Moving to Carson City, Nevada

Carson City, Nevada is located in the western region of the United States. It is situated in a valley at an elevation of 4,734 feet and bordered by Lake Tahoe to the north and the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the west. The city has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters.

The history of Carson City dates back to 1858 when it was founded as a trading post along the Carson River. During its early years, it was an important stop on the California Trail, a route used by settlers traveling to California during the gold rush era. The city was named after John C. Fremont’s scout, Kit Carson, who explored much of what is now Nevada.

Politically, Carson City is part of Nevada’s state government and serves as its official capital. The city has several elected officials including a mayor and four commissioners who oversee various departments such as public works and parks & recreation. Additionally, there are numerous state agencies located in Carson City that are responsible for providing services such as education, health care, housing assistance, and more.

Carson City has an economy that relies heavily on tourism due to its proximity to Lake Tahoe and other nearby attractions such as casinos and ski resorts. Other major industries include gaming, manufacturing, construction, retail trade, finance/insurance/real estate services, health care/social assistance services, education services, public administration services and transportation/warehousing services.

The city is served by several school districts including Carson City School District (CCSD), Douglas County School District (DCSD) and Lyon County School District (LCSD). These districts offer a variety of educational programs from elementary through high school levels with some schools offering special programs such as advanced placement courses or special education classes for students with unique needs or disabilities.

Carson City has several popular landmarks that are worth visiting if you’re in town including the Nevada State Capitol Building which houses legislative offices; Governor’s Mansion which serves as home to the state’s governor; V&T Railroad Museum which features memorabilia from one of Nevada’s first railways; Lake Tahoe which offers recreational activities like fishing or boating; Genoa Courthouse Museum which houses artifacts from early days of settlement; Nevada State Museum which showcases artifacts from across many eras; Fort Churchill State Historic Park which provides historical insight into early days of settlement in this region; Eagle Valley Golf Club which offers golfers 18 holes along with views of beautiful Sierra Nevadas mountains; & Washoe Lake State Park where visitors can enjoy camping or picnicking among other outdoor activities.

Population: 52,457. Estimated population in July 2024: 56,062 (+6.9% change)
Males: 27,102 (51.7%), Females: 25,355 (48.3%)

Zip codes: 89701, 89703, 89705, 89706.

Demographics

Median resident age: 38.7 years
Median household income: $41,809
Median house value: $147,500

Population by Race

Races in Carson City:

• White Non-Hispanic (78.5%)
• Hispanic (14.2%)
• Other race (6.5%)
• American Indian (3.3%)
• Two or more races (2.1%)
• Black (1.8%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (17.0%), English (13.5%), Irish (12.8%), Italian (6.7%), United States (5.1%), French (4.0%).

Elevation: 4730 feet

Land area: 143.4 square miles

Population by Education

Carson City, Nevada is the state capital and most populous city in the state. It is located in western Nevada, about 30 miles south of Reno. According to the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 55,274 people. This makes it the sixth largest city in Nevada by population. The median age of Carson City residents is 36 years old, with a gender ratio that slightly favors females. The racial makeup of the city is predominantly white (78%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (15%), African American (3%), Asian (2%) and Native American (1%).

The economy of Carson City is largely based on government services and tourism, with some light manufacturing and service industries also present. The city’s largest employer is the State of Nevada, which employs nearly 10% of all working residents. Other notable employers include Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare, Casino Fandango and Walmart Supercenter. Tourism plays an important role in Carson City’s economy as well; several large casinos are located within the city limits, including Boomtown Casino and Hotel and Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Resort & Casino. Additionally, since it is the state capital there are many attractions related to history and government that draw tourists from around the world each year.

For population 25 years and over in Carson City

• High school or higher: 82.5%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.5%
• Graduate or professional degree: 6.6%
• Unemployed: 4.6%
• Mean travel time to work: 17.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Carson City

• Never married: 20.3%
• Now married: 56.2%
• Separated: 2.1%
• Widowed: 6.8%
• Divorced: 14.5%

9.9% Foreign born (6.8% Latin America, 1.5% Asia, 1.0% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: +11,800 (+29.0%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Carson City:

• CARSON REHABILITATION CENTER (900 EAST LONG STREET, PO BOX 2305)
• CARSON-TAHOE HOSPITAL (775 FLEISCHMANN WAY)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Carson City:

• INCLINE VILLAGE HEALT CENTER (about 15 miles; INCLINE VILLAGE, NV)
• ACUTE REHABILITATION AT WASHOE (about 17 miles; RENO, NV)
• HEALTHSOUTH REHAB HOSP OF RENO (about 24 miles; RENO, NV)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Carson City:

• RENO/TAHOE INTERNATIONAL (about 23 miles; RENO, NV; Abbreviation: RNO)
• LAKE TAHOE (about 25 miles; SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA; Abbreviation: TVL)
• BEALE AFB (about 117 miles; MARYSVILLE, CA; Abbreviation: BAB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Carson City:

• CARSON (about 3 miles; CARSON CITY, NV; Abbreviation: CXP)
• PARKER CARSON (about 6 miles; CARSON CITY, NV; Abbreviation: 2Q5)
• MINDEN-TAHOE (about 12 miles; MINDEN, NV; Abbreviation: MEV)

Amtrak station:
CARSON CITY (507 N. CARSON ST.) – Bus Station. Services: fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, full-service food facilities, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, taxi stand.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Carson City:

• WESTERN NEVADA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 2,167; Location: 2201 West College Parkway; Public; Website: www.wncc.nevada.edu)
• PIONEER SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE (Location: 888 E. Williams St.; Private, for-profit)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Carson City:

• TRUCKEE MEADOWS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 27 miles; RENO, NV; Full-time enrollment: 4,615)
• UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-RENO (about 96 miles; RENO, NV; Full-time enrollment: 10,375)
• SIERRA COLLEGE (about 106 miles; ROCKLIN, CA; Full-time enrollment: 9,313)
• AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE (about 116 miles; SACRAMENTO, CA; Full-time enrollment: 13,984)
• YUBA COLLEGE (about 124 miles; MARYSVILLE, CA; Full-time enrollment: 5,593)
• CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY-SACRAMENTO (about 124 miles; SACRAMENTO, CA; Full-time enrollment: 20,830)
• CHARLES A JONES SKILLS AND BUSINESS ED CENTER (about 125 miles; SACRAMENTO, CA; Full-time enrollment: 2,704)

Schools

Public high schools in Carson City:

• CARSON HS (Students: 2,574; Location: 1111 NORTH SALIMAN; Grades: 09 – 12)
• PIONEER HS – ALT ED (Students: 107; Location: 225 E. PARK ST.; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Carson City:

• CARSON MIDSCH (Students: 1,220; Location: WEST KING STREET & RICHMOND; Grades: 06 – 08)
• EAGLE VALLEY MIDSCH (Students: 960; Location: 4151 EAST FIFTH; Grades: 06 – 08)
• SEELIGER ELEM (Students: 678; Location: 2800 SALIMAN ROAD; Grades: KG – 05)
• BORDEWICH/BRAY ELEM (Students: 668; Location: 710 WEST FOURTH; Grades: KG – 05)
• MARK TWAIN ELEM (Students: 660; Location: 2111 CARRIAGE CREST DR; Grades: KG – 05)
• FREMONT, JOHN C. ELEM (Students: 655; Location: 700 EAST FIFTH STREET; Grades: KG – 05)
• FRITSCH, EDITH W. ELEM (Students: 624; Location: 504 WEST BATH STREET; Grades: KG – 05)
• EMPIRE ELEM (Students: 606; Location: 1260 MONTE ROSA; Grades: KG – 05)
• GLEASON CENTER (Students: 46; Location: 604 WEST MUSSER STREET; Grades: PK – KG)

Private primary/middle schools in Carson City:

• ST TERESA ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 238; Location: 567 S RICHMOND AVE; Grades: KG – 8)
• BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 210; Location: 1837 MOUNTAIN ST; Grades: PK – 8)
• CAPITAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 132; Location: 1600 SNYDER; Grades: KG – 10)
• EDUCARE ACADEMY (Students: 27; Location: 2210 LONE MOUNTAIN DRIVE; Grades: 1 – 6)

Libraries

Library in Carson City:

• CARSON CITY LIBRARY (Operating income: $1,327,901; Location: 900 NORTH ROOP STREET; 103,336 books; 3,800 audio materials; 3,637 video materials; 260 serial subscriptions)