Carson City, Nevada: Difference between revisions

| name               = Carson City, Nevada

| official_name     = Carson City Consolidated Municipality

| settlement_type   = [[List of capitals in the United States|State capital]] and [[Independent city (United States)|independent city]]

| nicknames         = Carson, CC, The Capitol

| motto             = Proud of its Past...Confident of its Future

| image_skyline     = {{multiple image

| imagesize         = 300px

| image_caption     =  

| image_flag         = Flag of Carson City, Nevada.jpg

| image_seal         = CarsonCityNVseal.png

| image_map         = Map of Nevada highlighting Carson City.svg

| mapsize           =  

| map_caption       = Location within [[Nevada]]

| pushpin_map       = Nevada#USA

| pushpin_label     = Carson City

| pushpin_relief     = yes

| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]

| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}

| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]

| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Nevada}}

| leader_title       = Mayor

| leader_name       = Lori Bagwell

| established_title = Founded

| established_date   = {{Start date and age|1858}}

| established_date1 = {{Start date and age|1875}}

| named_for         = [[Kit Carson]]

| area_magnitude     =  

| area_total_sq_mi   = 157.12

| area_land_sq_mi   = 144.53

| area_water_sq_mi   = 12.59

| area_urban_sq_mi   =  

| area_urban_km2     =  

| area_metro_sq_mi   =  

| area_metro_km2     =  

| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]

| population_note   =  

| population_total   = 58639

| population_metro   =  

| population_urban   =  

| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]

| utc_offset         = −8

| timezone_DST       = Pacific

| utc_offset_DST     = −7

| coordinates       = {{coord|39|9|52|N|119|46|1|W|region:US-NV|display=inline,title}}

| elevation_m       = 1427

| elevation_ft       = 4682

| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]

| postal_code       = 89701–89706, 89711–89714, 89721,89703

| area_code         = [[Area code 775|775]]

| blank_name         = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID

| blank_info         = 863976<ref name=USGS />

| website           = [http://www.carson.org/home carson.org]

| footnotes         = <!-- Registry designation -->

| pop_est_footnotes =

| population_est    =  

| unit_pref         = Imperial

| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 19, 2022}}</ref>

| area_total_km2     = 406.94

| area_land_km2     = 374.34

| area_water_km2     = 32.59

| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=USGS>{{Cite web |title=Geographic Names Information System |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/gaz-record/863976 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=edits.nationalmap.gov}}</ref>{{Use American English|date=January 2019}}

'''Carson City''', officially the ''' Carson City Consolidated Municipality''',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carson City |date=2025-05-25 |title=OUR CITY |url=https://www.carson.org/our-city#ad-image-1 |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Carson.org}}</ref> is an [[Independent city (United States)|independent city]] and the capital of the U.S. state of [[Nevada]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Facts {{!}} Carson City |url=https://www.carson.org/our-city/city-facts |access-date=July 16, 2023 |website=www.carson.org |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 58,639, making it the [[List of cities in Nevada|6th most populous city]] in the state. The majority of the city's population lives in [[Eagle Valley (Nevada)|Eagle Valley]], on the eastern edge of the [[Carson Range]], a branch of the [[Sierra Nevada]], about {{convert|30|mi|-1}} south of [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]]. The city is named after the [[mountain man]] [[Kit Carson]] (1809-1868). The town began as a stopover for [[California]]-bound immigrants, but developed into a city with the [[Comstock Lode]], a silver strike in the mountains to the northeast. The city has served as Nevada's capital since statehood in 1864; for much of its history it was a hub for the [[Virginia and Truckee Railroad]], although the tracks were removed in 1950.

Before 1969, Carson City was the [[county seat]] of [[Ormsby County, Nevada|Ormsby County]]. That year, after a referendum approved merging the city and the county, the [[state legislature]] issued a revised city charter that merged them into the Carson City Consolidated Municipality.<ref name=consolidatedmunicipality>{{cite web |url=https://www.carson.org/our-city |title=OUR CITY |publisher=Carson City |access-date=November 20, 2011 |date=May 29, 2006}}</ref> With the consolidation, the city limits extend west across the [[Sierra Nevada]] to the [[California]]-[[Nevada]] state line in the middle of [[Lake Tahoe]]. Like other independent cities<!-- Carson City is an "independent city", NOT the more common "consolidated city-county". While counties legally survive in the latter (Nashville-Davidson County, TN, or even New Orleans-Orleans Parish, LA although Orleans Parish has *never* been fully independent of NOLA), Ormsby County was completely abolished by its consolidation into Carson City. Thus, Carson City is like Baltimore, St. Louis and the 38 cities of Virginia, all legally independent of ANY county. --> in the United States, it is treated as a [[county-equivalent]] for census purposes.

The [[Washoe people]] have inhabited the valley and surrounding areas for about 6,000 years.<ref name="Pritzker">{{cite book|author=Pritzker, Barry M.|title=A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples|publisher=Oxford: Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0195138771|year=2000|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/nativeamericanen0000prit}}</ref>

The first [[European American]]s to arrive in what is now known as Eagle Valley were [[John C. Frémont]] and his exploration party in January 1843.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/nevada/carson.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629180912/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/nevada/carson.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2007|title=National Park Service: Three Historic Cities|publisher=Travel Nevada.com|access-date=June 2, 2010}}</ref> Fremont named the river flowing through the valley [[Carson River]] in honor of [[Kit Carson]],(1809-1868), the [[mountain man]], explorer and scout he had hired for his expedition. Later, settlers named the area Washoe, in reference to the indigenous people.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bayer|first=C.W.|title=Profits, plots & lynching; the creation of Nevada Territory|year=1995|publisher=Purple Mountain Press|location=Carson City|isbn=0962889032|page=2}}</ref>

By 1851, the [[Eagle Valley (Nevada)|Eagle Station]] ranch along the Carson River was a trading post and stop-over for westbound travelers and wagons on the [[California Trail]]'s [[California Trail#Carson Trail|Carson Branch]], which ran through [[Eagle Valley (Nevada)|Eagle Valley]]. The valley and trading post received their name from a [[bald eagle]] that was hunted and killed by one of the early settlers and was featured pinned on a wall inside the post.

As the area was part of the larger [[Utah Territory]] (1850-1896), it was governed from the [[state capital|territorial (and later state) capital]] of [[Salt Lake City]] on the eastern shore of the [[Great Salt Lake]], where the territorial government was headquartered there several hundred miles further east with [[Mormon]] ([[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]) patriarch of [[Brigham Young]] (1801-1877), as first [[Governor of Utah]]. Early settlers bristled at the control by Mormon-influenced officials and desired the creation of the provisional [[Nevada Territory]] with [[Isaac Roop]] (1822-1869, served 1859-1861), as provisional Governor. A vigilante group of influential settlers, headed by [[Abraham Curry]] (1815-1873), sought a site for a capital city for the envisioned future separate territory.<ref>{{cite book|last=Oldham|first=Willa|title=Carson City: Nevada's Capital City|year=1991|publisher=Nevada State Museum|location=Carson City, NV|asin=B0006QSL8Q|page=5}}</ref> In 1858, [[Abraham Curry]] bought Eagle Station and the settlement was thereafter renamed Carson City.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cerveri |first1=Doris |title=With Curry's Compliments: The Story of Abraham Curry |date=1990 |publisher=Nostalgia Press |location=Elko, NV |page=13}}</ref> Curry and several other partners had Eagle Valley surveyed for development. Curry decided Carson City would someday serve as the capital city and left a {{convert|10|acre|m2|adj=on}} plot in the center of town for a capitol building.

After [[gold]] and [[silver]] ore were discovered in 1859 on the nearby newly-named [[Comstock Lode]], Carson City's population began to grow. Curry built the Warm Springs Hotel a mile to the east of the town center. When new  territorial governor [[James W. Nye]] (1815-1876, served 1861-1864), traveled east to Nevada, he chose Carson City as the territorial capital instead of earlier [[Genoa, Nevada|Genoa]], which had functioned temporarily as such for the past few years. Influenced by Carson City lawyer [[William M. Stewart]] (1827-1909), who escorted him from the port of [[San Francisco, California]] where he arrived onboard a passenger steamboat liner, then journeying uphill past [[Sacramento]] to Nevada.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hauck|first=Eldon|title=American Capitols|year=1991|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc.|location=Jefferson, NC|page=138}}</ref> As such, Carson City bested [[Virginia City, Nevada|Virginia City]] and American Flat. Curry loaned the Warm Springs Hotel to the territorial Legislature as a temporary meeting hall. The Legislature named Carson City to be the [[county seat]] of [[Ormsby County, Nevada|Ormsby County]] and also selected the hotel as the territorial prison, with Curry serving as its first warden. Today, the property is still part of the state prison.

When Nevada became the 36th [[U.S. state|state]] in 1864 during the [[American Civil War]] (1861-1865), Carson City was confirmed as Nevada's permanent [[state capital]]. Carson City's development was no longer dependent on the mining industry and instead became a thriving commercial center. The [[Virginia and Truckee Railroad]] was built between [[Virginia City, Nevada|Virginia City]] and [[Carson City]]. A [[log flume]] was also built from the [[Sierra Nevada]] mountains range into Carson City. The current [[Nevada State Capitol]] building was constructed from 1869 to 1871. The [[United States Mint]] also operated its branch of the [[Carson City Mint]] between the years of 1870 and 1893, which struck gold and silver coins of [[United States currency]]. People came from [[China]] during that time, many to work on the [[transcontinental railroad]] being constructed. Some of them owned businesses and taught school. By 1880, almost a thousand Chinese people, "one for every five Caucasians", lived in Carson City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20030925/OPINION/309250201/ |title=Dedicated to Carson's Chinese history |author=Kelli Du Fresne |publisher=Nevada Appeal |access-date=September 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407002436/http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20030925/OPINION/309250201/ |archive-date=April 7, 2012}}</ref>

Carson City's population and transportation traffic decreased when the [[Central Pacific Railroad]] built a branch line through [[Donner Pass]] to connect with the [[Carson and Colorado Railroad]]. The new branch also bypassed the Virginia & Truckee line, and ran too far to the north to benefit Carson City. The city was slightly revitalized with the mining booms in nearby [[Tonopah, Nevada|Tonopah]] and [[Goldfield, Nevada|Goldfield]]. The United States federal building (now renamed the [[Paul Laxalt]] Building) was completed in 1890 as was the [[Stewart Indian School]]. Even these developments could not prevent its population from dropping to just over 1,500 people by 1930. Carson City resigned itself to small city status, advertising itself as "America's smallest capital". The city slowly grew after [[World War II]] (1939/1941-1945); by 1960, it had reached its former 1880 mining boom-town era population size of 80 years before.

In 1931, [[gambling]] was legalized in Nevada which increased tourism to Carson City.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carson City |url=https://www.nvexpeditions.com/carsoncity/carson.php |website=Nevada Expeditions |access-date=April 4, 2025}}</ref>

In 1991, the city adopted a downtown master plan, specifying no building within {{convert|500|ft|m|abbr=off}} of the capitol would surpass it in height. This plan effectively prohibited future high-rise development in the center of downtown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/?id=carsoncity-nv-usa |title=About Carson City |author=Staff Writer |publisher=Emporis |access-date=May 23, 2021 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023125134/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/?id=carsoncity-nv-usa |archive-date=October 23, 2012}}</ref> The [[Ormsby House]] is the tallest building in downtown Carson City, at a height of {{convert|117|feet}}. The structure was completed in 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/city/carsoncity-nv-usa/all-buildings/highrise |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023143701/http://www.emporis.com/city/carsoncity-nv-usa/all-buildings/highrise |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |title=Carson City High Rise Buildings |publisher=Emporis.com |access-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref>

Carson City features a [[cold semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''BSk'', [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''BSak'') with cold winters and hot summers. The city is in a high desert river valley approximately {{convert|4802|ft|m}} above sea level. There are four fairly distinct seasons. Winters see typically light to moderate snowfall, with an average of {{convert|14.0|in|m|sigfig=2}}, with the most snowfall being {{convert|82.1|in|m|sigfig=2}} from July 1951 to June 1952 and the least {{convert|3.1|in|m|sigfig=2}} from July 2002 to June 2003. Most precipitation occurs in winter and spring, with summer and fall being fairly dry, drier than neighboring California. The wettest “rain year” was from July 1937 to June 1938 with {{convert|19.36|in|mm|1}} and the driest from July 1971 to June 1972 with {{convert|3.48|in|mm|1}}. The most precipitation in one month occurred in December 1955 when {{convert|10.39|in|mm|1|disp=or}} fell and the most snowfall {{convert|34.5|in|m|sigfig=2|disp=or}} in March 1952. The most precipitation in one day has been {{convert|3.12|in|mm|1|disp=or}} on November 19 of 1950.

* "C Hill" – hill featuring the Carson City "C" and giant American Flag

|estyear=2024

|estimate=58148

|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>

|style='background: #ffffe6; |37,064

Ormsby County [[consolidated city-county|consolidated with]] Carson City in 1969, and the county simultaneously dissolved.<ref name="Board">[http://www.carson.org/index.aspx?page=67 Board of Supervisors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702083726/http://www.carson.org/index.aspx?page=67 |date=July 2, 2015 }}, Carson City.</ref> The city is now governed by a five-member board of supervisors, consisting of a mayor and four supervisors.<ref name="Board"/> All members are elected [[at-large]], but each of the four supervisors must reside in respective wards, numbered 1 through 4.<ref name="Board"/> The mayor and supervisors serve four year terms. Elections are staggered so the mayor and the supervisors from Wards 2 and Ward 4 are elected in presidential election years, and the supervisors from Wards 1 and 3 are elected in the even-numbered years in between (i.e., the same year as gubernatorial elections).<ref name="Board"/> Like counties in Nevada, Carson City retains an elected Sheriff with local law enforcement provided by the Carson City Sheriff's Office.<ref>https://www.carson.org/government/departments-g-z/sheriff-s-office</ref>

The city is generally considered a Republican stronghold, often voting for Republicans by wide margins. In 2004, [[George W. Bush]] defeated [[John Kerry]] 57–40%. In 2008, however, [[Barack Obama]] became the first Democrat since 1964 to win Ormsby County/Carson City, defeating [[John McCain]] 49–48%, by 204 votes, a margin of under 1%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carson.org/Index.aspx?page=95|title=Carson City Politics|page=95|publisher=carson.org|access-date=January 17, 2013|archive-date=July 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722030204/http://www.carson.org/Index.aspx?page=95|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{PresFoot|1904|Republican|409|218|53|Nevada}}

* [[Greg LeMond]], two time World Champion road racing cyclist, and three-time winner of the Tour de France<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-greg-lemond-20150221-column.html|title=Once shunned, Greg LeMond returns to biking world and road to success|last=Wallack|first=Roy|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=January 20, 2017|date=February 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/greg-lemonds-five-greatest-wins-167285 |title=Greg LeMond's five greatest wins |date=April 20, 2015 |newspaper=Cycling Weekly |language=en-US |access-date=January 20, 2017}}</ref>

However, there is virtually no ground public transportation to other destinations. Passenger trains have not served Carson City since 1950, when the [[Virginia and Truckee Railroad]] was shut down. [[Greyhound Lines]] stopped their bus services to the town in 2006 and [[Amtrak]] discontinued their connecting thruway bus to [[Sacramento, California]], in 2008. There is now only a limited Monday – Friday [[Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County|RTC]] bus service,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtcwashoe.com/public-transportation/|title=RTC Public Transportation|access-date=December 28, 2013}}</ref> to [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]] which is still served by both Greyhound and Amtrak, as well as [[Eastern Sierra Transit Authority]] service from [[Lone Pine, California|Lone Pine]] to Reno.

The district sponsors Carson Montessori School, a public charter school serving grades K-6.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doe.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/ndedoenvgov/content/Charter_Schools/CSDirectory16-17.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713175946/http://www.doe.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/ndedoenvgov/content/Charter_Schools/CSDirectory16-17.pdf |archive-date=July 13, 2019 |url-status=live|title=Nevada Charter School Directory|publisher=Nevada Department of Education}}</ref> Students residing in any Nevada county may enroll.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.carsonmontessori.com/enrollment|title=Carson Montessori School Enrollment|publisher=Carson Montessori School}}</ref> Carson Montessori School is the only school in district operating with a balanced budget.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://carsonnow.org/story/08/08/2019/carson-montessori-faces-issues-finding-and-funding-new-location|title=Carson Montessori faces issues in finding — and funding — new location|date=August 8, 2019 |publisher=CarsonNow.org}}</ref> In 2019 Carson Montessori School received the Governor's STEM Schools Designation,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gov.nv.gov/News/Press/2019/Governor_Sisolak_Announces_Designation_of_10_New_Governor%E2%80%99s_STEM_Schools/|title=Governor Sisolak Announces Designation of 10 New Governor's STEM Schools|publisher=State of Nevada|access-date=March 5, 2022|archive-date=November 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108214751/https://gov.nv.gov/News/Press/2019/Governor_Sisolak_Announces_Designation_of_10_New_Governor%E2%80%99s_STEM_Schools/|url-status=dead}}</ref> an official recognition given to 25 schools statewide which causes a short ceremony attended by the governor during which receiving schools are assigned a 10-foot banner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://osit.nv.gov/STEM/Gov_Designated_STEM_Schools/|title=Governor's Designated STEM Schools|publisher=Nevada Governor's Office of Science, Innovation & Technology}}</ref>

[[Western Nevada College]] (WNC) is a regionally accredited, two-year and four-year institution which is part of the [[Nevada System of Higher Education]]. The college offers many programs including education, arts and science.<ref name="WNCW">{{cite web|url=http://www.wnc.edu/about/|title=Western Nevada College Website|last=Staff Writer|publisher=Western Nevada College|access-date=June 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528113124/http://www.wnc.edu/about/|archive-date=May 28, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Image:StCharlesHotel Carson City.jpg|{{center|Historic [[St. Charles-Muller's Hotel|St Charles Hotel]] in Carson City}}

* {{Official website|http://www.carson.org}}

* [http://www.visitcarsoncity.com/ Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau]

[[Category:Populated places established in 1858]]