Washoe County, Nevada

1872 California-Nevada State Boundary Marker 20th Century Club Alamo Ranchhouse Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity House Bank of Sparks Barnard, W.E., House Bethel AME Church Billinghurst, Benson Dillon, House Borland-Clifford House Bowers Mansion Brown, Peleg, Ranch Burke, Charles H., House Burke-Berryman House Cal-Vada Lodge Hotel California Building Cliff, Walter, Ranch District El Cortez Hotel Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse Field Matron's Cottage First Church of Christ, Scientist First United Methodist Church Fleischmann Atmospherium Planetarium Francovich House Frey Ranch Galena Creek Schoolhouse Garvey, Luella, House Gerlach Water Tower Giraud, Joseph, House Glendale School Graham, William J., House Gray, Joseph H., House Greystone Castle Hawkins House Humphrey House Immaculate Conception Church Kind, J. Clarence, House Lake Mansion Landrum's Hamburger System No. 1 Levy House MacKay School of Mines Building McCarthy-Platt House McKinley Park School Miller-Rowe-Holgate House Morrill Hall, University of Nevada/Reno Mount Rose Elementary School Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depot Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Locomotive House and Machine Shop Newlands Historic District Newlands, Senator Francis G., House Nichols, Mary Lee, School Nortonia Boarding House Nystrom Guest House Old Winters Ranch/Winters Mansion Patrick Ranch House Peavine Ranch Pincolini Hotel Pioneer Theater-Auditorium Rainier Brewing Company Bottling Plant Reno National Bank-First Interstate Bank Reno Southern Pacific Railroad Depot Riverside Hotel Robison House Southside School Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Twaddle Mansion Twaddle-Pedroli Ranch Tyson House University of Nevada Reno Historic District Upson, Pearl, House US Post Office-Reno Main Vachina Apartments-California Apartments Veteran's Memorial School Veterans of Foreign Wars Building Virginia Street Bridge Wadsworth Union Church Washoe County Courthouse Washoe County Library Washoe County Library-Sparks Branch Whittell Estate Withers Log House

Beckworth Trail - Over a Sage Plain Bowers Mansion Bowers Mansion Bowers Mansion Chinese in Nevada Coney Island Crystal Peak Toll Bridge Emigrant Trail - Truckee River Route Emigrant Trail--Truckee River Route Emigrant-Donner Camp Empire Franktown Frederick Joseph DeLongechamps Galena Galena Creek Fish Hatchery Geiger Station Gerlach Ginsburg Jewelry Company Glendale School Glendale School (1864-1958) Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Tree Guanomi Mine Henness Pass Road Henness Pass Road O'Neill Station Historic Transportation From Honey Lake To Virginia City History in the Making Horses to Horsepower Huffaker's I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills Inyo Marble Works James C. Lillard Railroad Park History Junction House Kooyooe Panunadu - Pyramid Lake Lake Mansion Lake's Crossing Major General Jesse Lee Reno Mizpah Hotel Moana Springs Morrill Hall, 1887 N.C.O. Railroad Depot Olinghouse Ophir Famous Mill Town Overview Peavine Mining District Reno Reno at the Crossroads Reno's Beginning Rusty Relics Silver Star Lodge # 5 Site of NevadaÂ’s First Public Library Site of Reno Air Mail Field Southern Pacific Railroad Yards Spanish-American War Memorial 1898-1899 Sparks Steamboat Springs The Bank of Sparks The Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway The Fight of the Century The First Drink of Cold Water The Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada The Great Train Robbery The Humboldt Trail The Lincoln Highway Bridge Rails The Reno Arch The Reno Depots The Town of Crystal Peak The Truckee River The Virginia Street Bridges The Winters Ranch Truckee River Truckee River Truckee Trail - 23rd Crossing Truckee Trail - Last Crossing Truckee Trail - River Crossings Truckee Trail - River Crossings Truckee Trail - Truckee Meadows Ford Truckee/Donner Trail Verdi Verdi Veterans Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Historical Building Virginia & Truckee Railroad Right of Way Von Schmidt Wadsworth Washoe City Washoe County World War II Memorial Winters Ranch "People thought I was crazy." "Sister Act"
Washoe County, located in the western part of the state of Nevada, has a rich and diverse history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Paiutes and Washoes, who relied on the abundant natural resources of the region for their livelihoods. The arrival of European settlers in the 19th century brought significant changes to the area.

In the mid-1800s, the discovery of silver and gold in the Comstock Lode near Virginia City sparked a major mining rush in Washoe County. This led to a significant influx of fortune seekers and a population boom in the area. The mining boom brought wealth and development to the region, with Virginia City becoming the economic and cultural center of the county.

With the decline of mining activities in the late 19th century, Washoe County underwent a period of economic transition. The region shifted its focus to agriculture, with ranching and farming becoming important industries. The development of irrigation systems and the establishment of railroads helped facilitate the growth of agricultural practices in the county. Reno, the county seat, emerged as a significant transportation and trade hub, connecting the mining towns of Virginia City and Carson City.

In the 20th century, Washoe County experienced further transformations due to the growth of tourism and the establishment of educational institutions. The construction of the Lincoln and Victory Highways, connecting Reno to other major cities, boosted tourism in the area, which was further fueled by the legalization of gambling in Nevada. Additionally, the University of Nevada, Reno was founded in 1874, becoming a prominent educational institution and contributing to the cultural and intellectual growth of the county.

Today, Washoe County continues to thrive as a major economic and cultural center in Nevada. Its rich history, from the Native American tribes to the mining boom, agricultural development, and the rise of tourism, has shaped the county into what it is today – a diverse and vibrant community with a strong sense of its past.
Brief timeline of the history of Washoe County, Nevada:

  • 1861: Washoe County is established in Nevada Territory.
  • 1862: A silver strike in Virginia City leads to a mining boom in the county.
  • 1864: Nevada becomes a state, and Washoe County is one of the original nine counties.
  • 1868: The University of Nevada is established in Elko, later moving to Reno in Washoe County in 1885.
  • 1871: The Virginia and Truckee Railroad begins operation, connecting Carson City and Reno.
  • 1904: Reno becomes the county seat, replacing Washoe City.
  • 1929: The Nevada State Legislature approves the creation of what is now known as Lake Tahoe - Nevada State Park.
  • 1931: The city of Sparks is incorporated, becoming the second-largest city in Washoe County.
  • 1957: Sparks is approved as a city of the second class.
  • 1963: The Washoe County School District is established.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Washoe County, Nevada.

Audiobooks about the history of Nevada.