Sitting in a high desert valley at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada. The birthplace of Harrah’s entertainment and known for its casinos, Reno is called “the biggest little city in the world.”
Its history began with mining, most successfully silver mining in the Truckee River valley. Today, Reno is still the third largest gold producer in the world. The next boom came with the legalization of gambling in the 1930s and the early passage of liberal divorce laws that drew thousands to the city to acquire a divorce. Over time the widespread passage of divorce laws, the growth of Native American casinos in California and Las Vegas’ continued expansion, has stolen some of Reno’s glory, leaving it to reinvent itself.
Reno’s Economy
Prior to the 1950s, Reno was the gambling capital. The growth of Las Vegas and American Airlines’ buyout of Reno Air have changed that status. Some older casinos were torn down and some were turned into housing. What was once the Virginia Street core of gambling has shifted and in recent years some newer casinos (Atlantis, Peppermill, Grand Sierra Resort) have developed nicely, drawing traffic from the San Francisco Bay area.
Top industries in the city remain the entertainment, arts and recreation sectors as well as construction, health care and accommodation/food services.
Enjoying Reno, Nevada
City fathers have pushed for downtown revitalization as the older casinos were replaced and the new casinos spread out in other areas. In addition to out of state investors turning former casinos and parking lots into upperclass condos, the Reno Transportation Rail Access Corridor was developed to move rail underground and cut down on noise and congestion at street level.
New businesses have grown up in Reno to serve the locals who are now more likely to frequent a downtown less consumed by tourists playing the slots. Downtown Reno is now a hotspot at night for bars and clubs, as well as East Fourth Street, Wells Avenue, Kietzke Lane and all along South Virginia Street. Neighborhoods also have their local bars and eateries.
In addition to the casinos, Reno has the arts in the form of theaters, concerts, plays and shows at the local events center.
The Truckee River, the Union Pacific Railroad and Interstate 80 all run through Reno. To get around, residents have the option of using Reno’s extensive bus system, with a downtown terminal and secondary terminals in two of the city’s three malls. Amtrak provides daily rail service out of Reno to California, Utah and Colorado cities.
For outdoor recreation, Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River and Pyramid Lake all offer summer and winter sporting opportunities.
Living in Reno, NV
Public education is provided by the Washoe County School District. There are also several charter schools in the city and a few private schools for both elementary and high school students.
At 4,500 feet above sea level, Reno has four distinct seasons with few extremes. Winter lows can reach the 20s and summer highs can be in the 90s. As part of the Truckee Meadows region, the tranquil river reflecting the neon lights of the city promotes itself as a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Renter’s Guide to Reno, Nevada
The influx of new housing out of the former casino properties has created a housing bubble for Reno. In the Plumas Street/McCarran Boulevard area neighborhoods. There are mostly single-family homes with some high rises and apartment complexes in this suburban area. These are mostly medium sized dwellings (3-4 bedrooms) in established but not old buildings. This is an upper middle income area of both owners and renters, classified as urban sophisticate. The neighborhoods are considered artsy/funky and quiet. The cost of renting is considered very high compared to the state and national averages. This area is one of the most expensive places to live in Reno.
The Cold Springs area is also suburban with a mix of single-family homes, attached homes and row houses as well as some small apartment buildings. These are mostly medium sized homes, mostly owner occupied in quiet neighborhoods. The cost of renting here is medium compared with the state and national averages.
One of the more affordable areas to live is the Smithland Park and Neil Road area. This is an urban area with high-rise apartments and small apartment buildings. These are mostly small dwellings (1-2 bedrooms) in walkable neighborhoods classified as artsy. This is a middle income area in a mix of owners and renters. The cost of renting here is low compared to the state and national averages.
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