Washoe City, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Washoe Valley, Nevada
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Old Washoe City, 1860s
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 Washoe Valley, Nevada
Location in Nevada
Washoe Valley, Nevada
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Washoe |
| Elevation | 5,062 ft (1,543 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 861904 |
Old Washoe City is a ghost town located in Washoe County, Nevada. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty. Close by, there's a newer community called New Washoe City.
Contents
History of Old Washoe City
How Washoe City Started
Old Washoe City was founded in 1860. It began as a place where people cut down trees, known as a lumber camp. The wood was needed for Virginia City, a busy mining town nearby.
Washoe City had plenty of water from Washoe Lake. This water was used to build mills. These mills helped process ore, which is rock that contains valuable metals.
Life in a Growing Town
Every day, mule-driven wagons traveled between Washoe City and Virginia City. They carried timber and farm products to Virginia City. On their way back, they brought ore from the famous Comstock lode to be processed at the mills.
In 1861, Washoe City became the county seat of Washoe County. This meant it was the main town where the county government was located. Because of this, many important people moved there.
Lawyers, doctors, and dentists set up their businesses. The streets were filled with restaurants, stores, and saloons. There were also places like livery stables for horses, drugstores, and bath houses.
Daily Life and Decline
The Washoe City post office opened in July 1862. It helped people send and receive mail. A local newspaper, the Washoe Times, started printing in October 1862.
As the town grew, more buildings were added. A school, churches, a hospital, and even a courthouse and jail were built. By 1865, Washoe City had a population that sometimes reached 6,000 people.
However, the town started to shrink after 1869. That year, the Virginia & Truckee Railroad was completed. This new railroad made it easier to transport goods and ore, so the mills in Washoe City were not as needed.
Within a few years, the population dropped to about 2,500 residents. In 1871, the county government moved to Reno. By 1880, only 200 people lived in Washoe City. The post office closed for good in 1914. By the early 1900s, Washoe City was mostly empty, becoming the ghost town it is today. Only parts of the old buildings remain.
Old Washoe City in Pop Culture
Featured in a TV Show
Old Washoe City has even appeared in a TV show! In the fifth season of Hell On Wheels, an episode called "Any Sum Within Reason" features the town. Many important parts of the story happen in and around Washoe City.
Images for kids
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Washoe City, 1860s
