A Brief History Of Reno

Reno's history began in earnest when in 1859 Charles William Fuller arrived in the Truckee Meadows and promptly laid claim to a piece of the land. His land wasn't much to an observer; the best thing about it was the location - the south bank of the Truckee River. After getting himself settled, he began developing the area almost immediately - within one year of his arrival, he had built a bridge as well as a small hotel for those traveling through the region. He renamed the area 'Fuller's crossing'. It was not too long after that Fuller attracted the interest of businessmen seeking potential opportunities in the area for further development. To this end, he sold the bridge and hotel to Myron C. Lake, who subsequently renamed the area once again - it was now called 'Lake's crossing'. Lake began to exercise his entrepreneurial intentions by charging a toll for crossing his new bridge. Lake knew that the crossing had the potential to become an important stop on the routes between California and the mines of Virginia. His insight was correct.

After purchasing the hotel and bridge, Lake was the sole property owner in the area. He maintained complete autonomy until 1868 when the Central Pacific Railroad (which would later become the Union Railroad) crossed the Sierra Nevada and set their sights on Truckee Meadows. Charles Fuller's initial speculation was right, the area was directly in the path of the railroad and they were now willing to pay for the land. Lake had all the leverage in the situation and took full advantage; an agreement between himself and CPR would see a new outpost built and land rights divided between the two. The town was named 'Reno' in honor of Union Army general, Jesse Lee Reno (a man who had been killed in the Civil War), and the city has grown quickly over the years.

In 1872 the Truckee & Virginia Railroad began to expand and the town of Reno became a crucial transfer point for the vast amount of wealth coming from the Comstock Lode. By the onset of the twentieth century Reno was establishing a new reputation as a place that people could get divorced easily, due in part to the lenient laws of Nevada. It only took a few instances of celebrities seeking to relinquish their marriages in Reno and the press caught on quickly - soon, the reputation was that Reno was the "divorce capital" of the country. Nevada legalized the gaming tables in 1931 and the industry took off soon afterward. The 'divorce capital' reputation, in addition to the gambling legalization became the foundation of a tourist industry that continues to flourish today.

Reno is a very important stopoff in the western United States for transportation, and its situation has helped it to developed a strong economy even as it prospers as a gambling hub. A railroad is meant to bring more travel to the region, and this has become part of the politics of the city leaders and industrial heads, that influence decision-making in the area. A reinvigorated downtown sector is also playing a major part in the expanding the tourist traffic beyond those seeking the hotels and gambling, as is the close proximity to the mountains and numerous luxury resorts in the area.

A well considered basket of incentives - warm weather, a multitude of outdoor activities and first class accommodations - now an important aspect of the city's continued success. The astute speculations of Lake and Fuller resulted in their initial decisions and efforts; as ambitious as the men were, is it doubtful that they could ever have dreamed of what Reno would become, or the impact that they have had on the area.

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