Nevada

Carson City, information

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Location

Carson City is located in northwest Nevada at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the intersection of U.S. Highways 50 and 395. The city is 4,697 feet above sea level and encompasses 155 square miles. Lake Tahoe is 14 miles to the west, and Reno, Nevada’s second largest city, is 30 miles north. Carson City is 253 miles east of San Francisco and 437 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Climate

Carson City enjoys a pleasant, high desert climate. Summers tend to be warm and dry with cool evenings while winters are cold and dry. Average annual snowfall is about 32 inches and average rainfall is 11 inches, with January being the wettest month. The average annual high temperature is 66.8 degrees F and the average annual low temperature is 34 degrees F.

Trade

Carson City is a regional retail and wholesale trade center that draws shoppers from as far south as Bishop, California and from throughout adjacent counties to the east and west. Carson City’s primary trade area, within a 25-mile radius, is estimated at 85,000 with a total trade area in excess of 225,000. Carson City retail and wholesale outlets did $824,013,228 in business in the 2001 fiscal year, a 9.2 percent increase over the previous fiscal year.

Population

The 2000 census placed Carson City’s population at 52,457, a 2.64 percent average annual growth rate between 1990 and 2000.
 

Economy

Carson City has one of the most diversified economies in Nevada. There are 1,748 business firms in Carson City employing 30,041 persons. Services in Carson City is the largest employer with 8,904 workers or 29.6 percent of the total workforce. Government (state and local) employs 24.9 percent of the workforce, retail trade accounts for 17.4 percent, and manufacturing (the fastest growing economic sector) makes up 13.6 percent of the employment base. The average wage is $15.26 per hour.

There is a wide selection of well-situated land for industrial and commercial development. A variety of buildings for manufacturing and office use are also available in the Carson City area. The Carson Airpark, located near the general aviation airport, is zoned for light industrial purposes and is the primary industrial area. Retail and commercial trade has flourished in recent years, with several national retailers building in the Carson City area or expanding their current facilities.

An open-for-business attitude, managed growth, low taxes, less regulatory action, and an overall lower cost of doing business are some of the reasons why Nevada and the Carson City area continue to attract relocating business, professional and industrial firms.

Utilities

Carson City is served by two major investor-owned utilities. Sierra Pacific Power currently supplies electricity to the city’s residential and business customers, and Southwest Gas Corporation provides natural gas service to the area. Propane and fuel oil service is also available locally. Water and sewer service is provided by the Carson City Water and Sewer Department, a city-owned utility. Telephone service is provided by Nevada Bell. Utility costs are 4.9 percent above the national average as reported in the ACCRA Cost of Living Index.

Education

The Carson City School District, with a total student enrollment of over 8,800 students, provides quality educational services to the entire community with one high school, an alternative high school, two middle schools and six elementary schools. In a cooperative venture, the community college and the high school recently constructed a technology center on the high school campus. There are also four private elementary schools and several private business and vocational schools in Carson City.

Carson City is also home to Western Nevada Community College, one of the fastest-growing colleges in the state and a major contributor to the local economy. WNCC is a two-year public institution providing high-quality education to residents throughout the area. Over 5,000 full-time students receive instruction in the arts, science, job training and basic skills, and other university transfer programs. WNCC also coordinates with local business and industry, designing specialized training programs in machine tooling, drafting, electronics, computing and occupational skills. Graduates in applied science programs can gain an associate degree and be job-ready in nursing, criminal justice, child development and many other fields. A variety of community service classes are well tailored to the needs and interests of area residents. WNCC is currently undergoing a major expansion, including construction of an observatory.

Taxes

Nevada’s tax structure is considered to be conservative and less burdensome than that of many other states. There is no state personal income tax and Nevada does not levy franchise, unitary, inventory, inheritance or corporate profit taxes. Real and personal property are currently taxed at 35 percent of the assessed valuation. Carson City’s current highest property tax rate is $2.6859 per $100 of assessed valuation. A $200,000 home would pay $1,880 in annual property taxes. A sales and use tax of seven percent is imposed on the retail sales of tangible personal property. Most services, utilities, food for home consumption, and prescription drugs are exempt from this sales tax.

A tax compendium outlining the history and the computation of all state-levied taxes is available for purchase from the Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce.

Housing

Carson City neighborhoods offer a wide-range of housing from affordable to affluent. There are 21,283 housing units in Carson City, with 60 percent owner-occupied, 34 percent renter-occupied, and 5 percent vacant. The average selling price of a newly constructed 2,400-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 2-bath, single family home is $218,711. Rentals are available throughout Carson City, with a 2-bedroom, 1 1/2 - 2 bath, unfurnished apartment renting for an average monthly cost of $634.

Transportation

Carson City is located at the intersection of two major highway corridors, U.S. Highways 50 and 395, providing easy access to major western markets. While there are no rail services in Carson City, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Amtrak services are available in the nearby Reno/Sparks area.

The Carson City Airport is located 1.5 miles north of the city’s central business district. The airport is a public facility serving the general aviation needs of the area. The airport has a 5,900-foot runway, complemented by a full parallel taxiway. Hangar space, tie-downs, fuel and other services are available.

Greyhound offers regional bus service through Carson City. The Pride bus system offers daily commuter bus service between Reno, Carson City and other rural communities. A para-transit system offers local bus transportation service for residents. Truck freight service is offered to all parts of the country, and taxi service and rental cars are available locally.

Health care

Carson-Tahoe Hospital is a community-based health care system. With additional locations in Minden and Dayton, the hospital has been providing quality, compassionate health care services to the area since 1949. The 128-bed full-service hospital offers cancer and cardiac services, including the only fully certified cardiac rehabilitation center in northern Nevada. A comprehensive women and children’s center, extensive orthopedic services, extended imaging services, 24-hour emergency care and state-of-the art chemistry and lab equipment are all part of the main hospital facility. Supplementing the main facility, Carson Rehabilitation Center is a free-standing, full-service, 30-bed physical rehabilitation facility offering inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services.

Carson-Tahoe Hospital has over 185 physicians representing 25 specialties and has emphasized medical staff recruitment and retention in order to provide quality care to the community. Over the past three years, Carson-Tahoe has expanded service lines such as oncology, cardiology, radiology and more, and has spent over $5 million to upgrade technology and purchase state-of-the-art equipment.

The hospital is currently in transition from a public to private entity and is building a new Regional Medical Center two miles north of the current facility. The new center will consist of over 300,000 square feet; approximately 2.5 times the size of the current hospital. Groundbreaking is scheduled for spring 2003, with completion by the end of 2005. The Regional Medical Center is designed to meet future growth projections for the area, will have 130 beds and will be the largest construction project to be built in Carson City. Medical office buildings and a comprehensive, free-standing cancer center will be an integral part of the new campus. The Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center will be a state-of-the-art, wide-ranging health care facility that will add to the area’s overall quality of life, built to meet the current and future needs of the community.

There are also several independent health care clinics, laboratories and medical service facilities in Carson City offering urgent and family care services.

Recreation and Attractions

Carson City offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. There are over 800 acres of parkland within the city, including lighted tennis courts, an aquatic center with indoor and outdoor pools, handball courts, soccer fields, an equestrian arena, a covered pavilion, a community center (with gymnasium), a miniature railroad, a rifle and pistol range, RC model fields and many other facilities. Many of the parks offer picnic facilities, playground equipment, restrooms and grassy play areas. Year-round recreation programs are offered for all age groups from preschool to seniors.

Carson City’s northern Nevada location offers easy access to year-round sports and recreational opportunities. America’s greatest concentration of world-class ski resorts is located within a 30- to 90-minute drive and offers a variety of alpine and cross-country terrain for the beginner and expert alike. Amateur and professional golfers will enjoy several area courses offering year-round play.

Visitors and residents can step back in time in Carson City and explore museums and landmarks that bring the Old West back to life. The Nevada State Museum originally operated as a U.S. Mint from 1870 to 1895, striking the famous “CC” silver dollars. The Nevada State Railroad Museum houses steam locomotives and restored coaches from the Virginia & Truckee, America’s richest short-line railroad. The Nevada State Capitol was completed in 1871 and is an easily recognized landmark with its silver-colored cupola dome. The Roberts House Museum, the Northern Nevada Children’s Museum, and the state’s largest historical home district are also located in Carson City.

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