| |
| Reno | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States of America |
| State | Nevada |
| Government | Mayor Bob Cashell |
| Population | 227,511 |
| Places of Interest | CHROME Midnight Queen Rustic Pig University of Nevada |
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,000 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Reno sits in a high desert valley at the foot of the Sierra Nevada.
Known as The Biggest Little City in the World, Reno is famous for its casinos, and is the birthplace of the gaming corporation Harrah's Entertainment. The Reno-Sparks metropolitan area is informally called the Truckee Meadows, and consists of about 400,000 residents.
History[]
1850's
Pioneers start to settle the area.
Gold and Silver discovered in the region cause a boom in growth.
1861
Myron C. Lake names the town, Lake Crossing.
1864
Washoe and Roop counties consolidate.
Lake Crossing becomes the largest town in the county.
1868
Railroad station completed, town name changed to Reno.
1871
Reno becomes the county seat of Washoe county.
1872
Further expansion of the railroad allows the town to continue to prosper.
1926
The Reno Arch is constructed.
1929
Reno, The Biggest Little City in the World title was bestowed.
1931
Open gambling is legalized in the state of Nevada.
1930's, 40's and 50's
The gambling trade continues to grow and thrive.
1957
A natural gas leak caused two disastrous explosions. Two people were killed, forty-nine injured and five buildings destroyed.
Currently
With it's close proximity to the Sierra Nevada mountain range as well as Lake Tahoe, Reno is a sought after tourist destination for outdoor enthusiasts. In the summer there is mountain biking, camping and water sports to enjoy throughout the area. The winter brings skiers and snowboarders from all over the world to the various ski slopes in the region. Including, Squaw Valley, host of the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Reno is still the third leading gold producer in the world.
Government[]
Reno's city government consists of the Mayor, plus six City Council members that represent the five wards of the city as well as one at-large representative. They are all elected officials with terms of four years.
The City of Reno also has eight Neighborhood Advisory Boards that consist of nine to thirteen volunteers each. The volunteers are appointed by the City Council for a term of two years.
Geography[]
Reno is located east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, on the western edge of the Great Basin. At an approximate elevation of 4400 feet above sea level at it's lowest point, Reno sits on what is know as a high desert. While they have a relative low amount of rainfall each year, because of the City's high elevation they do have snow in the winter months. The temperatures in Reno can range from triple digits in the summer to frigid below freezing temperatures in the winter.
The Reno area is fairly windy year round. It's prevailing wind known as the Washoe Zephyr.