WASHOE COUNTY
County Offices
1001 East Ninth Street
Reno 775-328-2000
www.co.washoe.nv.us
Chamber of Commerce
One East First Street
Reno 775-337-3030
www.reno-sparkschamber.org
Beautiful Washoe County offers a growing area along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in western Nevada. The county seat of Reno is Nevada’s second largest city after Las Vegas, although the county is home to two scenic communities at Lake Tahoe.
Services
Newcomers to Washoe County will discover an exciting yet comfortable and livable environment with exceptional services, both public and private. Nearly all of the county’s traditional high schools ranked among MSNBC/Newsweek’s “top 1300” in the nation. The opportunities for a higher education close to home are equally outstanding, beginning with the Millennium Scholarship that is open to every qualifying Nevada high school graduate. Reno is home to the University of Nevada-Reno, ranked by U.S. World & News Report as one of America’s best colleges. The Carnegie Foundation ranks UNR in the highest categories for research beside prestigious institutions like Stanford and Harvard universities. With research funding infusing $200 million into the regional economy, little wonder that the Desert Research Institute is so renowned. A number of other two-year and four-year colleges and universities are available within a reasonable commuting distance, including the private Sierra Nevada College in its pristine alpine setting. Truckee Meadows Community College, Lake Tahoe Community College, Western Nevada College, the Career College of Northern Nevada, Morrison University, and the University of Phoenix-Nevada Campus combine to offer a kaleidoscope of programs, disciplines, and degree options.
State-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities are anchored by the Northern Nevada Medical Center in Reno, where 100 private rooms are available for comprehensive inpatient and acute hospital care. Among the hospital’s many services and specializations are 24-hour emergency care, surgery, intensive care, geropsychiatry, outpatient care, laboratory, advanced imaging, women’s wellness, and complete diagnostic services. The campus encompasses two medical office buildings that house dozens of physicians in an array of primary and sub-specialty areas. Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center provides a faith-based healthcare system with a full continuum of services. The hospital serves as the cornerstone of the Catholic Healthcare West network, serving the Reno community since its opening in 1908. Today, the medical center offers a 380-bed facility and a wide range of specialized services including cardiac care, obstetrics, neonatal intensive care, oncology, neurology, emergency care, and rehabilitation. Auxiliary locations expand the community outreach efforts, including outpatient services at Saint Mary’s at Galena, home care, hospice, wellness programs, a medically-based fitness center, clinics and mobile outreach. Reno is also home to the Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, while Renown South Meadows adds an array of additional services from emergency care to surgery. Incline Village Community Hospital provides the personalized care of a smaller facility conveniently close to home for regional residents.
Lifestyle
Washoe County is a rapidly growing area that offers an exceptional quality of life, both in natural beauty and developed attractions and amenities. The county continues to expand economically, drawing new business and industry to a truly enviable address. Four distinct seasons are crowned by close proximity to the Lake Tahoe recreation, one of the world’s most beloved destinations for outdoor recreation. World-class snowboarding and downhill skiing, boating and water sports, hiking and biking, horseback riding, and premier golfing are just a few of the activities that are available close to home. Dozens of colorful annual celebrations draw enthusiastic crowds and create red-letter days in Washoe County, including the Reno Rodeo, the Great Reno Balloon Races, and the Reno Air Races. The city of Sparks, with its Victorian Square, draws enthusiastic crowds to a number of other wildly popular events.
Many recognize the name of “Reno” as synonymous with glittering casino resorts and pulsating nightlife. While this is certainly a region of adventure, both day and night, Washoe County is also rich in cultural events and the arts. The Nevada Museum of Art is a landmark venue that combines a fine collection with world-class traveling exhibits. Designed by Will Bruder and inspired by Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, the museum features breathtaking galleries and a rooftop sculpture garden. Downtown Reno invites a stroll through its Arts District along the Truckee River, filled with an eclectic array of galleries, shops, restaurants, and coffee houses. History and geology buffs will want to visit ancient rock art sites that are older than the Egyptian pyramids or trace the steps of early pioneers. Reno’s Little Italy is the focal point of Historic Reno Preservation Society’s walking tour. Probably the crown jewel of celebrations is the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Artown. Whether you choose to settle in bustling urban centers like Reno and Sparks or one of the county’s tranquil residential villages, Washoe County has the diversity to support every lifestyle choice.
Incline Village, Crystal Bay
County Offices
775-328-2000
www.co.washoe.nv.us
Chamber of Commerce
530-581-6900
www.northlaketahoechamber.com
Two of the smaller residential communities that have sprung up in Washoe County are Incline Village and Crystal Bay, both considered neighborhoods in the Greater Lake Tahoe region. Incline Village was named for the Great Incline Tramway that was built by loggers in 1878. Today, some of the wealthiest people in the world have built stunning alpine retreats and magnificent custom homes that take advantage of the dramatic terrain to command spectacular views. This eastern North Shore enclave is well known for its relaxing beaches and enviable quality of life. Summertime brings the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival to nearby Sand Harbor. Mountain bikers enjoy the thrilling Flume trail that drains right into the village, while winter finds ski enthusiasts trekking to the local Diamond Peak or Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. Straddling the California-Nevada state line, the neighborhood of Crystal Bay allows residents to swim from one state to the other in the Cal-Neva Resort’s swimming pool. Overlooking its namesake, Crystal Bay, this enclave actually perches on a site strewn with granite boulders.
Reno
City Hall
775-334-INFO
www.cityofreno.com
Chamber of Commerce
775-337-3030
www.reno-sparkschamber.org
Offering the breathtaking beauty of the Lake Tahoe region as its backyard, Reno is one of the largest cities in Nevada and has long been dubbed the “Biggest Little City in the World.” More recently, Reno has gained the new title of “America’s Adventure Place” for its place as a hub for those who want to enjoy a wide variety of world-class recreational pursuits. The sun shines more than 300 days a year in this four-season paradise, so residents can enjoy virtually every imaginable outdoor adventure. The area’s breathtaking natural beauty as well as opportunities for glide soaring, snowboarding, downhill skiing, and golfing areas are internationally famous as some of the world’s finest. Not all of the memorable moments occur outdoors, however. Many associate Reno with its spectacular casinos and nightlife, but the city is economically thriving with outstanding research and educational resources and impressive cultural enrichment. Reno is home to the University of Nevada at Reno, the world-class Nevada Museum of Art, and the National Automobile Museum. Wonderful neighborhoods, a visionary government, historic pride, and a progressive outlook all combine in Reno.
Sparks
City Hall
775-353-2350
www.ci.sparks.nv.us
Chamber of Commerce
775-337-3030
www.reno-sparkschamber.org
The growing city of Sparks is nestled in the Truckee Meadows between the Carson and Virginia Mountain Ranges at an elevation of nearly 4,500 feet. The city shares its idyllic valley location and mild four-season climate with its larger neighbor to the west, Reno. Growth in Reno has accelerated the expansion of Sparks, a thriving city with a strong downtown business core and established and new neighborhoods. Residents enjoy Nevada’s bright sunshine and the Lake Tahoe region’s global reputation for world-class outdoor recreation throughout the four seasons. Sparks is widely known as the premiere special-events destination for the entire northern Nevada region. The city boasts a charming Victorian Square that provides the perfect backdrop for annual events like the Hometown Farmers Market, The Big Easy, Hot August Nights, Nuggest Best in the West Rib Cook-off, and Hometowne Christmas. The parks and recreation department in Sparks is exceptionally active, ensuring that residents of all ages can choose from great programs and can enjoy their leisure time in lush and well-equipped parks. The city is particularly proud of its latest addition: Sparks Marina Park, where 80 acres of water are surrounded by facilities for swimming, boating, fishing, scuba diving, and picnicking.
