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Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, US. As of the 2000 census, the city populus was 180,480, making it the second-largest city in Nevada. Current census estimates, however, show the city`s populus has grown to approximately 214,000 but the city is now the third largest in the state, following Las Vegas and Henderson. Reno lies 26 miles (42 km) N of the Nevada state capital, Carson City, and 22 miles (35 km) Neast of Lake Tahoe in the high desert. The area of western Nevada and the California Sierra Nevada anchored by Reno has a populus of approximately 650,000. Reno shares its eastern border with the city of Sparks. Reno, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World", is famous for its casinos, and is the birthplace of the gaming corporation Harrah`s Entertainment. Reno residents are referred to as "Renoites".

To provide the necessary connection between Virginia City and the California Trail, Charles Fuller built a log toll bridge across the Truckee River in 1859. A small community to service travellers soon grew up near the bridge. After two years, Fuller sold the bridge to Myron Lake, who continued to develop the community with the addition of a grist mill, kiln, and livery stable to the hotel and eating house. The tiny community acquired the name River`s Crossing or more commonly Lakes Crossing. In 1864, Washoe County was consolidated with Roop County; Lakes Crossing became the largest city in the county.

In 1871 Reno became the county seat of the newly enlargeed Washoe County, replacing the previous county seat, located in Washoe City. However, political power in Nevada remained with the mining communities, first Virginia City and later Tonopah and Goldfield.

As the mining boom waned early in the twentieth century, Nevada`s centers of political and business activity shifted to the non-mining communities, especially Reno and Las Vegas, and today the former mining metropolises stand as little more than ghost towns. Despite this, Nevada is still the third-largest gold producer in the world, after South Africa and Australia; the state yielded 6.9 percent of the world`s supply in 2005 world gold production .

Reno has experienced a growing economy which has resulted in new home construction around the metro area. A direct result of this growth and the "Housing bubble" has been a dramatic increase in housing prices in the area. Reno-Sparks being named the 44th most overvalued housing market in the nation in 2006. As of Jan. 2007 Reno’s housing market has experienced a correction of 7% bringing the median home price down to .

Reno is situated in a high desert river valley of approximately 4,400 feet (1300 m) above sea level. Winter has snowfall but typically it is light. Summer highs are generally in the low to mid 90s (degrees Fahrenheit, 30s in degrees Celsius), but temperatures above 100°F (38°C) occur occasionally. July daytime and nighttime temperatures avg 92°F (33°C) and 51°F (11°C), respectively; while January day and night temperatures avg 46°F (7°C) and 22°F (-6°C), respectively. Most precipitation occurs in winter and spring.