Washoe County, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Washoe County
|
||
|---|---|---|
Washoe County Courthouse
|
||
|
||
Location within the U.S. state of Nevada
|
||
 Nevada's location within the U.S. |
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  Nevada |
|
| Founded | November 25, 1861 | |
| Named for | Washoe people | |
| Seat | Reno | |
| Largest city | Reno | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 6,542 sq mi (16,940 km2) | |
| • Land | 6,302 sq mi (16,320 km2) | |
| • Water | 240 sq mi (600 km2) 3.7% | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 486,492 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
498,022  |
|
| • Density | 74.364/sq mi (28.7123/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | |
| Congressional district | 2nd | |
Washoe County (pronounced WA-show) is a county located in the state of Nevada, USA. In 2020, its population was 486,492 people. This makes it the second-most populated county in Nevada. The main city and government center, known as the county seat, is Reno. Washoe County is also part of the larger Reno metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Washoe County
Washoe County was created on November 25, 1861. It was one of the first nine counties in the Nevada Territory. The county gets its name from the Washoe people, who were the first inhabitants of this area. In 1864, Washoe County joined with Roop County.
The first county seat was Washoe City in 1861. However, Reno became the new county seat in 1871.
In 1911, a small group of Shoshone and Bannock people, led by Mike Daggett, were involved in a conflict with four stockmen in Washoe County. A group was formed to find them. On February 26, 1911, during what is known as the Battle of Kelley Creek, some members of Daggett's group and one member of the other group were killed. Three children and a woman survived and were taken into custody. The remains of some of the people involved were later returned from the Smithsonian Institution to the Fort Hall Idaho Shoshone-Bannock Tribe in 1994.
In 1918, Washoe County made history. They elected Sadie Hurst, a Republican, as the first woman to serve in the Nevada Legislature.
As of 2013, the Washoe County School District was the first in Nevada to offer classes in the Paiute language. Students at Spanish Springs High School and North Valleys High School can take this elective course.
Geography and Landscape
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Washoe County covers a total area of 6,542 square miles. About 6,302 square miles of this is land, and 240 square miles (3.7%) is water.
The highest point in Washoe County is Mount Rose, which stands at 10,785 feet (3,287 meters) tall. The most noticeable peak in the landscape is Virginia Peak.
There are two official cities within the county: Reno and Sparks. In 2010, voters considered a question about combining the governments of Reno and Washoe County. Unofficial results showed that 54% of voters approved this idea.
The Truckee Meadows area in Washoe County begins near the southern runway of Reno–Tahoe International Airport. It stretches southeast, following Steamboat Creek to the southeastern edge of the county. This area is known for its wild grasses and water flow from the eastern part of the Reno Tahoe basin.
Neighboring Counties
- Lake County, Oregon – north
- Harney County, Oregon – northeast
- Humboldt County – east
- Pershing County – east
- Churchill County – east
- Lyon County – southeast
- Storey County – south
- Carson City – south
- Placer County, California – southwest
- Nevada County, California – west
- Sierra County, California – west
- Lassen County, California – west
- Modoc County, California – west
Main Roads and Highways
I‑80
Interstate 80 Business (Verdi)- Interstate 80 Business (Reno–Sparks)
- Interstate 80 Business (Wadsworth–Fernley)
I‑580
U.S. Route 395
U.S. Route 395 Alternate
U.S. Route 395 Business (Reno)
SR 28
SR 341
SR 425
SR 426
SR 427
SR 430
SR 431
SR 439
SR 443
SR 445
SR 446
SR 447
SR 647
SR 648
SR 653
SR 655
SR 659
SR 667
SR 668
SR 671
SR 673
SR 877
SR 878
SR 880
Protected Natural Areas
Washoe County is home to several important protected natural areas:
- Anaho Island National Wildlife Refuge
- Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area (part)
- Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Toiyabe National Forest (part)
People of Washoe County
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Washoe County based on the 2010 and 2020 censuses.
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 278,213 | 287,862 | 66.02% | 60.90% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 9,088 | 11,527 | 2.16% | 2.37% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 5,782 | 5,790 | 0.19% | 0.19% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 21,288 | 28,063 | 5.05% | 5.77% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2,358 | 3,250 | 0.23% | 0.67% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 673 | 2,485 | 0.16% | 0.51% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 10,281 | 23,445 | 2.44% | 4.82% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 93,724 | 122,204 | 22.24% | 25.12% |
| Total | 421,407 | 486,492 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 3,091 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,664 | 83.2% | |
| 1890 | 6,437 | 13.6% | |
| 1900 | 9,141 | 42.0% | |
| 1910 | 17,434 | 90.7% | |
| 1920 | 18,627 | 6.8% | |
| 1930 | 27,158 | 45.8% | |
| 1940 | 32,476 | 19.6% | |
| 1950 | 50,205 | 54.6% | |
| 1960 | 84,743 | 68.8% | |
| 1970 | 121,068 | 42.9% | |
| 1980 | 193,623 | 59.9% | |
| 1990 | 254,667 | 31.5% | |
| 2000 | 339,486 | 33.3% | |
| 2010 | 421,407 | 24.1% | |
| 2020 | 486,492 | 15.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 498,022 | 18.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
|||
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 421,407 people living in Washoe County. There were 163,445 households and 102,768 families. The population density was about 66.9 people per square mile.
The county had 184,841 housing units. The average density was about 29.3 units per square mile. The racial makeup of the county included 76.9% white, 5.2% Asian, and 2.3% black or African American. About 1.7% were American Indian, and 0.6% were Pacific islander. People from other races made up 9.5%, and 3.8% were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 22.2% of the population.
When looking at ancestry, 16.9% of people had German roots. About 13.1% were Irish, 11.8% were English, and 7.2% were Italian. Around 4.7% identified as American.
Of the households, 32.0% had children under 18 living with them. About 45.6% were married couples living together. Also, 11.3% had a female head of household with no husband present. About 37.1% were not families, and 27.2% of all households were single individuals. The average household size was 2.55 people, and the average family size was 3.11 people. The average age of people in the county was 37.0 years.
The average income for a household in the county was $55,658. For a family, the average income was $67,428. Men had an average income of $46,653, while women had an average income of $35,559. The income per person in the county was $29,687. About 8.5% of families and 12.6% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 17.0% of those under 18 and 6.4% of those aged 65 or older.
Communities in Washoe County
Cities
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities.
Other Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities and historic "ghost towns" that are not officially part of a city or census-designated place.
- Deep Hole
- Flanigan
- Galena
- New Washoe City
- Poeville
- Pleasant Valley
- Pyramid
- Pyramid City
- Steamboat Springs
- Vya
- Washoe City
Education in Washoe County
The main school system for the entire county is the Washoe County School District.
The Bureau of Indian Education also supports the Pyramid Lake Schools in Nixon.
There is a charter school called Coral Academy of Science. Private schools include Bishop Manogue High School and Excel Christian School.
The University of Nevada, Reno is located in Reno.
The public library system for the county is the Washoe County Library System.
Notable People from Washoe County
- Nellie Shaw Harnar, a well-known historian and educator.
- Jeremy Renner, an actor famous for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Washoe para niños
