Timeline of Reno, Nevada facts for kids

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Reno, Nevada, United States.

19th century

1864- University of Nevada founded

• 1868
  • Reno founded; named after Union Army officer Jesse Lee Reno.
  • Reno Crescent newspaper begins publication.
• 1870 - Population: 1,035.
• 1871 - Washoe County seat relocated to Reno from Washoe City.
• 1872 - Virginia and Truckee Railroad in operation.
• 1873
  • Fire.
  • Court House built.
• 1874 - Nevada State Journal newspaper begins publication.
• 1877 - Bridge rebuilt.
• 1879 - Town incorporated.
• 1882 - Nevada and Oregon Railroad begins operating.
• 1885 - Riverside Hotel in business.
• 1886 - Nevada State University relocated to Reno from Elko.
• 1894 - 20th Century Club for women organized.

20th century

1900s-1940s

• 1900 - Population: 4,500.
• 1901 - Reno attains city status.
• 1904
  • Nevada Historical Society established.
  • Carnegie Free Public Library opens.
• 1905 - Virginia Street Bridge rebuilt.
• 1907
  • Reno Commercial Club incorporated.
  • City Hall rebuilt.
  • Richard Kirman, Sr. becomes mayor.
  • University of Nevada's Mackay School of Mines established.
• 1910
  • July 4: Jeffries-Johnson boxing match held.
  • Washoe County Courthouse and Bethel AME Church built.
  • Population: 10,867.
• 1911 - YMCA building dedicated.
• 1913 - Divorce residence requirement: one year.
• 1922 - Nevada Public Economy League headquartered in Reno.
• 1923 - Edwin E. Roberts becomes mayor.
• 1925 - Empire Theatre opens.
• 1926 - Southern Pacific Railroad depot and Reno Arch built.
• 1927
  • Transcontinental Highway Exposition held; California Building constructed.
  • Divorce residence requirement: three months.
• 1928 - State Theatre opens.
• 1929 - Hubbard Field (airfield) and Odd Fellows Building constructed.
• 1930 - Population: 18,529.
• 1931
  • Gambling legalized.
  • Divorce residence requirement: six weeks.
  • Nevada Art Gallery founded.
  • Washoe County Library building opens.
  • El Cortez Hotel in business.
  • Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno established.
• 1933 - Reno Main Post Office built.
• 1935 - Reno Little Theater founded.
• 1936
  • Southside School Annex built.
  • Harold's Club founded.
• 1937 - Harrah's Entertainment (bingo parlor) in business.
• 1939 - First Church of Christ, Scientist built.
• 1942 - Reno Army Air Base in operation.

1950s-1990s

• 1953 - KZTV television and KNEV radio begin broadcasting.
• 1957 - February 5: Gas explosion.
• 1959 - Desert Research Institute established.
• 1960
  • Airport terminal built.
  • Population: 51,470.
• 1962 - Club Cal Neva casino in business.
• 1964 - Reno Air Races begin.
• 1966 - Downtown Library opens.
• 1967 - Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts built.
• 1969 - Reno Philharmonic Orchestra formed.
• 1970 - Population: 72,863.
• 1971 - Peppermill Reno in business.
• 1972 - Atlantis Casino Resort in business.
• 1973 - Eldorado Reno in business.
• 1974 - Reno Chamber Orchestra established.
• 1976 - Fitzgeralds Casino in business.
• 1977 - National Reno Gay Rodeo active.
• 1978 - Meadowood Mall, Circus Circus Casino, and MGM Grand Reno casino in business.
• 1980 - Population: 100,756.
• 1981 - Nevada School of Law at Old College founded.
• 1982
  • Balloon Race begins.
  • Reno Pops Orchestra formed.
• 1983
  • Reno Gazette-Journal newspaper in publication.
  • KNPB television and KRNV-FM radio begin broadcasting.
• 1984 - University of Nevada's School of Journalism established.
• 1985
  • January 21: Airplane crash.
  • University of Nevada, Reno Arboretum established.
• 1989 - Sierra Safari Zoo opens.
• 1990 - Population: 133,850.
• 1992
  • Nevada Humanities Chautauqua established.
  • Reno Air begins operating.
• 1995
  • National Bowling Stadium opens.
  • Silver Legacy Reno in business.
• 1997 - Great Basin Bird Observatory founded.
• 1999
  • Reno–Tahoe Open golf tournament begins.
  • Artown nonprofit active.

21st century

• 2000
  • City website online (approximate date).
  • Population: 180,480.
• 2002 - Bob Cashell becomes mayor.
• 2003 - Fictional Reno 911! television series begins national broadcast.
• 2004
  • Sierra Foundation established.
  • Reno River Fest begins.
• 2005 - Great Basin Community Food Co-op founded.
• 2006
  • March 14: Pine Middle School shooting.
  • Battle Born Derby Demons (rollerderby league) established.
• 2008 - April: 2008 Reno earthquakes.
• 2010
  • Stewie deemed world's longest domestic cat.
  • Population: 225,221; metro 425,417.
• 2011 - September 16: Reno Air Races crash.
• 2014 - Hillary Schieve becomes mayor.