Reno is best known as “the Biggest Little City in the World”. When the phrase was coined Reno was the gaming capitol of the world. Reno and the Truckee Meadows were the gateway to Virginia City. Gold was discovered in 1850, with the discovery of silver in 1859 leading to one of the greatest mining bonanzas of all times. The financial impact of the Comstock was felt all the way to San Francisco, and accelerated the growth of all of northern Nevada.

Reno had the biggest and nicest hotels, great dining, and famous headliner entertainment There were great gaming establishments, Harold’s Club, Fitzgeralds, Harrahs, the Riverside, the Mapes, and many other smaller casinos. The city grew to a population of 220,500 and is Nevada’s fourth most populous city. Sparks is the adjacent city with a population of approximately 100,000. The combined population of the Truckee Meadows is 420,000. Unfortunately corporate gaming did not continue to grow with the community.