WASHOE COUNTY, NEVADA

'Washoe County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 339,486. As of July 1, 2006, the population of Washoe County is officially estimated at 409,085. Its county seat is Reno⁶.

Contents

History

Geography

Major Highways

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

Cities and towns

Prominent people

Other

History

Washoe County was created in 1861 as one of the original nine counties of Nevada. 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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 16,968 km² (6,551 mi²). 16,426 km² (6,342 mi²) of it is land and 541 km² (209 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.19%
There are two incorporated cities within the county: Reno and Sparks.

Major Highways

★ Interstate 80

★ Interstate 580

★ U.S. Route 395

★ Nevada State Route 651

★ Washoe County highway 447

Adjacent Counties

★ 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

★ Lake County, Oregon - north

★ Harney County, Oregon - northeast

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 339,486 people, 132,084 households, and 83,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 21/km² (54/mi²). There were 143,908 housing units at an average density of 9/km² (23/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.41% White, 2.09% Black or African American, 1.82% Native American, 4.28% Asian, 0.46% Pacific Islander, 7.67% from other races, and 3.28% from two or more races. 16.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 132,084 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.90% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.60% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.70% 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 24.90% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 31.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.80 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 6.70% of families and 10.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 6.20% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

★ Cold Springs

★ Gerlach-Empire

★ Incline Village-Crystal Bay

★ Lemmon Valley-Golden Valley

★ New Washoe City

★ Nixon

★ Pleasant Valley

★ Reno

★ Spanish Springs

★ Sparks

★ Sun Valley

★ Sutcliffe

★ Verdi-Mogul

★ Wadsworth

Prominent people

★ Rajan Zed: Hindu chaplain to deliver the first Hindu prayer in United States Senate in Washington DC.

Other

★ See also: ''Reno 911!'', a parody cop show set in Washoe County