Washoe Valley (Nevada) facts for kids
The Washoe Valley is a beautiful area in Nevada, USA. It covers about 66 square miles in southern Washoe County. This valley sits between the cities of Reno and Carson City.
The valley gets its name from the Washoe people. They are Native Americans who lived there long before Europeans arrived. Tall mountains like Slide Mountain and Mount Rose stand over the valley to the west.
Inside the valley, you'll find New Washoe City and Washoe Lake. The area called Washoe Valley, Nevada is very similar to New Washoe City. In 2010, about 3,019 people lived there. The valley's ZIP codes are 89701 and 89704. These are often linked to Carson City.
Discovering Washoe Valley's Past
From 1857 to 1957, a man named Theodore Winters owned a huge farm. It was about 4,000 acres! He and his daughter, Neva Winters Sauer, raised cattle there. They also bred fast Thoroughbred horses. The farm even had a special track for training horses.
One famous horse from their ranch was El Rio Rey. He was known as the best two-year-old horse in America in 1889. Today, the old Winters Ranch and Bowers Mansion are important places. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are special historical sites. The town of Winters, California, is named after Theodore Winters.
The Washoe Zephyr: A Famous Wind
The Washoe Valley is famous for its strong winds. These winds can be very powerful! Sometimes, the main highway, U.S. 395, has to close for large trucks. One special wind is called the Washoe Zephyr. It often blows during the summer, sometimes every day.
The famous writer Mark Twain once described this wind. He said:
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- "A Washoe wind is by no means a trifling matter. It blows flimsy houses down, lifts shingle roofs occasionally, rolls up tin ones like sheet music, now and then blows a stage-coach over and spills the passengers; and tradition says the reason there are so many bald people there is, that the wind blows the hair off their heads while they are looking skyward after their hats."
This shows how strong and memorable the Washoe Zephyr can be!
Getting Around Washoe Valley
The Washoe Valley is a key travel route in northern Nevada. Interstate 580 and US 395 run along the western edge. They follow the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains. These highways connect Reno and Carson City.
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad used to run through this area. It operated from 1872 to 1950. You can still see where the train tracks used to be! Many old bridges near Pagni Canyon were there for a long time. However, the Washoe Drive Fire swept through the canyon. This fire damaged or destroyed some of these old bridges. There are still some small bridge frames visible farther south along the route.
