Carson City History Facts and Timeline

(Carson City, Nevada - NV, USA)

With a relatively short history, Carson City officially began its life in the early 1840s, when the area referred to as Eagle Valley saw the arrival of European explorers from America. The team of explorers was led by one John Charles Fremont, an intrepid military officer known for his expeditions.

Fremont began to map the area and immediately decided to name the valley river 'Carson River', after famous American frontiersman Kit Carson, who he had recruited as a guide. The native Washoe peoples (a Native American tribe of the Great Basin) were forcibly evicted from their homeground and settlement of the area began.

Carson City was originally named as Washoe, after the tribe, and various buildings were gradually erected along the course of the river and the California Trail. These structures included a busy trading post named the Eagle Station, while the surrounding area became known as Eagle Ranch.

Settlement and Territorial Government

Carson City originally belonged to the Utah Territory, being governed by the rather distant Salt Lake City, roughly 550 miles / 885 km to the east. Settlers objected to this government rule and protests eventually led to the creation of the territory of Nevada.

Abraham Curry, a wealthy businessman from New York State, came here on his quest for the site of a capital city for the new territory. The Eagle Valley area was surveyed and suggested as the perfect destination, with Curry deciding that it should be named Carson City.

Forward-thinking Curry began to draw up plans for the state capital, thinking so far ahead that he allocated a spacious 10-acre / 4-hectare site for a Capitol Building to be built at a later stage.

The Discovery of Silver and Gold

The year of 1859 marks an important moment in Carson City history, when both silver and gold were discovered in the Comstock Lode area. This quickly brought much wealth to the city and many fortune-seekers arrived during the subsequent gold rush, swelling the local population dramatically.

At this time in the history of Carson City, the Warm Springs Hotel was opened to meet demand for accommodation and it was finally confirmed that this city would indeed become the capital of the Nevada territory. The hotel soon became a meeting hall for local government. It was the place where plans were made and laws were introduced. Carson City was chosen to be Ormsby County's official seat and the function of the hotel changed to a prison for outlaws.

The Mint and the Railroad

Nevada finally became one of the United States in 1864, with Carson City remaining as its permanent state capital. While the mining industry continued, the city began making its name for being a center for commerce and timber. A modern railroad was built, connecting nearby Virginia City (roughly 15 miles / 24 km to the northeast), resulting in an influx of Chinese workers.

At the beginning of the 1870s, the Nevada State Capitol Building was constructed and at the same time, the United States Mint opened a branch in the city and began producing coins. A downturn in the local economy came following the completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which headed through Donner Pass, to the far northwest of the city.

America's Smallest Capital and Growth

The city remained fairly small in size and proudly gave itself the title of 'America's smallest capital'. However, by the middle of the 20th century the city began to grow once more, swallowing up surrounding suburbs and towns. Ormsby County was dissolved, meaning that Carson City gained the status of an independent city and was now far from being a small capital.

The 1990s were important in the history of Carson City, with the downtown district being restructured. A law was passed to prohibit the construction of high-rise buildings in the city center, to ensure that the Nevada State Capitol would remain clearly visible. However, the Ormsby House, which was built in 1972, does now actually violate this law, being around 5 feet / 1.5 meters higher.