Reno, Nevada

Reno, Nevada
City
Reno skyline Reno Arch Grand Sierra Resort Silver Legacy Resort & Casino Reno City Hall Downtown Reno
Flag Seal Logo
Nickname: "The Biggest Little City in the World"
Show Reno Show Washoe County Show Nevada Show the United States
Coordinates:39°31′38″N119°49′19″W / 39.52722°N 119.82194°W /39.52722; -119.82194
Country	United States
State	Nevada
County	Washoe
Founded	May 9, 1868; 156 years ago(1868-05-09)
Incorporated	March 16, 1903; 121 years ago(1903-03-16)
Named for	Jesse L. Reno
Government
• Type	Council–manager
•Mayor	Hillary Schieve(I)
•Vice Mayor	Devon Reese
•City Council	Members Jenny Brekhus Naomi Duerr Miguel Martinez Bonnie Weber Kathleen Taylor Devon Reese
•City manager	Doug Thornley
Area [1]
•City	111.70 sq mi (289.30 km2)
• Land	108.86 sq mi (281.96 km2)
• Water	2.83 sq mi (7.34 km2)
Elevation [2]	4,505 ft (1,373 m)
Population ( 2020)
•City	264,165
• Rank	80thin the United States 3rdin Nevada
• Density	2,426.54/sq mi (936.89/km2)
•Urban	446,529 (US: 91st)
• Urban density	2,699.2/sq mi (1,042.2/km2)
•Metro	490,596 (US: 114th)
Demonym	Renoites
Time zone	UTC−08:00(PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00(PDT)
ZIP Codes	89501-89513, 89515, 89519-89521, 89523, 89533, 89555, 89557, 89570, 89595, 89599
Area code	775
FIPS code	32-60600
GNISfeature ID	0861100[2]
Website	reno.gov
Nevada Historical Marker
Reference no.	30

Reno(/ˈriːnoʊ/REE-noh) is acityin the northwest section of theU.S.state ofNevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is thecounty seatand most populous city ofWashoe County. Sitting in the High Eastern Sierra foothills, in theTruckee Rivervalley, on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, it is about 23 miles (37 km) northeast ofLake Tahoe. Known as "The Biggest Little City in the World",^[3]it is the80th most populous cityin theUnited States, the3rd most populous city in Nevada, and the most populous in Nevada outside theLas Vegas Valley. The city had a population of 264,165 at the2020 census.^[4]

The city is named after Civil War Union Major GeneralJesse L. Reno, who was killed in action during theAmerican Civil Warat theBattle of South Mountain, on Fox's Gap.

Reno is part of theReno–Sparks metropolitan area, the second-most populous metropolitan area in Nevada after theLas Vegas Valley.^[5]Known as Greater Reno, it includes Washoe,Storey,LyonCounties, the independent city and state capital,Carson City, as well as parts ofPlacerandNevadaCounties in California.^[6]The Reno metro area (along with the neighboring citySparks) occupies a valley colloquially known as theTruckee Meadows.

For much of the twentieth century Reno saw a significant number of migrants seeking to take advantage of Nevada's relatively lax divorce laws and the city gained a national reputation as adivorce mill. Today Reno is a tourist destination known for itscasino gamblingand proximity to Lake Tahoe and theSierra Nevada Mountains.

Archaeological finds place the eastern border for the prehistoricMartis peoplein the Reno area.^[7]As early as the mid-1850s, a few pioneers settled in theTruckee Meadows, a relatively fertile valley through which theTruckee Rivermade its way fromLake TahoetoPyramid Lake. In addition tosubsistence farming, these early residents could pick up business from travelers along theCalifornia Trail, which followed the Truckee westward, before branching off towardsDonner Lake, where the formidable obstacle of the Sierra Nevada began.

Goldwas discovered in the vicinity ofVirginia Cityin 1850, and a modest mining community developed, but the discovery ofsilverin 1859 at theComstock Lodeled to amining rush, and thousands of emigrants left their homes, bound for the West, hoping to find a fortune.

To provide the necessary connection between Virginia City and the California Trail, Charles W. Fuller built a log toll bridge across the Truckee River in 1859. A small community that served travelers soon grew near the bridge.^[8]After two years, Fuller sold the bridge to Myron C. Lake, who continued to develop the community by adding a grist mill, kiln, and livery stable to the hotel and eating house. He renamed it "Lake's Crossing". Most of what is present-day western Nevada was formed as theNevada Territoryfrom part ofUtah Territoryin 1861.

By January 1863, theCentral Pacific Railroad(CPRR) had begun laying tracks east fromSacramento, California, eventually connecting with theUnion Pacific RailroadatPromontory, Utah, to form theFirst transcontinental railroad. Lake deeded land to the CPRR in exchange for its promise to build a depot at Lake's Crossing. In 1864, Washoe County was consolidated withRoop County, and Lake's Crossing became the county's largest town. Lake had earned himself the title "founder of Reno".^[9]Once the railroad station was established, the town of Reno officially came into being on May 9, 1868.^[10]CPRR construction superintendentCharles Crockernamed the community after Major GeneralJesse Lee Reno, a Union officer killed in the Civil War at theBattle of South Mountain.

In 1871, Reno became the county seat of the newly expanded Washoe County, replacing the county seat inWashoe City. However, political power in Nevada remained with the mining communities, first Virginia City and laterTonopahandGoldfield.^[11][12]

The extension of theVirginia and Truckee Railroadto Reno in 1872 provided a boost to the new city's economy. In the following decades, Reno continued to grow and prosper as a business and agricultural center and became the principal settlement on the transcontinental railroad between Sacramento andSalt Lake City.^[13]As the mining boom waned early in the 20th century, Nevada's centers of political and business activity shifted to the nonmining communities, especially Reno andLas Vegas. Nevada is still the third-largest gold producer in the world, afterSouth AfricaandAustralia; the state yielded 6.9% of the world's supply in 2005 world gold production.^[14]

TheReno Archwas erected on Virginia Street in 1926 to promote the upcoming Transcontinental Highways Exposition of 1927. The arch included the words "Nevada's Transcontinental Highways Exposition" and the dates of the exposition. After the exposition, the Reno City Council decided to keep the arch as a permanent downtown gateway, and Mayor E.E. Roberts asked the citizens of Reno to suggest a slogan for the arch. No acceptable slogan was received until a $100 prize was offered, and G.A. Burns of Sacramento was declared the winner on March 14, 1929, with "Reno, the Biggest Little City in the World".^[15]

In the early twentieth century Nevada became a popular destination formigratory divorcein an era when most states had highly restrictive laws on the subject. Legislation passed in 1931 completed the gradual reduction of residency requirement from six months to six weeks, and Reno openly advertised itself as the "Divorce Capital of the World." Nevada's laws, which were fairly progressive for the time, allowed numerous grounds for divorce and Reno's courts quickly gained a reputation for handling cases with both celerity and sympathy for those seeking to "untie the knot." From the 1930s through the 1960s Reno became synonymous with speedy divorce, often referred to colloquially as "the six week cure." During these decades the city's reputation drew thousands of divorcees annually, and they in turn became an important part of the local economy. These temporary residents flocked to hotels,boardinghouses, andhospitality ranches, many of which catered primarily to those waiting out the six week residency requirement before their court date.^[16]Numerous local businesses openly courted these visitors, such asR. Herz & Bro, a jewelry store that offered ring resetting services to the recently divorced and the luxuriousEl Cortez Hotel, which was built in part to accommodate the more affluent among Reno's six week guests.^[17][18]The majority of those who came to Reno for divorce were women as Nevada did not require both parties in a divorce case to be present in court, and men often could not take that much time off from work. Although new "residents" seeking divorce were required to swear under oath that they intended to make Nevada their permanent home, most left soon after obtaining their divorce decree, which often occurred on the same day as the initial court hearing.^[16]

In addition to tens of thousands of ordinary people, Reno also became a major destination for celebrities, and the very wealthy looking to end their marriages as quickly as possible. Some of the many famous personages who got divorced in Reno includeMary Pickford,Jack Dempsey, GeneralDouglas MacArthur,Carol Lombard,Tallulah Bankhead,Adlai Stevenson II,Lana Turner,Nelson Rockefeller,Georges Simenon,Rita Hayworth,Gloria VanderbiltandCornelius Vanderbilt IV. The latter was married seven times and had five of his six divorces in Nevada. Mr. Vanderbilt was so taken with Reno that, unlike most migrant divorcees, he eventually settled there permanently.^[19][20]

In the 1939 filmThe Women, Reno and its divorce culture serve as a backdrop to a significant part of the plot.Ernie Pyleonce wrote in one of his columns, "All the people you saw on the streets in Reno were obviously there to get divorces." InAyn Rand's novelThe Fountainhead, published in 1943, the New York-based female protagonist tells a friend, "I am going to Reno," which was understood as declaring their intention to get a divorce.^[21]

The divorce business eventually died out during the 1970s, as other states began relaxing their laws, and especially with the widespread introduction ofno fault divorce.^[16]

Reno took a leap forward when the state of Nevada legalized opengamblingon March 19, 1931, at the same time as it liberalized its divorce laws. The statewide push for legal Nevada gaming was led by Reno entrepreneur Bill Graham, who owned the Bank Club Casino in Reno, which was on Center Street. No other state offered legalized casino gaming like Nevada had in the 1930s, andcasinossuch as the Bank Club and Palace were popular.^[22]A few states had legalparimutuelhorse racing, but no other state had legal casino gambling.

Within a few years, the Bank Club, owned byGeorge Wingfield, Bill Graham, and Jim McKay, was the state's largest employer and the largest casino in the world. Wingfield owned most of the buildings in town that housed gaming and took a percentage of the profits, along with his rent.^[23]

As the divorce industry declined, gambling became the major Reno industry. While gaming pioneers such as "Pappy" and Harold Smith of Harold's Club and Bill Harrah of the soon-to-dominate Harrah's Casino set up shop in the 1930s, the war years of the 1940s cemented Reno as the place to play for two decades.^[24]Beginning in the 1950s, the need for economic diversification beyond gaming fueled a movement for more lenient business taxation.^[21]

At 1:03 pm, on February 5, 1957, two explosions, caused bynatural gasleaking into the maze of pipes and ditches under the city, and an ensuing fire, destroyed five buildings in the vicinity of Sierra and First Streets along the Truckee River. The disaster killed two people and injured 49. The first explosion hit under the block of shops on the west side of Sierra Street (now the site of the Century Riverside), the second, across Sierra Street, now the site of the Palladio.^[25]

The presence of a main east–west rail line, the emerging interstate highway system, favorable state tax climate, and relatively inexpensive land created good conditions for warehousing and distribution of goods.^[26]

In the 1980s,Indian gamingrules were relaxed, and starting in 2000, Californian Native casinos began to cut into Reno casino revenues.^[27]Major new construction projects have been completed in the Reno and Sparks areas. A few new luxury communities were built inTruckee, California, about 28 miles (45 km) west of Reno onInterstate 80. Reno also is an outdoor recreation destination, due to its proximity to the Sierra Nevada,Lake Tahoe, and numerousski resortsin the region.^[28]

In 2018, the city officially changed its flag after a local contest was held.^[29]In recent years, the Reno metro area − spurred by large-scale investments fromGreater SeattleandSan Francisco Bay Areacompanies such asAmazon,Tesla,Panasonic,Microsoft,Apple, andGoogle− has become a newmajor technology centerin the United States.^[30]

Reno is just east of theSierra Nevada, on the western edge of theGreat Basinat an elevation of about 4,400 feet (1,300 m)above sea level. Numerousfaultsexist throughout the region. Most of these arenormal(vertical motion) faults associated with the uplift of the various mountain ranges, including the Sierra Nevada.

InFebruary 2008, an earthquake swarmbegan to occur, lasting for several months, with the largest quake registering at 4.9 on theRichter magnitude scale, although some geologic estimates put it at 5.0. The earthquakes were centered on the Somersett community in western Reno nearMogulandVerdi. Many homes in these areas were damaged.^[31]

The unique high desert geological features cause many to "describe Nevada as a rockhound's paradise .... access to millions of acres of government land" allows geologists, miners, and amateur rockhounds in Nevada "to hunt to your heart's content .... being able to find agate, opal, jasper, fossils, fluorescent minerals, obsidian, chalcedony, wonderstone, malachite, petrified wood, limb casts, and much more means paradise."^[32]

The Reno area is often subject towildfiresthat cause property damage and sometimes loss of life. In August 1960, the Donner Ridge fire resulted in a loss of electricity to the city for four days.^[33]In November 2011, arcing from powerlines caused a fire in Caughlin in southwest Reno that destroyed 26 homes and killed one man. Just two months later, a fire in Washoe Drive sparked by fireplace ashes destroyed 29 homes and killed one woman. Around 10,000 residents were evacuated, and a state of emergency was declared. The fires came at the end of Reno's longest recorded dry spell.^[34]Wetlandsare an important part of the Reno/Tahoe area. They act as a natural filter for the solids that come out of the water treatment plant. Plant roots absorb nutrients from the water and naturally filter it. Wetlands are home to over 75% of the species in theGreat Basin. The area's wetlands are at risk of being destroyed due to development around the city. While developers build on top of the wetlands they fill them with soil, destroying the habitat they create for the plants and animals. Washoe County has devised a plan that will help protect these ecosystems: mitigation. In the future, when developers try to build over a wetland, they will be responsible for creating another wetland near Washoe Lake.^{[citation needed]}

Reno has acold semi-aridclimate (Köppen:BSk), bordering ahot-summer Mediterranean climate(Köppen:Csa) to the west. It experiences moderately cold winters and hot summers; it is influenced by theSierra Nevadamountains to the west and the more aridGreat Basinto the east.^[35]It is situated across a varied geographic landscape, which extends from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada into the Truckee River valley. While Reno experiences arain shadoweffect from the surrounding mountains, its western portions can receive three to four times as much precipitation as those extending eastward.^[36]Annual rainfall patterns in Reno adhere to a Mediterranean climate, with most precipitation occurring in fall, winter, and spring, followed by long, hot, dry summers.^[36]However, Reno's average annual rainfall is slightly lower than that of Californian cities more typically associated with Mediterranean climates. The area's lowevapotranspirationstemming from its moderate annual average temperature also bears similarity to semi-arid climates found in Nevada's Great Basin.^[37]

The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 36.2 °F (2.3 °C) in December to 77.2 °F (25.1 °C) in July, with thediurnal temperature variationoccasionally reaching 40 °F (22 °C) in summer, still lower than much of the high desert to the east. There are 6.0 days of 100 °F (38 °C)+ highs, 65 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs, 1.6 days with 70 °F (21 °C)+ lows, and 1.9 days with sub-10 °F (−12 °C) lows annually; the temperature reaches or dips below the freezing point on 122 days, and does not rise above freezing on only 4.1 of those days.^[38]The all-time record high temperature is 108 °F (42 °C), which occurred on July 10 and 11, 2002, again on July 5, 2007, and again on July 16, 2023. The all-time record low temperature is −17 °F (−27 °C), which occurred on January 21, 1916; the lowest temperature recorded at the airport is −16 °F (−27 °C), which occurred on four occasions, most recently on February 7, 1989.^[38]In addition, the region is windy throughout the year; observers such asMark Twainhave commented about the "Washoe Zephyr", northwestern Nevada's distinctive wind.

Annual precipitation has ranged from 1.55 inches (39.4 mm) in 1947 to 13.73 inches (348.7 mm) in 2017. The most precipitation in one month was 6.76 inches (171.7 mm) in January 1916 and the most precipitation in 24 hours was 2.71 inches (68.8 mm) on January 28, 1903. AtReno–Tahoe International Airport, where records go back to 1937, the most precipitation in one month was 5.57 inches (141.5 mm) in January 2017 and the most precipitation in 24 hours was 2.29 inches (58.2 mm) on January 21, 1943.^[38]

Mostrainfalloccurs in winter and spring. Summer thunderstorms can occur between April and October. The eastern side of town and the mountains east of Reno tend to be prone to thunderstorms more often, and these storms may be severe because an afternoon downslope west wind, called a "Washoe Zephyr", can develop in the Sierra Nevada, causing air to be pulled down in the Sierra Nevada and Reno, destroying or preventing thunderstorms, but the same wind can push air upward against the Virginia Range and other mountain ranges east of Reno, creating powerful thunderstorms.^[39][40]

Winter snowfall is usually light to moderate, but can be heavy some days, averaging 20.9 inches (53 cm) annually. Snowfall varies with the lowest amounts (roughly 19–23 inches annually) at the lowest part of the valley at and east of the airport at 4,404 feet (1,342 m), while the foothills of theCarson Rangeto the west ranging from 4,700 to 5,600 feet (1,400 to 1,700 m) in elevation just a few miles west of downtown can receive two to three times as much annual snowfall. The mountains of theVirginia Rangeto the east, meanwhile, can receive more summer thunderstorms and precipitation, and around twice as much annual snowfall above 5,500 feet (1,700 m). However, snowfall increases in the Virginia Range are less dramatic as elevation climbs than in the Carson Range to the west, because the Virginia Range is well within the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada and Carson Range. The most snowfall in Reno in one winter was 72.3 inches (184 cm) in 1915–1916, with an astonishing 65.7 inches (167 cm) in January, the most in a calendar month, as well as 22.5 inches (57 cm) on January 17, the most in a calendar day; the most snowfall in a calendar year was 82.3 inches (209 cm) in 1916.^[38]

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricatorand on MediaWiki.org.

See or editraw graph data.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	1,035		—
1870	1,035		0.0%
1880	1,362		31.6%
1890	3,563		161.6%
1900	4,500		26.3%
1910	10,867		141.5%
1920	12,016		10.6%
1930	18,529		54.2%
1940	21,317		15.0%
1950	32,497		52.4%
1960	51,470		58.4%
1970	72,863		41.6%
1980	100,756		38.3%
1990	133,850		32.8%
2000	197,177		47.3%
2010	236,728		20.1%
2020	264,165		11.6%
source:[45]

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Reno, Nevada – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000[46]	Pop 2010[47]	Pop 2020[48]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
Whitealone (NH)	124,870	140,752	152,015	69.19%	62.50%	57.55%
Black or African Americanalone (NH)	4,414	5,990	7,575	2.45%	2.66%	2.87%
Native AmericanorAlaska Nativealone (NH)	1,772	2,066	1,881	0.98%	0.92%	0.71%
Asianalone (NH)	9,423	13,913	18,344	5.22%	6.18%	6.94%
Pacific Islanderalone (NH)	971	1,505	1,917	0.54%	0.67%	0.73%
Other racealone (NH)	250	441	1,389	0.14%	0.20%	0.53%
Mixed race or Multiracial(NH)	4,164	5,914	14,064	2.31%	2.63%	5.32%
Hispanic or Latino(any race)	34,616	54,640	66,980	19.18%	24.26%	25.36%
Total	180,480	225,221	264,165	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census of 2010, there were 225,221 people, 90,924 households, and 51,112 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,186.6 inhabitants per square mile (844.3/km²). There were 102,582 housing units at an average density of 995.9 per square mile (384.5/km²). The city's racial makeup was 74.2%White, 2.9%African American, 1.3%Native American, 6.3%Asian, 0.7%Pacific Islander, 10.5%some other race, and 4.2% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinopeople of any race were 24.3% of the population.^[49]Non-Hispanic Whiteswere 62.5% of the population in 2010,^[49]down from 88.5% in 1980.^[50]

At the 2010 census, there were 90,924 households, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were headed by married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.8% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 3.10.^[49]

In the city, the 2010 population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.^[49]

In 2011 the city's estimated median household income was $44,846, and the median family income was $53,896. Males had a median income of $42,120 versus $31,362 for females. The city's per capita income was $25,041. About 9.6% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.^[51][52]The population was 180,480 at the2000 census; in 2010, its population had risen to 225,221, making it the third-largest city in the state afterLas VegasandHenderson, and the largest outsideClark County. Reno lies 26 miles (42 km) north of the Nevada state capital,Carson City, and 22 miles (35 km) northeast ofLake Tahoein ashrub-steppeenvironment. Reno shares its eastern border with the city of Sparks and is the larger of the principal cities of theReno–Sparks, Nevada Metropolitan Statistical Area(MSA), ametropolitan areathat coversStoreyand Washoe counties.^[53]The MSA had a combined population of 425,417 at the2010 census.^[54]

There is anItalian-Americancommunity in Reno.^[55]

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Until the 1960s, Reno was the gambling capital of the United States, but Las Vegas' rapid growth,American Airlines' 2000 buyout ofReno Air, and the growth ofNative American gamingin California have reduced its gambling economy. Older casinos were torn down (Mapes Hotel,Fitzgerald's Nevada Club, Primadonna, Horseshoe Club,Harold's Club, Palace Club), or smaller casinos like theComstock,Sundowner,Golden Phoenix,Kings Inn, Money Tree, Virginian, and Riverboat were either closed or were converted into residential units.

Because of its location, Reno has traditionally drawn the majority of its California tourists and gamblers from theSan Francisco Bay AreaandSacramentowhileLas Vegashas historically served more tourists fromSouthern Californiaand thePhoenixarea.

Several local large hotel casinos have shown significant growth and have moved gaming further away from the downtown core. These larger hotel casinos are theAtlantis, thePeppermilland theGrand Sierra Resort. The Peppermill was chosen as the most outstanding Reno gaming/hotel property byCasino PlayerandNevadamagazines. In 2005, the Peppermill Reno began a $300 millionTuscan-themed expansion.

Reno holds several events throughout the year to draw tourists to the area. They includeHot August Nights^[56](a classic car convention), Street Vibrations (a motorcycle fan gathering and rally),The Great Reno Balloon Race, aCinco de Mayocelebration,bowlingtournaments (held in theNational Bowling Stadium), and theReno Air Races.

Several large commercial developments were constructed during the mid-2000s boom, such asThe Summitin 2007 andLegends at Sparks Marinain 2008.

Reno is the location of thecorporate headquartersfor several companies, includingBraeburn Capital, Hamilton,Server Technology,EE Technologies,Caesars Entertainment, andPort of Subs. Companies based in theReno metropolitan areaincludeSierra Nevada CorporationandU.S. Ordnance.International Game Technology,Bally Technologiesand GameTech have a development and manufacturing presence.

Since the turn of the 21st century, greater Reno saw an influx of technology companies entering the area, following major initiatives and investments by investors fromSeattle& theBay Area. The first one in 1999 wasAmazon.cominFernley. After theGreat Recession, the state placed an increased focus on economic development. Thousands of new jobs were created.^{[57][58][59][60][61]}

TheTeslaGigafactoryat theTahoe Reno Industrial Centeris one of the largest buildings in the country, purportedly covering 5.8 million square feet.^{[62][58][59][60][61]}Although it was originally Tesla's largest factory, it's since been superseded byGigafactory Texas, which has 10 million square feet.^[63]It employs roughly 11,000 people, making Tesla larger than any employer in the city of Reno, though the Industrial Center is located just outside of the city.^[64]In 2023 Tesla announced a $3.6 billion expansion^[65]of the facility that would incorporate an additional four million square feet, including an all-new plant forSemisand a much larger one for battery development. The new facilities are expected to add up to 3,000 new Tesla employees to the region upon completion.^[66]

The arrival of several data centers at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center is further diversifying a region that was best known for distribution and logistics outside gaming and tourism.Switch's new SUPERNAP campus at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center is shaping up to be the largest data center in the world once completed.Appleis expanding its data center at the adjacent Reno Technology Park and recently built a warehouse on land in downtown Reno.

The greater Reno area also hosts distribution facilities forAmazon,Walmart,PetSmartandZulily.^[67]

According to Reno's 2023 Fiscal Year Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,^[68]the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	Average Employees
1	Washoe County School District	7,500
2	Renown Regional Medical Center	7,500
3	Washoe County	3,000
4	Peppermill Reno	3,000
5	Nugget Casino Resort	3,000
6	Harrah's Reno Casino	3,000
7	Grand Sierra Resort	3,000
8	Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center	3,000
9	Eldorado Resort Casino	3,000
10	Silver Legacy Resort Casino	3,000

Reno has several healthcare facilities. Many are affiliated with theUniversity of Nevada Reno School of Medicine.

• Northern Nevada Medical Center
• Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center
• Renown Regional Medical Center
• Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center
• University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine
• Veteran's Administration Sierra Nevada Healthcare System Reno, Nevada

Reno has several museums. TheNevada Museum of Artis the onlyAmerican Alliance of Museums(AAM) accredited art museum in Nevada.^[69]TheNational Automobile Museumcontains 200 cars that were from the collection ofWilliam F. Harrah, includingElvis Presley's 1973Cadillac Eldorado.^[70]

Reno also hosts a number of music venues, such as thePioneer Center for the Performing Arts, theReno Philharmonic Orchestra, and theReno Pops Orchestra. The Reno Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO), affiliated with the Reno Philharmonic, gives talented youth the opportunity to play advanced music and perform nationwide.^[71]In 2016 they had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall. A.V.A. Ballet Theatre is the resident ballet company of the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. All of their classical performances are with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra.

Every July, Reno celebrates Artown, a visual and performing arts festival that lasts the entire month of July throughout the city. Along with performances, Artown partners with other institutions throughout the Reno Tahoe area to hold workshops, camps, and classes for all ages. All events are free of charge or low cost.^[72]

Reno has apublic library, a branch of the Washoe County Library System. The Downtown branch of theWashoe County Librarywas listed on theNational Register of Historic Placesin 2013.^[73]

Reno is home to theReno Aces, theminor league baseballTriple-Aaffiliate of theArizona Diamondbacks, playing inGreater Nevada Field, a downtown ballpark opened in 2009. Reno has hosted multipleprofessional baseballteams in the past, most under theReno Silver Soxname. The Reno Astros, a former professional, unaffiliated baseball team, played atMoana Stadiumuntil 2009.

In basketball, theReno Bighornsof theNBA G Leagueplayed at theReno Events Centerfrom 2008 to 2018.^[74]They were primarily an affiliate of theSacramento Kingsthroughout its existence. The Sacramento Kings bought the team in 2016 and moved the franchise to become theStockton Kingsin 2018.

Reno is host to both amateur and professional combat sporting events such asmixed martial artsandboxing. The "Fight of the Century" betweenJack JohnsonandJames J. Jeffrieswas held in Reno in 1910.^[75]BoxerRay Mancinifought four of his last five fights in Reno againstBobby Chacon,Livingstone Bramble,Héctor CamachoandGreg Haugen.^[76]

Reno expected to be the future home of anECHLice hockey team, named theReno Raiders, but construction on a suitable arena never began. The franchise was dormant since 1998, when it was named theReno Rage, and earlier theReno Renegades, and played in the now-defunctWest Coast Hockey League(WCHL). In 2016, Reno was removed from the ECHL's Future Markets page.

TheReno–Tahoe Openis northern Nevada's onlyPGA Tourevent, held at Montrêux Golf & Country Club in Reno. As part of theFedEx Cup, the tournament follows 132 PGA Tour professionals competing for a share of the event's $3 million purse. The Reno-Tahoe Open Foundation has donated more than $1.8 million to local charities.

Reno has a college sports scene, with theNevada Wolf Packappearing in football bowl games and an Associated Press and Coaches Poll Top Ten ranking inbasketballin 2018.

In 2004, the city completed a $1.5 million whitewater park on the Truckee River in downtown Reno which hostswhitewaterevents throughout the year. The course runs Class 2 and 3 rapids with year-round public access. The 1,400-foot (430 m) north channel features more aggressive rapids, drop pools and "holes" for rodeo kayak-type maneuvers. The milder 1,200 ft (370 m) south channel is set up as a kayak slalom course and a beginner area.

Reno is home to tworoller derbyteams, theBattle Born Derby Demonsand the Reno Roller Girls.^[77]The Battle Born Derby Demons compete on flat tracks locally and nationally. They are the only derby team locally to compete in a national Derby league.

Reno is the home of theNational Bowling Stadium, which hosts theUnited States Bowling Congress(USBC) Open Championships every three years.

Team	Sport	League	Venue (capacity)	Established	Titles
Reno Aces	Baseball	MiLB(AAA-PCL)	Greater Nevada Field(9,013)	2009	2
Nevada Storm	Women's football	WFA	Damonte Ranch High School(N/A) Fernley High School(N/A) Galena High School(N/A)	2008	2

Team	Sport	League	Venue (capacity)	Established	Titles
Reno Ice Raiders	Ice hockey	MWHL	Reno Ice	2015	0
Nevada Coyotes FC	Soccer	UPSL	Rio Vista Sports Complex (N/A)	2016	0

School	Team	League	Division	Primary conference
University of Nevada, Reno(UNR)	Nevada Wolf Pack	NCAA	NCAA Division I	Mountain West
Western Nevada College(WNC)	WNC Wildcats	NJCAA	NJCAA Division I	Scenic West

Reno is home to a variety of recreation activities including both seasonal and year-round. In the summer, Reno locals can be found near three major bodies of water: Lake Tahoe, theTruckee River, and Pyramid Lake. The Truckee River originates at Lake Tahoe and flows west to east through the center of downtown Reno before terminating at Pyramid Lake to the north. The river is a major part ofArtown, held in the summer at Wingfield Park.Washoe Lakeis a popular kite andwindsurfinglocation because of its high wind speeds during the summer.

Skiing and snowboarding are among the most popular winter sports and draw many tourists. There are 18 ski resorts^[78](8 major resorts) as close as 11 miles (18 km) and as far as 98 miles (158 km) from the Reno–Tahoe International Airport, includingNorthstar California,Sierra-at-Tahoe,Alpine Meadows,Palisades Tahoe,Sugar Bowl,Diamond Peak,Heavenly Mountain, andMount Rose. Other popular Reno winter activities include snowshoeing, ice skating, and snowmobiling. There are many bike paths to ride in the summer time. Lake Tahoe hosts international bike competitions each summer.

TheReno Air Races, also known as the National Championship Air Races, are held each September at theReno Stead Airport. 2023 will mark the final year for the races in Reno after 60 years, as a result of the Reno Tahoe Airport Authority decision to sundown the event, citing growth around the airport amongst other nonspecific concerns not stated from the RTAA^[79][80][81]

Reno has a democratic municipal government. Thecity councilis the core of the government, with seven members. Five of these council people represent districts of Reno, and are vetted in theprimaryby the citizens of each district. In general, the top two vote earners in each ward make the ballot for the citywide election. The other two council members are the at-large member, who represents the entire city, and the mayor, who is elected by the people of the city. The council has several duties, including setting priorities for the city, promoting communication with the public, planning development, and redevelopment.

There is an electedcity attorneywho is responsible for civil and criminal cases. The City Attorney represents the city government in court, and prosecutes misdemeanors.

The city's charter calls for acouncil-managerform of government, meaning the council appoints only two positions, thecity manager, who implements and enforces the policies and programs the council approves, and thecity clerk. The city manager is in charge of the budget and workforce for all city programs. The city clerk, who records the proceedings of the council, makes appointments for the council, and makes sure efficient copying and printing services are available.

In 2010, there was a ballot question asking whether the Reno city government and the Washoe County government should explore the idea of becoming one combined governmental body.^[82]Fifty-four percent of voters approved of the ballot measure to make an inquiry into consolidating the governments.^[83]

The city of Reno is protected by the Reno Fire Department (RFD) manning 14 fire stations.^[84][85]

The Reno Fire Department (RFD) provides all-risk emergency service to the City of Reno residents. All-risk emergency service is the national model of municipal fire departments, providing the services needed in the most efficient way possible.^[86]

The department provides paramedic-level service to the citizens and visitors of Reno. This is the highest level of emergency medical care available in the field.

In addition to responding to fires, whether they occur in structures, vegetation/brush or vehicles, the fire department also provides rescue capabilities for almost any type of emergency situation.

This includes quick and efficient emergency medical care for the citizens; a hazardous materials team capable of identifying unknown materials and controlling a release disaster; and preparedness and management of large-scale incidents.

Maintaining this level of service requires nearly constant training of personnel. This training maintains both the skills needed to operate safely in emergency environments and the physical fitness necessary to reduce the likelihood and severity of injuries.

The minimum annual-training requirement to maintain firefighting and medical skills is 240 hours per year. Special teams and company-level drills add significantly to that number of hours.^[87]

• TheUniversity of Nevada, Renois the oldest university in Nevada and Nevada System of Higher Education. In 1886, the state university, previously only a college preparatory school, moved fromElkoin remote northeastern Nevada to north of downtown Reno, where it became a full-fledged state college.^[88]The university grew slowly over the decades, but it now has an enrollment of 21,353,^[89]with most students from within Nevada. Its specialties includemining engineering, agriculture, journalism, business, and one of only twoBasqueStudies programs in the nation. It houses theNational Judicial College. The university was named one of the top 200 colleges in the nation in the most recentU.S. News & World ReportNational Universities category index.^[90]
• Truckee Meadows Community College(TMCC) is a regionally accredited, two-year institution which is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. The college has approximately 13,000 students attending classes at a primary campus and four satellite centers. It offers a wide range of academic and university transfer programs, occupational training, career enhancement workshops, and other classes. TMCC offers associate of arts, associate of science, associate of applied science or associate of general studies degrees, one-year certificates, or certificates of completion in more than 50 career fields, including architecture, auto/diesel mechanics, criminal justice,dental hygiene, graphic design, musical theatre, nursing, and welding.
• TheNevada School of Law at Old Collegein Reno was the first law school established in the state of Nevada. Its doors were open from 1981 to 1988.

Public education is provided by theWashoe County School District.

• Reno has twelve public high schools:Damonte Ranch,Galena,Hug, North Valleys High School,McQueen, Academy of Arts, Careers, and Technology (AACT),Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College High School,^[91]Innovations, andWooster.
• There are three public high schools in neighboring Sparks, attended by many students who live in Reno:Reed, Spanish Springs, and Sparks High School.
• Reno-Sparks has 15 middle schools: Billinghurst, Clayton,Cold Springs, Depoali, Dilworth, Herz, Mendive, O'Brien, Pine, Shaw, Sky Ranch, Sparks, Swope, Traner, and Vaughn.
• Reno-Sparks has 65 elementary schools: Allen, Anderson, Beasley, Jesse Beck, Bennett, Booth, Brown, Cannan, Caughlin Ranch, Corbett, Desert Heights, Diedrichsen, Dodson, Donner Springs, Double Diamond, Drake, Duncan, Katherine Dunn, Elmcrest, Gomes, Grace Warner, Greenbrae, Hidden Valley, Huffaker, Hunsberger, Hunter Lake, Jesse Beck, John C Bohach, Johnson, Juniper, Lemmon Valley, Elizabeth Lenz, Lincoln Park, Echo Loder, Mathews, Maxwell, Melton, Mitchell, Moss, Mount Rose, Natchez, Palmer, Peavine, Picollo Special Education School, Pleasant Valley, Risley, Roy Gomm, Sepulveda, Sierra Vista, Silver Lake, Alice Smith, Kate Smith, Smithridge, Spanish Springs, Stead, Sun Valley, Taylor, Towles, Van Gorder, Verdi [pronounced VUR-die], Veterans Memorial, Warner, Westergard, Whitehead, and Sarah Winnemucca. (some schools included on this list are in Sparks)

Reno has manycharter schools, which include Academy for Career Education, serving grades 10–12, opened 2002;^[92]Alpine Academy Charter High School, serving grades 9–12, opened 2009;^[93]Bailey Charter Elementary School, serving grades K-6, opened 2001;^[94]Coral Academy of Science, serving grades K-12;^[95]Davidson Academy, serving grades 6–12, opened 2006;^[96]Doral Academy of Northern Nevada, serving grades K-8; High Desert Montessori School, serving grades PreK-7, opened 2002; I Can Do Anything Charter School, serving grades 9–12, opened 2000; Mariposa Language and Learning Academy, serving grades K-5; Mater Academy of Northern Nevada, serving grades K-8; Pinecrest Academy of Northern Nevada, serving grades K-8; Rainshadow Community Charter High School, serving grades 9–12, opened 2003;^[97]Sierra Nevada Academy Charter School, serving grades PreK-8, opened 1999; and TEAM A (Together Everyone Achieves More Academy), serving grades 9–12, opened 2004.^[98]

Reno has a few private elementary schools such asLegacy Christian School,Excel Christian School, St. Nicholas Orthodox Academy,^[99]Lamplight Christian School,^[100]and Nevada Sage Waldorf School^[101]as well as private high schools, the largest of which areBishop Manogue High School^[102]andSage Ridge School.^[103]

Reno was historically served by theVictory Highwayand a branch of theLincoln Highway. After the formation of theU.S. Numbered Highwayssystem,U.S. Route 40was routed along 4th Street through downtown Reno, before being replaced byInterstate 80. The primary north–south highway through Reno isU.S. Route 395/Interstate 580.

TheRegional Transportation Commission of Washoe County(RTC) has a bus system that provides intracity buses, intercity buses to Carson City, and an on-demand shuttle service for disabled persons.^[104]The system has its main terminal on 4th Street in downtown Reno and secondary terminals in Sparks and atMeadowood Mallin south Reno.

Numerous shuttle and excursion services are offered connecting theReno–Tahoe International Airportto various destinations:

• North Lake Tahoe Express provides connecting shuttle service to North Lake Tahoe Resorts
• South Tahoe Airporter provides connecting shuttle service toSouth Lake Tahoeresorts.
• Eastern Sierra Transit Authorityprovides shuttles to destinations south along the US-395 corridor in California, such asMammoth MountainandLancaster
• Modoc Sage Stage provides shuttles toAlturasandSusanville, California, along the northern US-395 corridor.
• Salt Lake Express provides service toLas Vegasmainly along the southern US-95 corridor.

Greyhoundstops at a downtown terminal.Megabusstopped at theSilver Legacy Reno, but has since discontinued service to Reno.^[105]

Reno was historically a stopover along theFirst transcontinental railroad; the modernOverland Routecontinues to run through Reno. Reno was additionally the southern terminus of theNevada–California–Oregon Railway(NCO) and the northern terminus of theVirginia and Truckee Railroad. Using the NCO depot and right of way, theWestern Pacific Railroadalso provided rail service to Reno. In the early 20th century, Reno also had a modeststreetcar system. Downtown Reno has two historic train depots, the inactiveNevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depotand the active Amtrak depot atReno station, originally built by theSouthern Pacific Railroad.^[106]

Amtrakprovides daily passenger service to Reno via theCalifornia Zephyrat Reno station and via multipleAmtrak Thruwaybuses that connect to trains departing fromSacramento.

The city is served byReno–Tahoe International Airport, with general aviation traffic handled byReno Stead Airport. Reno–Tahoe International Airport is the second busiest commercial airport in the state of Nevada afterHarry Reid International AirportinLas Vegas. Reno was the hub and headquarters of the defunct airlineReno Air.

TheTruckee Meadows Water Authorityprovides potable water for the city. TheTruckee Riveris the primary water source. It supplies Reno with 80 million U.S. gallons (300Ml) of water a day during the summer, and 40 million U.S. gallons (150 Ml) of water per day in the winter. The twowater treatmentplants are Chalk Bluff and Glendale. The Chalk Bluff plant's main intakes are west of Reno and south ofVerdi, with the water flowing through a series offlumesand ditches to the plant. Alternative intakes are below the plant along the banks of the Truckee River itself. The Glendale plant is alongside the river, and is fed by a rock and concrete rubblediversion dama short distance upstream.^[107]

Sewage treatmentfor most of the Truckee Meadows region takes place at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility at the eastern edge of the valley. Treated effluent returns to the Truckee River by way of Steamboat Creek.^[108]In the 1990s, this capacity was increased from 20 to 30 million U.S. gallons (70 to 110 million liters) per day. While treated, the effluent contains suspended solids,nitrogen, andphosphorus, aggravating water-quality concerns of the river and its receiving waters ofPyramid Lake. Local agencies working with theEnvironmental Protection Agencyhave developed several watershed management strategies to accommodate this expanded discharge. To accomplish this successful outcome, theDSSAM Modelwas developed and calibrated for the Truckee River to analyze the most cost-effective available management strategy set.^[109]The resulting management strategies included measures such asland usecontrols in the Lake Tahoe basin, urbanrunoffcontrols in Reno and Sparks, andbest management practicesfor wastewater discharge.^{[citation needed]}Golf courses in Reno have been using treatedeffluentwater rather than treated water from one of Reno's water plants.^{[citation needed]}

NV Energy, formerly Sierra Pacific, provides electric power and natural gas. Power comes from multiple sources, includingTracy-Clark Stationto the east, and theSteamboat Springsbinary cyclepower plants at the southern end of town.^[110]

Movies filmed in Reno include:

Reno is also featured in the post-apocalyptic roleplaying gameFallout 2, as New Reno.^[134]

Reno'ssister citiesare:^[135]

• San Sebastián, Spain
• Taichung, Taiwan
• Udon Thani, Thailand
• Wirral, England, United Kingdom
• Nalchik,Russian Federation

• USSReno(CL-96)

• Benson, Heather Lené. "In Place/Out of Place: Punjabi-Sikhs in Reno, Nevada" (PhD dissertation, University of Nevada, Reno, 2022)online.
• DuVal, Gary (2002).The Nevada filmography: nearly 600 works made in the state, 1897 through 2000. McFarland.ISBN978-0-7864-1271-6.
• Federal Writers' Project(1957), "Reno",Nevada: A Guide to the Silver State,American Guide Series, Portland, Or.:Binfords & Mort,hdl:2027/mdp.39015048749454+Chronology
• Harpster, Jack.The Genesis of Reno: The History of the Riverside Hotel and the Virginia Street Bridge(University of Nevada Press, 2016).
• Moehring, Eugene P.Reno, Las Vegas, and the Strip: A Tale of Three Cities(University of Nevada Press, 2014).
• Moreno, Richard.A short history of Reno(University of Nevada Press, 2015).
• Price, John A. (1972). "Reno, Nevada: The City as a Unit of Study".Urban Anthropology.1(1): 014–028.JSTOR40552854.
• Ringhoff, Mary, and Edward Stoner.The river and the railroad: An archaeological history of Reno(University of Nevada Press, 2011).

• City of Reno official websiteArchivedMay 11, 2012, at theWayback Machine
• Reno, NevadaatCurlie