Washoe County () is a county in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 486,492, making it Nevada's second-most populous county. Its county seat is Reno. Washoe County is included in the Reno, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Washoe County landing ship tank was named after this county.
History Petroglyphs on the west side of the Winnemucca Lake basin are at least 10,500 years old and may be 14,800 years old. They are the oldest known petroglyphs in North America.
Trappers and explorers, along with several emigrant trails to California and Oregon went through Washoe County in the 1840s. In January 1844, Lieutenant John C. Frémont discovered and named Pyramid Lake, with the expedition going down to the Truckee River soon after. Later that year, the Stephens-Donner route opened, the route crossing the Humboldt Sink to the Truckee River and went over the Truckee Pass.
Mormons created the State of Deseret in 1849, a provisional state, that included much of Nevada and Washoe County. During the California Constitutional Convention, there was debate on whether to include the Great Basin in the state. 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 from San Francisco, Myron Norton, stated "Whatever the region may be, a barren waste or a land of promise, we have 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 the Sierra Nevada.
Migration to California attracted settlers to the Truckee Meadows, and just south of the Truckee River, the Junction House was established in 1850.
On September 9, 1850, Congress created Utah Territory, which included Nevada and Washoe County.
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. 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. 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.
In 1918, Washoe County elected the first woman elected to the Nevada Legislature, Sadie Hurst, a Republican.
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 and North Valleys High School.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (3.7%) is water. The highest point in Washoe County is Mount Rose at , while the most topographically prominent peak is Virginia Peak.
The Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area in northern Washoe County became an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2019. DarkSky International says it is one of the darkest places in the contiguous United States.
The endangered cui-ui is found only in Pyramid Lake and the lower Truckee River. It is a traditional food of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, whose traditional name means "cui-ui eaters".
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. According to unofficial results the day after the election, 54% of voters approved of the ballot measure to consolidate the governments.
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.
Adjacent counties
Lake County, Oregon – north Harney County, Oregon – northeast Humboldt County, Nevada – east Pershing County, Nevada – east Churchill County, Nevada – east Lyon County, Nevada – southeast Storey County, Nevada – south Carson City, Nevada – south Placer County, California – southwest Nevada County, California – west Sierra County, California – west Lassen County, California – west Modoc County, California – west
Major highways
National protected 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)
Parks and recreation Washoe County's largest park is Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Reno. The 580-acre park hosts The Great Reno Balloon Race and includes the Wilbur D. May Museum and Arboretum.
Hidden Valley Regional Park covers 480 acres in southeast Reno. Sixty-five acres are developed. The park has an equestrian arena, trails, and a fenced dog park. Galena Creek Regional Park is on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada. Its trails are used for hiking in summer and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. About 20 miles south of Reno, Bowers Mansion Regional Park includes the historic Bowers Mansion and a seasonal outdoor pool.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Washoe County, Nevada – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)173,030212,416247,835278,213287,86289.36%83.41%73.00%66.02%59.17%Black or African American alone (NH)3,4975,4146,7349,08811,5271.81%2.13%1.98%2.16%2.37%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)3,4104,3805,1815,7825,7901.76%1.72%1.53%1.37%1.19%Asian alone (NH)3,8039,27014,30621,28828,0631.96%3.64%4.21%5.05%5.77%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census1,4932,3583,250xx0.44%0.56%0.67%Other race alone (NH)5312284326732,4850.27%0.09%0.13%0.16%0.51%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census7,20410,28125,311xx2.12%2.44%5.20%Hispanic or Latino (any race)9,35222,95956,30193,724122,2044.83%9.02%16.58%22.24%25.12%Total193,623254,667339,486421,407486,492 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 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.
The racial makeup of the county was 64.1% White, 2.5% Black or African American, 1.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.9% Asian, 0.7% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 11.9% from some other race, and 13.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 25.1% of the population.
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.
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%.
2010 census As of the 2010 United States census, there were 421,407 people, 163,445 households, and 102,768 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 184,841 housing units at an average density of . 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.
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.
2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 339,486 people, 132,084 households, and 83,741 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 143,908 housing units at an average density of . 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.
2016 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. The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District is charged with fire protection and emergency services in the unincorporated areas of the county.
Economy
Between 2020 and 2025, the number of jobs in Washoe County rose 13.1 percent, compared with 10.6 percent nationally.