorce laws, and many people came here for that reason. Now, the city continues to grow and attract visitors from all over.

History

For a timeline of important events, see Timeline of Reno, Nevada.

Early history

People lived in the Reno area long ago. In the mid-1850s, some pioneers settled in the Truckee Meadows, a valley where the Truckee River flows from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. They farmed and also served travelers on the California Trail.

Gold was found near Virginia City in 1850, leading to some mining. But the big rush came in 1859 when silver was found at the Comstock Lode. Thousands of people moved west hoping to get rich.

Charles W. Fuller built a bridge over the Truckee River in 1859 to help connect Virginia City to the California Trail. A small community grew there. Two years later, Myron C. Lake bought the bridge and renamed the place "Lake's Crossing." When the railroad came through in 1868, the town was named Reno after a Civil War officer.

The divorce capital of the world

In the early 1900s, Nevada made it easier to get a divorce than most places. By 1931, the rules changed so that people only needed to live in Nevada for six weeks before they could divorce. Reno advertised itself as the best place for quick divorces. For many years, thousands of people came to Reno just to divorce. This helped the local economy as visitors stayed in hotels and spent money.

Many famous people also came to Reno to divorce, including Mary Pickford, Jack Dempsey, and General Douglas MacArthur. Movies and books sometimes mentioned Reno as a place to end a marriage.

Gambling and modern Reno

Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, and Reno became known for its casinos. The Bank Club Casino was one of the first and biggest. As time went on, gambling became a big part of Reno's economy.

In 1957, an accident caused by a gas leak destroyed some buildings and hurt many people. Reno kept growing, especially when new rules allowed casinos on Native American lands. Today, Reno is also known for outdoor activities near the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe.

In recent years, Reno has become a technology center with companies like Amazon, Tesla, and Microsoft building big centers there.

Geography

Reno is located just east of the Sierra Nevada, on the edge of the Great Basin. It sits at an elevation of about 4,400 feet above sea level. The area has many faults, which are linked to the movement of the earth's surface and the rising of nearby mountain ranges.

The region around Reno can experience wildfires that sometimes damage property. In 2011, two fires caused by powerlines and fireplace ashes destroyed many homes and led to evacuations. In 2024, another fire affected forested areas in the southwest part of the city.

Reno has a climate that is dry but with cold winters and hot summers. It is influenced by the Sierra Nevada mountains to the west and the drier Great Basin to the east. Most rain falls in the fall, winter, and spring, with long, dry summers. Winters are cold, and summers can be very hot. The area also has windy days, especially with the local wind known as the 'Washoe Zephyr.'

Demographics

2020 census

According to the census of 2010, Reno had 225,221 people living there. The city had many different groups of people: most were White, with smaller numbers of African American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and others. Some people were of Hispanic or Latino background.

In 2010, many families lived in Reno. About one-third of households had children under 18, and many were led by married couples. Some households were made up of single people. The average family size was a little over three people.

Most people in Reno were young adults, with many between the ages of 25 and 44. The median age was about 35 years. In 2011, the median income for a family was around $53,896. However, some families and people lived below the poverty line, especially those under 18 and over 65.

In 2000, Reno's population was 180,480, but by 2010, it had grown to 225,221, making it the third-largest city in Nevada after Las Vegas and Henderson. Reno is located 26 miles north of the state capital, Carson City, and 22 miles northeast of Lake Tahoe.

Reno has a notable Italian-American community.

Economy

Reno was once known for its gambling, but today it has many other important jobs and activities. Big companies like Tesla have built large factories nearby, creating thousands of jobs. Reno also attracts visitors with events like car shows and balloon races.

The city is home to many companies, including technology firms and entertainment businesses. With new developments and data centers being built, Reno’s economy continues to grow in many different directions.

Healthcare

Reno has many places where people can get medical help. Several of these are linked to the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine. Some of the important healthcare centers in Reno include:

• Northern Nevada Medical Center
• Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center
• Renown Regional Medical Center
• Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center
• Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center
• University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine
• Veterans Administration Sierra Nevada Healthcare System Reno, Nevada

Arts and culture

Reno has many interesting museums. The Nevada Museum of Art is the only art museum in Nevada that has special recognition from a group of museums across the United States. It has a large collection of special art called Land art. The National Automobile Museum has 200 cars, including some famous ones, like Elvis Presley's 1973 Cadillac Eldorado.

Reno also has places for music, such as the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Reno Pops Orchestra. Young musicians in the Reno Youth Symphony Orchestra get to play advanced music and have even performed at a famous hall in New York City. Every July, Reno holds a big celebration called Artown with many art activities and shows all month long. In August, Hot August Nights is a fun car festival. In September, Reno has events like The Great Reno Balloon Race.

Reno has a public library, which is part of the Washoe County Library System. The main library in downtown Reno was given special recognition in 2013.

Sports

See also: Nevada § Sports

Reno is where the Reno Aces, a minor league baseball team, play. They are part of the Arizona Diamondbacks and play in a downtown ballpark that opened in 2009. Reno has had other baseball teams in the past, like the Reno Silver Sox.

The city has also had basketball teams, such as the Reno Bighorns, which played from 2008 to 2018. Reno holds events for sports like mixed martial arts and boxing. A famous boxing match happened there in 1910.

Reno has a golf tournament called the Reno–Tahoe Open, which is the only PGA Tour event in northern Nevada. The city's college team, the Nevada Wolf Pack, has done well in sports like football and basketball.

Reno has a whitewater park on the Truckee River for water sports and is home to roller derby teams like the Battle Born Derby Demons. The city also has the National Bowling Stadium, where big bowling events are held.

Parks and recreation

Reno offers many fun activities for people to enjoy, no matter the season. In the summer, locals like to spend time near Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River, and Pyramid Lake. The Truckee River starts at Lake Tahoe and flows through downtown Reno before ending at Pyramid Lake. It is an important part of Artown, a summer event held at Wingfield Park. Washoe Lake is a great spot for kite flying and windsurfing because it gets very windy in the summer.

In the winter, skiing and snowboarding are very popular, with many resorts nearby, such as Northstar California, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Alpine Meadows, Palisades Tahoe, Sugar Bowl, Diamond Peak, Heavenly Mountain, and Mount Rose. Other winter activities include snowshoeing, ice skating, and snowmobiling. There are also many bike paths to explore in the summer, and Lake Tahoe even hosts international bike races each summer.

The Reno Air Races, also called the National Championship Air Races, used to be held every September at the Reno Stead Airport. However, after running for 60 years, the races were stopped in 2023. The Reno Tahoe Airport Authority decided to end the event because of plans to expand and develop the airport area.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Reno, Nevada

Reno has a democratic city government led by a city council. The council has seven members: six represent different areas of the city, and one is the mayor who represents everyone. In 2023, the city changed its setup to have six areas and one citywide representative. The council helps plan for the city's future, talk with people, and make important decisions.

There is also an elected city attorney who helps with legal matters. The city uses a council-manager system, where the council chooses a city manager to carry out their plans and a city clerk to keep records and help with organization.

Fire department

The Reno Fire Department (RFD) has 15 stations and offers many important services. They help with emergencies, give medical care, fight fires, and can handle dangerous material situations. They work to keep everyone in Reno safe.

Education

Reno, Nevada, has many places for students to learn, from big universities to small private schools.

The University of Nevada, Reno is the oldest university in Nevada. It moved to Reno in 1886 and now has over 21,000 students. The university is known for subjects like mining, agriculture, and journalism.

There is also Truckee Meadows Community College, which helps students start their college journey. It offers many different programs and classes for about 13,000 students.

Reno has twelve public high schools, such as Damonte Ranch, Galena, and McQueen. There are also many middle and elementary schools in the area.

In addition to public schools, Reno has several charter schools and private schools, including Bishop Manogue High School and Sage Ridge School, offering more choices for families.

Transportation

Roads

Reno used to be served by the Victory Highway and a branch of the Lincoln Highway. Later, U.S. Route 40 ran through downtown Reno on 4th Street, but it was replaced by Interstate 80. The main highway going north to south through Reno is U.S. Route 395/Interstate 580.

Bus

The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC) runs buses within the city, to nearby Carson City, and special shuttles for people who need help getting around. Their main stop is on 4th Street in downtown Reno, with other stops in Sparks and at Meadowood Mall in south Reno.

There are many shuttle services that take people from the Reno–Tahoe International Airport to different places:

• North Lake Tahoe Express goes to resorts in North Lake Tahoe
• South Tahoe Airporter goes to South Lake Tahoe resorts
• Eastern Sierra Transit Authority goes to places south along the US-395 road in California, like Mammoth Mountain and Lancaster
• Modoc Sage Stage goes to Alturas and Susanville, California
• Salt Lake Express goes to Las Vegas along the US-95 road.

Greyhound stops in downtown Reno. Megabus used to stop at the Silver Legacy Reno but no longer serves Reno.

Rail

Reno was an important stop on the First transcontinental railroad, and today the Overland Route still passes through Reno. Reno was also the end point for the Nevada–California–Oregon Railway and the start point for the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. The Western Pacific Railroad also served Reno using the same tracks. In the early 1900s, Reno had a small streetcar system. Downtown Reno has two old train stations, the closed Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depot and the active Amtrak station at Reno station, which was built by the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Amtrak runs daily trains to Reno on the California Zephyr and uses buses called Amtrak Thruway to connect with trains leaving from Sacramento.

Air

Reno’s main airport is the Reno–Tahoe International Airport, and smaller planes use Reno Stead Airport. Reno–Tahoe International Airport is the second busiest airport in Nevada after Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Reno used to be the main base for the now-closed airline Reno Air.

Utilities

The Truckee Meadows Water Authority gives Reno clean water to drink. The main source of this water is the Truckee River. During summer, the river provides 80 million U.S. gallons (300 Ml) of water each day, and in winter, it provides 40 million U.S. gallons (150 Ml) each day. There are two water treatment places called Chalk Bluff and Glendale that clean the water before it reaches homes.

Sewage treatment for most of the area happens at a special place called the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility. After cleaning, the water flows back into the Truckee River through Steamboat Creek. In the 1990s, the amount of water this place could handle grew from 20 to 30 million U.S. gallons (70 to 110 million liters) each day.

NV Energy gives the city electricity and natural gas. The power comes from different places, such as Tracy-Clark Station to the east and the Steamboat Springs binary cycle power plants south of the city.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Reno, Nevada

See also: List of University of Nevada, Reno people

Reno, Nevada, has been home to many famous people throughout its history. Some well-known individuals grew up there or spent important parts of their lives in the city. You can learn more about these people in the lists provided.

In popular culture

Reno has been a popular place for movies. Some films made there include The Cooler, Magnolia, Hard Eight, and Into the Wild, among many others.

The city also appears in the game Fallout 2 as a place called New Reno. It is mentioned in a song by Johnny Cash called Folsom Prison Blues. A TV show called Reno 911! is set in the city and tells funny stories about the local police department.

Twin towns – sister cities

Reno has special friendly connections, called sister cities, with places in other countries. These include:

• San Sebastián in Spain
• Taichung in Taiwan
• Udon Thani in Thailand
• Wirral in England
• Nalchik in Russia

Reno was also once connected with Whanganui in New Zealand, but stopped this friendship in 2009 because it had been inactive for many years.