What do you call the Reno, Sparks, Tahoe, Carson City area? (Elko: home, income)

[jhn]

Many areas have names or nicknames used to describe an area. The Bay Area describes San Francisco and all the nearby communities. Central Valley describes a big chunk of Central California spanning hundreds of miles.

As an outsider, I am curious about the nickname of the Northern Nevada area encompassing Reno, Sparks, Tahoe, Carson City and the other communities in this area. I've seen a few sites like this one just say the Reno/Sparks area and others say Reno/Tahoe area. Several others refer to the area as Truckee Meadows because Reno and Sparks location in that valley. Is there a preferred name for the region?

Thanks

[Danbo1957]

Truckee Meadows is more formal. "Reno/Sparks Region" and "Reno-Tahoe" is heard and written a lot. "Washoe Valley" is the area to the south/southeast of Reno/Sparks. You hear, "On the southside of Lake Tahoe" and "Down in Carson City". The area name for the mountains to the west is simply "The Sierras". The word "Pioneer" is used a lot, as a name for team mascots, strip centers, body shops, etc.

The big ranch to the south was called "The Ponderosa":

http://cooperfamilypage.com/Wo/Ranch/images/map.jpg (broken link)

[vegaspilgrim]

I most frequently hear people refer to the whole region as "Northern Nevada," even though geographically that might not be 100% accurate.

[KrazyKatMan]

And if you don't live in the mountains, meaning you live in Dayton, Carson City, Stagecoach, Ferntucky (aka Fernley), Reno, Sparks etc, you're concidered a "flatlander"



As far as nothern Nevada goes, IMHO, thats hyphenising....same as western Nevada. It means that you are seggregating yourself from Clark county.

[clearbluesky]

Carson is just Carson City-it's approximately 30 miles from Reno proper and you have to drive across 10 miles of Washoe Valley to get there. Carson is just a little city with no real "County", there's just not that much to it. A little further south (about 10 miles) are the tiny but quaint towns of Minden and Gardnerville. Living there is a little pricey so you are going to need a good job, which is harder to find these days than it ever was and it was never really very easy to do it in the past, find a good job , that is. Tahoe, depending on where you are driving from, can be anywhere from a half hour to a whole hour drive from Reno/Sparks. It is generally referred to as "Tahoe", or "up at the lake", by locals. Incline Village, a small hamlet on the shores of Lake Tahoe is often referred to as "Income" village for obvious reasons. Which leaves Reno-Sparks which border one another and bleed into one another by crossing a street, you get the idea. Now this area is considered the Truckee Meadows because of the prominence of the Truckee River which flows right through the valley that Reno and Sparks are in. The Truckee River flows from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake, so the Truckee Meadows would be anywhere along the Truckee's route, which would be Reno-Sparks, for the most part. This whole region that I have listed is generally what people are talking about when they say "Northern Nevada". There is a very small, yet beautiful, town/area etc. in the North East section of the state along Interstate 80 known as Elko, which is comprised mostly of ranching and mining activities. And, it too could be considered Northern Nevada but it is usually left out of those discussions because it is so far away (approx. 4 hours).

[PAS36BH]

I call it Home Sweet Home

[KrazyKatMan]

Quote from clearbluesky:
"Carson is just a little city with no real "County", there's just not that much to it".

But, Carson City encompassed all of Ormsby county at one time.... until 1969 or 1970.
Similar to San Francisco county Calif. San Francisco is the only city in said county

[KevinJPPark]

Truckee Meadows is the formal name - especially if you want to also refer to the california cities on the eastern end of the sierras... but Northern Nevada really is what most people use. Nevada is essentially a 2 metro area state (sorry to those in elko saying hey what about us). So Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada are really just saying "greater Reno" and "greater Vegas" in most peoples mind... any areas referred to outside of the scope of those areas is usually referred to directly by name.

[PAS36BH]

Truckee meadows is not the formal name........truckee is in california not in nevada! Fact it is a hour away from carson.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by PAS36BH

Truckee meadows is not the formal name........truckee is in california not in nevada! Fact it is a hour away from carson.

It was known as Truckee Meadows as far back in the time of the wagon train era and long before there was a Reno or Carson City.

After all, it's a broad meadow and the Truckee River flows through it. Who knew??