City of Reno Information

Its residents proudly refer to themselves as Renoites. The third largest city in the state, Reno, Nevada was at one time the divorce capital of the world.

Situated in a high desert river valley of approximately 4,400 feet (1300m) above sea level, Reno experiences a light snowfall in winter and high temperatures, generally in the low to mid 90s in summer. Temperatures above 100 degrees (F) are not uncommon. Most precipitation occurs in the winter and the spring months.

The state of Nevada (which means ‘snow-capped’ in Spanish) is the third-largest gold producer in the world, after South Africa and Australia. Reno, which is located in the high desert, maintains a population of roughly 214,000, and following Las Vegas and Henderson, is the third largest city in the state. Both Reno and the city of Sparks share their eastern borders. Dubbed “the biggest little city in the world,” Reno is famous for its casinos, and is the birthplace of the gaming corporation, Harrah’s Entertainment.

Reno Facts

• The Reno-Tahoe area is known as “America’s Adventure Place.”
• The Tule Duck, almost 2,000 years old, was discovered in 1924 during an excavation at Lovelock Cave. There are 11 decoys each formed of a bundle of bulrush (tule) stem, which are bound together and shaped to resemble a canvasback duck.
• An Ichthyosaur (Shonisaurus) fossil found in Nevada makes it the only state to possess a complete skeleton (approximately 55 feet long) of this extinct marine reptile.
• The state bird is the Mountain Bluebird, which lives in the high country and destroys many harmful insects. It is a member of the thrush family and its song is similar to the warble of a robin. The male is azure blue with a white belly, while the female is brown with a bluish rump, tail, and wings.
• The Desert Bighorn (or Nelson) Sheep is the state animal. Well suited for its habitat in the mountainous desert country where it can survive for long periods without water, this animal is smaller than its Rocky Mountain cousin. Itc horns have a wider spread and the rams are known to grow large to four and a half feet tall, weighing as much as 175 pounds.
• Nevada’s state fish is the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, which is native to 14 of the state’s 17 counties. It is well adapted to different climes and temperatures, ranging from high mountain creeks and alpine lakes to warm lowland streams and alkaline lakes where no other trout can live.
• The Desert Tortoise is Nevada’s reptile, which lives in the extreme southern parts of Nevada and is the largest reptile in the Southwestern United States. This creature spends much of its long life (can be up to 70 years old if no smoking and drinking) in underground burrows, which offer respite from the harsh summer heat and extreme winter cold.
• Sagebrush is Nevada’s hardy state flower, and it grows in regions that cannot sustain other kinds of vegetation. An important winter staple for sheep and cattle, sagebrush is known for its pleasant aroma, gray-green twigs and pale yellow flowers.
• Two trees share the designation of Nevada’s state trees. These are: the Single-Leaf Pinon, which can grow as high as 50 feet under ideal conditions and the Bristlecone Pine, which is the oldest living thing on earth. Some of its specimens date back more than 4,000 years. Diameter growth continues throughout the long life of the tree, resulting in massive trunks with a few contorted limbs.
• Indian Rice Grass is the state grass of Nevada. Native-Americans once considered this grass to be an important staple of their diet, but today it is mostly used to feed wildlife and range livestock. Found throughout the state, this hardy grass has the unique ability to reseed and establish itself on sites decimated by fore or over grazing.
• Sandstone (quartzite) is the state rock and responsible for providing some of Nevada’s most spectacular scenery. Both the State Capitol Building and the former US Mint are built of sandstone.
• The Virgin Valley Black Fire Opal is the state’s precious gemstone. The Virgin Valley in Northern Nevada is the only place in North America where this beautiful stone can be found in any significant quantity.

Reno Industries and Commercial Activity

Tourism is the mainstay of Reno, Nevada, and the industry attracts more than 5 million visitors annually, adding over $4 billion dollars to local coffers. Secondary industries include computers, electronics, financial services and communications. Reno’s diversity also supports restaurants and retail options, and the nearby mountains draw many enthusiasts to the highest concentration of ski resorts in America.

Cities Near Reno

The cities nearest to Reno, Nevada include: Lemmon Valley-Golden Valley, North Valleys, Sparks, Sun Valley, Spanish Springs, Cold Springs, Verdi, and Verdi Mogul.

Reno Employment Outlook

The Reno/Sparks area is particularly attractive to new businesses because of its high rate of availability of skilled workers and competitive compensation levels. Nevada has become the fastest growing state in the nation due to state -supported training programs and pro-business policies. According to state law, non-membership in a labor organization cannot prevent any resident from obtaining or retaining employment. The five colleges in the area have a student body that numbers more than 20,000.