A Brief History of Reno, Nevada

As early as the 1850s a few pioneers settled in the Truckee Meadows, a relatively fertile valley through which the Truckee River made its way from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. There they were able to farm, and also pick up some business from travellers along the California Trail.

In 1850, gold had been discovered in the area of Virginia City, and a modest mining community developed. After the discovery of silver in 1859, soon grew one of the greatest mining establishments of all time. The Comstock's closest connection to the outside world lay in the Truckee Meadows.

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. Myron Lake bought the bridge, and 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 1868, the Central Pacific Railroad, building tracks across the west to connect with the Union Pacific, built from the east to form the first transcontinental railroad. Myron Lake deeded land to the Central Pacific in exchange for its promise to build a depot at Lake's Crossing. Once the railroad station was established, the town of Reno officially came into being on May 13, 1868. The new town was named in honor of Major General Jesse L. Reno, a Union officer killed in the American Civil War.