The capital of the state of Nevada, Carson City is also a county. It was named for Kit Carson, a trapper, soldier, and American Indian agent as well as a scout for explorer John C. Frémont. In its early days Carson City was important because of nearby silver mines. Today the city is a center of government and tourism. It is located in western Nevada near the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada, a major mountain range in North America.

Points of interest

The state capitol building, which was constructed in 1871, houses a collection of historic exhibits. Other attractions include the Nevada State Railroad Museum and the Nevada State Museum. Western Nevada Community College was established in the city in 1971.

Economy

In the year 1859, silver was discovered on the nearby Comstock Lode, one of the world's richest deposits. Mines were opened in Virginia City, Gold Hill, and Silver City, and mills were built along the Carson River to process the ore. All of this soon led to a boom in Carson City's economy. In 1869, the federal government completed a mint in the city to make coins from some of the silver.

Carson City remains an important trade center for both mining and agriculture. Cattle and sheep ranches, irrigated farms, and copper and silver mines are nearby. Tourism and government business also contribute greatly to the city's economy. The state government is the major employer in the area. Tourists come for the history they find and for the recreation of the Sierra Nevada.

History

The site of Carson City once lay on the Overland Trail, a route for pioneers traveling from Salt Lake City to California. A trading post was established there in 1851, and the city was founded in 1858. The 1859 rush to gold and silver finds at the nearby Comstock Lode stimulated the early growth of the settlement.

Carson City became the capital of the Nevada Territory in 1861. It was also the county seat of the newly established Ormsby County. When Nevada became a state in 1864, Carson City was made the state capital. Finally, in 1969, Carson City and Ormsby County were combined to form one governmental unit called Carson City. Population (2000 census), 52,457.