Washoe County, Nevada

Washoe County was created on November 25, 1861, as one of the original nine counties of the Nevada Territory. It is named after the Washoe people who originally inhabited the area. It was consolidated with Roop County in 1864. Washoe City was the first county seat in 1861 and was replaced by Reno in 1871.

In 1911, a small band of Shoshone and Bannock led by Mike Daggett killed four stockmen in Washoe County.{{cite web|author=James Shown |location= Winnemucca, NV |url=http://www.nevada-history.org/indians.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721162117/http://www.nevada-history.org/indians.html |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |title=America's Last Indian Battle |access-date=January 17, 2013}} A posse was formed, and on February 26, 1911, at the Battle of Kelley Creek, eight of Daggett's band were killed, along with one member of the posse, Ed Hogle.{{cite web|url=http://www.odmp.org/officer/18238-deputy-edward-e-hogle |title=Ed Hogle memorial |publisher=Odmp.org |access-date=January 17, 2013}} Three children and a woman who survived the battle were captured. The remains of some of the members of the band were repatriated from the Smithsonian Institution to the Fort Hall Idaho Shoshone-Bannock Tribe in 1994.{{cite web|url=http://anthropology.si.edu/repatriation/reports/regional/great_basin/nevada_w.htm |title=NMNH – Repatriation Office – Reports – Great Basin |publisher=Nmnh.si.edu |access-date=January 17, 2013}}

In 1918, Washoe County elected the first woman elected to the Nevada Legislature, Sadie Hurst, a Republican.{{cite web|title=Fact Sheet|url=http://www.leg.state.nv.us/division/research/publications/factsheets/women.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709115439/http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Publications/Factsheets/Women.pdf |archive-date=July 9, 2011 |url-status=live|publisher=Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau|access-date=March 7, 2014|date=November 2013}}

As of 2013, "Washoe County is the first school district in the state to offer Paiute classes," offering an elective course in the Paiute language at Spanish Springs High School{{Cite web

| publisher = KRNV, Reno, NV

| title = Nevada Proud: Students get a chance to learn native language in school

| work = My News 4

| access-date = October 24, 2013

| url = http://www.mynews4.com/mostpopular/story/Nevada-Proud-Students-get-a-chance-to-learn/evGAng-G2UWy6VLIxRSr-g.cspx

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192012/http://www.mynews4.com/mostpopular/story/Nevada-Proud-Students-get-a-chance-to-learn/evGAng-G2UWy6VLIxRSr-g.cspx

| archive-date = October 29, 2013

| url-status = dead

}} and North Valleys High School.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|6542|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|6302|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|240|sqmi}} (3.7%) is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_32.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 20, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}} The highest point in Washoe County is Mount Rose at {{convert|10,785|ft|m|abbr=on}}, while the most topographically prominent peak is Virginia Peak.

There are two incorporated cities within the county, namely Reno and Sparks. In 2010, there was a ballot question asking whether the Reno city government and the Washoe County government should become one combined governmental body.{{cite news |title=Combining local governments is questioned on ballot issue |first=Susan |last=Voyles |date=October 24, 2010 |work=Reno Gazette-Journal|page=10A}} According to unofficial results the day after the election, 54% of voters approved of the ballot measure to consolidate the governments.{{cite news|title=Election Results: Nevada |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 3, 2010|url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/nevada }}

The Truckee Meadows of Washoe County starts at the furthest southern runway of Reno Tahoe International Airport, GPS Coordinates 39.468836,-119.770912 and runs south east. Rattle Snake Mountain at Huffaker Park, follows the span of Steamboat Creek to the southern east end of Washoe County. This is the last of the range/prairie and wild grass water shed from the eastern range of the Reno Tahoe basin.

Washoe County is a wildfire prone area. These risks are particularly in Southern Reno (or areas just outside the city limits). As many structures are now being built in forested areas, along with often having favorable fire weather, most residents are under severe fire danger. Many fires in Southwest Reno have been destructive or spread quickly, such as the Caughlin Fire in 2011.{{cite news |last1=Alonzo |first1=Amy |title=Most Washoe County residents will face severe fire danger over next 30 years, study shows |url=https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2022/05/25/washoe-county-severe-fire-danger-wildfire-nevada-reno/9897594002/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=Reno Gazette Journal}}

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• 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

{{div col end}}

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• 20px Interstate 80 Business (Verdi)
• 20px Interstate 80 Business (Reno–Sparks)
• 20px Interstate 80 Business (Wadsworth–Fernley)
• {{jct|state=NV|I|580}}
• 25px U.S. Route 395
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• 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)

{{US Census population

|1870= 3091

|1880= 5664

|1890= 6437

|1900= 9141

|1910= 17434

|1920= 18627

|1930= 27158

|1940= 32476

|1950= 50205

|1960= 84743

|1970= 121068

|1980= 193623

|1990= 254667

|2000= 339486

|2010= 421407

|2020= 486492

|estyear=2024

|estimate=507280

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 29, 2025}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 20, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=December 20, 2014}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nv190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 20, 2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 20, 2014}} 2010–2020

}}

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 339,486 people, 132,084 households, and 83,741 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|54|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 143,908 housing units at an average density of {{convert|23|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 80.4% White, 2.1% Black or African American, 1.8% Native American, 4.3% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 7.7% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. 16.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 132,084 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.60% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,815, and the median income for a family was $54,283. Males had a median income of $36,226 versus $27,953 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,277. About 6.7% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 421,407 people, 163,445 households, and 102,768 families living in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US32031

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=January 21, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034630/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US32031

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|66.9|PD/sqmi}}. There were 184,841 housing units at an average density of {{convert|29.3|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US32031

|access-date=January 21, 2016

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191919/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US32031

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 76.9% white, 5.2% Asian, 2.3% black or African American, 1.7% American Indian, 0.6% Pacific islander, 9.5% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 22.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 16.9% were German, 13.1% were Irish, 11.8% were English, 7.2% were Italian, and 4.7% were American.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US32031

|title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 21, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031040/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US32031

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 163,445 households, 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.1% were non-families, and 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 37.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $55,658 and the median income for a family was $67,428. Males had a median income of $46,653 versus $35,559 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,687. About 8.5% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US32031

|title=DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 21, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033314/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US32031

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

The Demographics of Washoe County covers 6,540.4 square miles. There are approximately 42,154 households in the unincorporated areas with an estimated population of 419,948. The average household size in 2007 was estimated at 2.70.{{Cite web|url=http://www.reno.gov/home/showdocument?id=5129|title=Standards of Cover, Sierra Fire Protection District|last=Diamante|first=Group|date=2015|website=Reno Govt.|publisher=Diamante Group|access-date=August 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919060556/http://www.reno.gov/home/showdocument?id=5129|archive-date=September 19, 2016|url-status=dead}} The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District is charged with fire protection and emergency services in the unincorporated areas of the county.

{{PresHead|place=Washoe County, Nevada|whig=no|source1={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 12, 2018}}|source2=The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,150 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 362 votes.}}

{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|127,443|130,071|6,220|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|116,760|128,128|7,254|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|94,758|97,379|17,772|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|88,453|95,409|3,993|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|76,880|99,671|3,863|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|81,545|74,841|2,693|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|63,640|52,097|6,564|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|49,477|44,915|14,874|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|42,636|39,500|32,535|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|52,654|32,902|3,172|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|50,418|22,321|1,772|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|41,276|15,621|8,059|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|29,264|21,687|2,276|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|33,539|17,106|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|23,492|14,560|4,936|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|18,350|20,170|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|18,833|15,280|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|18,865|9,525|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|19,044|8,888|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|11,323|8,365|500|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|9,024|8,384|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|8,062|9,243|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,358|9,514|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,333|8,141|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,767|3,952|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,549|1,669|2,548|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,189|2,357|319|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|3,225|3,341|532|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|644|1,446|1,512|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,053|1,745|307|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,517|721|314|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|919|1,005|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|513|1,010|0|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1892|Populist|530|235|863|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1888|Republican|902|655|14|Nevada}}

{{PresRow|1884|Republican|716|493|0|Nevada}}

{{PresFoot|1880|Democratic|755|828|0|Nevada}}

Washoe County was rather conservative for an urban county for much of the late twentieth century. It voted for the Republican candidate all but once between 1944 and 2004 (in the 1964 Democratic landslide). However, starting in the 1990s, it became more competitive, going from a 22-point win for George H. W. Bush in 1988 to only a three-point win for Bush in 1992. From 1996 to 2004, the Republican candidate tallied a margin greater than four points only once, in 2000. The county swung hard to Barack Obama in 2008, going from a four-point margin for George W. Bush in 2004 to a 12-point margin for Obama in 2008. Since then, it has always voted Democratic in presidential elections, albeit by relatively narrow margins consistently under 5%. In 2016 and 2024, Donald Trump lost the county even as he won the presidency, the first time in 116 years that a Republican won the White House without winning Washoe County.

While Washoe is now more of a swing county federally, it remains very Republican down ballot. Republicans still hold the majority of the county's seats in the state legislature. Democratic strength is concentrated in Reno and Sparks, while the rest of the county remains powerfully Republican.

The county is governed by an elected five-member Board of County Commissioners and an appointed county manager.{{Cite web|title=Organization Chart|url=https://washoecounty.gov/mgrsoff/about/Organizational%20Chart.php|access-date=April 26, 2023|website=washoecounty.gov|language=en}} The commissioners serve staggered four-year terms - three are elected during midterm elections and two during presidential elections.

¹⁾ Appointed by Governor Joe Lombardo.

; Nevada Senate districts

• 13th (central Reno and Sparks)
• 14th (northern Washoe County)
• 15th (Cold Springs, Mogul, Verdi)
• 16th (Incline Village, Washoe Valley)

File:Washoe County.jpg

• Reno (county seat)
• Sparks

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Cold Springs
• Crystal Bay
• Empire
• Gerlach
• Golden Valley
• Incline Village
• Lemmon Valley
• Mogul
• Nixon
• Spanish Springs
• Sun Valley
• Sutcliffe
• Verdi
• Wadsworth
• Washoe Valley

{{div col end}}

• Deep Hole
• Flanigan
• Galena
• New Washoe City
• Poeville
• Pleasant Valley
• Pyramid
• Pyramid City
• Steamboat Springs
• Vya
• Washoe City

Washoe County School District is the school district for the entire county.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st32_nv/schooldistrict_maps/c32031_washoe/DC20SD_C32031.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721185703/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st32_nv/schooldistrict_maps/c32031_washoe/DC20SD_C32031.pdf |archive-date=July 21, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Washoe County, NV|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 21, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st32_nv/schooldistrict_maps/c32031_washoe/DC20SD_C32031_SD2MS.txt Text list]

The Bureau of Indian Education-contracted Pyramid Lake Schools is in Nixon.

There is a charter school, Coral Academy of Science; and these private schools: Bishop Manogue High School and Excel Christian School.

University of Nevada, Reno is in Reno.

Washoe County Library System is the public library system.

• Nellie Shaw Harnar, historian and educator
• Jeremy Renner, actor best known for his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise

{{Portal|Nevada}}

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washoe County, Nevada
• Reno 911!, a parody cop show set in Washoe County
• Washoe Zephyr, a regional wind referenced by Mark Twain.

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|https://washoecounty.gov/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081121213622/http://www.nevada-landmarks.com/washoe.htm Historical Markers of Washoe County]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Washoe County, Nevada

|North = Lake County, Oregon

|Northeast = Harney County, Oregon

|East = Humboldt County; Pershing County; and Churchill County

|Southeast = Lyon County

|South = Storey County and City of Carson City

|Southwest = Placer County, California

|West = Nevada County, California; Sierra County, California, California; Lassen County, California; and Modoc County, California

|Northwest =

}}

{{Washoe County, Nevada}}

{{Nevada}}

{{coord|40.63|-119.68|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NV_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1861 establishments in Nevada Territory

Category:Nevada placenames of Native American origin

Category:Reno, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area

Category:Populated places established in 1861