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Carson City, Nevada

The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the State of Nevada. The population was 52,457 at the 2000 census. Carson City is now an independent city and is its own Metropolitan Statistical Area. Like many towns in Nevada, Carson City was founded in the boom days of mining. A center of silver mining, Carson City was the county seat of the former Ormsby County and was named for explorer Kit Carson.

Carson City has the distinction of being the smallest of the 363 Metropolitan Statistical Areas as designated by the United States Census Bureau (as of July 1, 2007).

The largest nearby city to Carson City is Reno, about to the north. Carson City is one of only two capital cities in the United States that borders another state (Carson City borders California); the other is Trenton, New Jersey (bordering Pennsylvania). Alaska's capital city, Juneau, borders British Columbia, Canada.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 52,457 people, 20,171 households, and 13,252 families residing in the city. The population density is 366 people per square mile (141/km²). There are 21,283 housing units at an average density of 148/sq mi (57/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 85.30% White, 1.80% Black or African American, 2.40% Native American, 1.77% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 6.46% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. 14.23% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 20,171 households, out of which 29.80% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% are married couples living together, 11.00% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% are non-families. 27.80% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.00% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 2.97.

The city's age distribution is: 23.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 106.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 108.20 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $41,809, and the median income for a family is $49,570. Males have a median income of $35,296 versus $27,418 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,943. 10.00% of the population and 6.90% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.70% of those under the age of 18 and 5.80% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Geography

The city limits of Carson City cover , making it one of largest cities in terms of area in the state. Downtown Carson City lies in Eagle Valley, which is surrounded by the Carson Range to the west and the Virginia Range to the east. Snow Valley Peak, which rises in the Sierra Nevada, is the highest point in the city and is accessible along the Tahoe Rim Trail and through Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park. To the west the city limits stretch to the California state line, encompassing a portion of the Lake Tahoe shore. The portion of Carson City borderig Lake Tahoe is accessible only along Highway 28 and is known as the Carson City Wilderness Area. Like much of the western portion of the city limits, the eastern part of Carson City is largely wilderness area and accessible only through jeep and hiking trails. The Carson River flows through this part of the city.

Climate

Carson City is situated in high desert valley of approximately above sea level. There are four fairly distinct seasons, all of which are relatively mild compared to many parts of the country. Winters see typically light snowfall. Most precipitation occurs in winter and spring, with summer and fall being extremely dry, much like neighboring California. Mid-summer highs typically top out in the 90s, however temperatures of 100 degrees and above do occur on occasion. The low humidity and high elevation generally make even the hottest and coldest days quite bearable. July high and low temperatures average at 91 and 51, respectively, while in January this drops to 45 and 22..

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

The Carson City School District operates ten schools in Carson City.

Elementary schools include Bordewich-Bray Elementary School, Empire Elementary School, Fremont Elementary School, Fritsch Elementary School, Seeliger Elementary School, and Mark Twain Elementary School.

Carson Middle School and Eagle Valley Middle School are the district's two middle schools. Carson High School is the sole district public high school serving Carson City. In addition Silver State Charter High School is located in Carson City.

Private schools

Capital Christian School is in Carson City.

Colleges and universities

Western Nevada College (WNC) is a regionally accredited, two year institution which is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. The college has an enrollment of approximately 6,000. It has a prison education program, which offers classes to degree-seeking inmates in five correctional institutions throughout northern Nevada. Courses are conducted daytime and evening in the classroom, by cablecast, and on the Internet. WNC offers associate of arts, associate of science, associate of applied science or associate of general studies degrees, one-year certificates, or certificates of completion in more than 50 career fields, including architecture, auto/diesel mechanics, criminal justice, dental hygiene, graphic design, nursing, and welding. Recently, the college has added a four-year program.

Sports

Carson City has never hosted any professional sports. But that could change with the possible relocation of a Golden Baseball League franchise currently known as the Reno Silver Sox, who are being forced to relocate due to the arrival of the Pacific Coast League's Reno Aces. City officials and league officials are currently negotiating bringing the franchise to the city in time to play in either the 2009 or 2010 seasons.

Transportation

Carson City is one of five state capitals not served by an interstate highway (Dover, Delaware; Jefferson City, Missouri; Juneau, Alaska, and Pierre, South Dakota are the other four). This will soon change as Interstate 580, also known as the Carson City Freeway, is currently under construction. This will eventually link Carson City to Reno and Interstate 80.

The Regional Transportation System of Washoe County (RTC) provides public transportation service between Reno and Carson City, and on Oct. 3, 2005, Carson City's first bus system, Jump Around Carson, or JAC opened to the public.

Carson City is also served by the Carson Airport, which is a regional airport in the northern part of the city.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Gallery

Points of interest

In Popular Culture

Carson City appears as a level in the Super Nintendo game Wild Guns, a western-themed arcade shooter. It's depicted somewhat inaccurately, however, with Monument Valley-style rock formations in the background.
Carson City appears in Shanghai Noon, a western comedy movie starring Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson. This is where the Chinese princess was kept after kidnapped in China. Jackie and his fellow fights with authority and Chinese traitor in this city.
Carson City is where the movie The Shootist, featuring John Wayne and Lauren Bacall took place. It was filmed mainly at the home near Spear and Mountain Streets.

The Shootist was John Wayne's last movie.