Mormons created theState of Deseret in 1849, a provisional state, that included much of Nevada and Washoe County. During theCalifornia Constitutional Convention, there was debate on whether to include theGreat Basin in thestate. One attorney argued "a great portion of it [the Great Basin] can be of no advantage to us. A vast deal of it is an immense unexplored region -- a barren waste." An attorney fromSan Francisco,Myron Norton, stated "Whatever the region may be, a barren waste or a land of promise, wehave no right to relinquish it. It may be rich in agricultural and mineral wealth, we know nothing to the contrary. No man knows whether it is worthless or not." Ultimately, the majority felt they would gain nothing by extending the border beyond theSierra Nevada.[3]
Migration to California attracted settlers to theTruckee Meadows, and just south of the Truckee River, the Junction House was established in 1850.[3]
Washoe County was created on November 25, 1861, as one of the original nine counties of theNevada Territory. It is named after theWashoe people who originally inhabited the area. It was consolidated withRoop County in 1864.Washoe City was the first county seat in 1861 and was replaced byReno in 1871.
In 1911, a small band ofShoshone andBannock led byMike Daggett killed four stockmen in Washoe County.[4] A posse was formed, and on February 26, 1911, at theBattle of Kelley Creek, eight of Daggett's band were killed, along with one member of the posse, Ed Hogle.[5] Three children and a woman who survived the battle were captured. The remains of some of the members of the band were repatriated from theSmithsonian Institution to theFort Hall Idaho Shoshone-Bannock Tribe in 1994.[6]
As of 2013, "Washoe County is the first school district in the state to offer Paiute classes," offering an elective course in thePaiute language at Spanish Springs High School[8] and North Valleys High School.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,542 square miles (16,940 km2), of which 6,302 square miles (16,320 km2) is land and 240 square miles (620 km2) (3.7%) is water.[9] The highest point in Washoe County isMount Rose at 10,785 ft (3,287 m), while the most topographically prominent peak isVirginia 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.[10] According to unofficial results the day after the election, 54% of voters approved of the ballot measure to consolidate the governments.[11]
TheTruckee Meadows of Washoe County starts at the furthest southern runway ofReno 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 awildfire 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 theCaughlin Fire in 2011.[12]
Washoe County, Nevada – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 486,492. The median age was 38.4 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.0 males age 18 and over. 95.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 4.2% lived in rural areas.[22][23][24]
There were 191,885 households in the county, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]
There were 207,209 housing units, of which 7.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 57.8% were owner-occupied and 42.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.[23]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 421,407 people, 163,445 households, and 102,768 families living in the county.[25] The population density was 66.9 inhabitants per square mile (25.8/km2). There were 184,841 housing units at an average density of 29.3 per square mile (11.3/km2).[26] 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.[25] In terms of ancestry, 16.9% wereGerman, 13.1% wereIrish, 11.8% wereEnglish, 7.2% wereItalian, and 4.7% wereAmerican.[27]
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.[25]
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 thepoverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.[28]
As of thecensus[29] of 2000, there were 339,486 people, 132,084 households, and 83,741 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 54 people per square mile (21 people/km2). There were 143,908 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (8.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.4%White, 2.1%Black orAfrican American, 1.8%Native American, 4.3%Asian, 0.5%Pacific Islander, 7.7% fromother races, and 3.3% from two or more races. 16.6% of the population wereHispanic orLatino 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $24,277. About 6.7% of families and 10.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
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.[30] TheTruckee Meadows Fire Protection District is charged with fire protection and emergency services in the unincorporated areas of the county.
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 forGeorge 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 toBarack Obama in 2008, going from a four-point margin forGeorge 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 124 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.[34] The commissioners serve staggered four-year terms - three are elected duringmidterm elections and two duringpresidential elections.
