Reno NV Moving Companies

Reno, Nevada

Best known for its casinos, Reno, Nevada is called “The Biggest Little City in the World” for good reason. It is actually the fourth-largest city in Nevada, after Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas and is the county seat of Washoe County. The Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe lie just to the west of Reno, allowing for outdoor activities and natural beauty. Skiing is especially good in the Reno area, with the highest concentration of resorts in the world within 50 miles of the city. Reno offers plenty to attract visitors, residents and those moving to Reno.

Economy:
Several industries – not just gaming – make up Reno’s economy. Industrial sectors represented in the city include warehousing, distribution (a leader in the United States), computers, electronics, communications and financial services. Several companies in these fields even have their corporate headquarters in Reno, including Port of Subs, International Game Technology, Braeburn Capital, PC-Doctor and Hamilton. Despite this, the tourist industry is the major employer and economic force in the city, with hotels and casinos bringing in an average of $4 billion from five million tourists each year. Reno does not enjoy the prime position in the American gaming world, having lost that to Las Vegas in the 1950s, but its casinos still remain a prominent part of the city.

History:
The first settlers arrived in the Truckee Meadows (the area where Reno stands) in the 1850s, mostly to pursue agriculture and to supply travelers along the California Trail. The region grew when silver was discovered in the Comstock Lode in 1859. Charles W. Fuller built the first bridge across the Truckee River that year and then sold it, in 1861, to Myron C. Lake. Lake built up the area around the bridge and called it Lake’s Crossing. Growing trade through the area made the town the largest in Washoe County by 1864. In 1868, the railroad came to the area, and the railroad construction superintendent chose to rename Lake’s Crossing as Reno (after a Civil War general). Reno remained primarily an agricultural settlement until well into the 1930s. The legalization of gambling in 1931, however, brought numerous people moving to Reno, Nevada looking to win at gambling or have an easy divorce.

Tourism:
Casinos and the nearby ski resorts are the main tourist draws of Reno, but there is much more to experience in the city. Festivals run throughout the year, many focusing on outdoor activities. These include the Reno River Festival with whitewater kayaking, the 178-mile Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Relay Run Adventure, the 90-year-old Reno Rodeo, the PGA-sponsored Reno-Tahoe Open and the Great Reno Balloon Race with over 100 balloonists in competition. Historic houses and buildings are also a highlight in Reno, including the 1875 Nystrom House and the 1914 Joseph Giraud/Hardy House. Among the prominent museums of Reno are the Nevada Museum of Art and the National Automobile Museum, and music lovers can enjoy the Nevada Opera and the Reno Philharmonic. Travel within the Reno area is possible with bus service from the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County. To reach Reno by plane, you can fly into the Reno/Tahoe International Airport. Train passengers aboard the California Zephyr Amtrak route can stop in Reno daily.

Interesting Facts:

• Reno has a big place in popular culture, as evidenced by the many songs in which the city figures prominently. Among them are Woody Guthrie’s “Philadelphia Lawyer” (originally “Reno Blues”), Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” the Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil,” Beck’s “Loser,” REM’s “All the Way to Reno” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Reno.”
• Famous residents of Reno have included Dawn Wells (Mary Ann on “Gilligan’s Island”), Curtis Hanson (director and producer) and Kristy Yamaguchi (figure skater).
• The Reno Aces are the city’s minor league AAA baseball team. Associated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team plays at Aces Park, built in 2009.

Colleges and Universities:

• Truckee Meadows Community College
• Career College of Northern Nevada
• Morrison University
• University of Nevada-Reno

Helpful Links:

• Reno Tourism
• City of Reno