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Reno, Nevada

Everything Reno is known for

RoadyGoat plays music like this when you drive through Reno. It's free on iPhone, and full songs play through Apple Music.

Reno, Nevada, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World," is situated in the High Eastern Sierra foothills and offers a surprising array of musical connections. While famous for its casino gambling and proximity to Lake Tahoe, Reno is also home to a diverse group of artists across various genres. For instance, the rock band The Killers and indie artists Surf Curse both hail from Reno. The city is also mentioned in songs like "Virginia Avenue" by Tom Waits and Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues".

Music in Reno

Songs About Reno

Virginia Avenue
Tom Waits
98%
"Harold's Club is closing"
I Just Lived a Country Song
Robbie Fulks
85%
"Now at this Super Eight in Reno"
85%
"She'll draw you in like the lights of the casino"
83%
"Reno; NV"
82%
"Reno's casinos are starting to get to me"
82%
"Reno, NV"
Logandale to Reno
Branson Anderson
80%
79%
"Yeah he's the reason for reno"
folson prison blues
johnny cash
70%
Philadelphia Lawyer
Mark erelli & Jefferey Foucault
65%
Folsom Prison Blues (Live)
Johnny Cash
55%
"But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die"
Palisades Park
Counting Crows
55%
"Jack Johnson straddling Reno, Nevada like —"
Kentucky Gambler
Dolly Parton
55%
"In Nevada's town of Reno"
Folsom Prison Blues
David Allan Coe
55%
"But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die"
Sun Valley Blues #3 (Bloodweiser)
Hellbound Glory
54%
"On my way to Reno y'all, and either way I'll be winnin'"
Till The Going’s Gone
Miranda Lambert
54%
"I knew a boy in Reno had a cherry El Camino"
Jaquima to Freno
Ian Tyson
54%
"Hands as fine as the dealers of Reno"
Folsom Prison Blues
Johnny Cash
53%
"But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die"
Nothing But A Good Ride
Lyle Lovett
53%
"He's pulling out for Reno"

Showing top 20 of 57 songs · Hear more in the free iPhone app

History of Reno

The Biggest Little City RoadyGoat

Reno wears its motto in lights: 'The Biggest Little City in the World,' strung across the famous Virginia Street arch (first raised in 1926, with the slogan added in 1929). For decades that little city ran on heartbreak — thanks to Nevada's loose residency law, by 1931 you could establish residency and get a divorce in just six weeks, and Reno became the divorce capital of the world, with Hollywood stars and socialites waiting out their six weeks on local 'divorce ranches.' Today the desert town has reinvented itself: the Truckee River tumbles right through a revitalized downtown with a whitewater park, and Reno is the launch pad for Burning Man, the temporary art city that rises in the Black Rock Desert to the north each summer. Casinos, mountains, river, and a wide-open high-desert sky — Reno still packs a lot into not much.

Reno, NV RoadyGoat

Reno, Nevada, a city nestled at 4,500 feet where the sagebrush scrub meets the towering Sierra Nevada, has a history as colorful as its desert sunsets. Founded in 1868 and named for Civil War General Jesse Reno, its reputation was cemented by more than just stunning vistas and the Truckee River, home to the once-endangered Lahontan cutthroat trout. The city gained notoriety as a destination for those seeking swift divorces, a social cachet that attracted a particular kind of visitor. But Reno’s story isn't just about quickie divorces. It's also a place where legends were made and broken.

Reno: The Divorce Capital of America

1906

Reno became the nation's divorce capital due to Nevada's short residency requirements.

The Comstock Lode: Silver That Saved the Union

1859

The Comstock Lode was the first major silver deposit discovered in the United States, producing over $400 million in silver and gold that helped finance the Union during the Civil War.

17.6 mi away

The Virginia and Truckee Railroad

1869

The V&T Railroad connected Virginia City's mines to the mills and the transcontinental railroad.

17.5 mi away

Everything Near Reno

21 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

  • Reno: The Divorce Capital of America · Historical Marker

    Reno became the nation's divorce capital due to Nevada's short residency requirements.

  • The Biggest Little City

    Reno wears its motto in lights: 'The Biggest Little City in the World,' strung across the famous Virginia Street arch (first raised in 1926, with the slogan added in 1929). For decades that little city ran on heartbreak…

  • Reno, NV

    Reno, Nevada, a city nestled at 4,500 feet where the sagebrush scrub meets the towering Sierra Nevada, has a history as colorful as its desert sunsets. Founded in 1868 and named for Civil War General Jesse Reno, its…

  • El Cortez (Reno) · 0.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Step back into the glamorous Art Deco era at the El Cortez, a survivor of Reno's gambling boom. Built in 1931 by real estate investor Abe Zetoony, the El Cortez was designed by the Reno architectural firm George A.…

  • Reno, NV · 0.2 mi · Local history

    Reno's identity, long tied to its gambling history and high-desert landscape, has been shifting in recent years. The tech industry's expansion into the region has brought new energy and investment, sparking both…

  • Riverside Hotel (Reno, Nevada) · 0.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Reno began right here in 1859, at the site of this former hotel and casino. Myron Lake built a bridge and established a ranch and waystation to serve travelers crossing the Truckee River. It quickly became a popular…

  • Virginia Street Bridge · 0.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    You're looking at a place that was once home to Reno's iconic Virginia Street Bridge, a vital crossing right in the heart of downtown. For decades, this double-arch concrete bridge carried traffic across the Truckee…

  • Reno station (Nevada–California–Oregon Railway) · 0.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    This unassuming building holds a secret: it’s a survivor from the days of big dreams and broken rails. Built in 1910, this depot was the Reno hub for the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway, or NCO. The NCO aimed to…

  • Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Locomotive House and Machine Shop · 0.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Right here, in Reno, you're standing near a piece of a railway dream that stretched all the way to Oregon. This is where the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway, or NCO, once maintained its locomotives. In 1880, the Nevada…

  • Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts · 0.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Believe it or not, that shimmering gold dome ahead isn't a misplaced alien spaceship, but a theater with a story! Back in 1967, Reno was looking to make a statement. They commissioned an architectural firm from Oklahoma…

  • Washoe County Courthouse · 0.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    This courthouse wasn't just about justice; it was a gateway to freedom… from marriage! During the first half of the 1900s, Nevada became *the* place to get a divorce. Divorce laws were much stricter elsewhere, but…

  • Bowers Mansion · 17.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine building a mansion so grand, it became a symbol of Nevada's silver rush dreams. That's Bowers Mansion. In 1863, Lemuel 'Sandy' Bowers and his wife, Eilley Orrum Bowers, completed their opulent home using riches…

Show all 21 nearby places
  • Piper's Opera House · 17.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Pull over here for a second; this is Piper's Opera House, and it's seen some things. Think of it as Nevada's version of Broadway back in the day. John Piper built the first opera house here in 1863. It burned down in…

  • Virginia City Historic District (Virginia City, Nevada) · 17.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Hold onto your hat, because this unassuming landscape was once the heart of a silver rush that rivaled the California Gold Rush! Virginia City exploded onto the scene after the Comstock Lode was discovered in 1859.…

  • Old Washoe Club · 17.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Prepare to be spooked! The Old Washoe Club in Virginia City is rumored to be one of Nevada's most haunted buildings. Built in 1875, it quickly became a hub for the town's elite, housing a saloon, meeting rooms, and even…

  • The Virginia and Truckee Railroad · 17.5 mi · Historical Marker

    The V&T Railroad connected Virginia City's mines to the mills and the transcontinental railroad.

  • King–McBride Mansion · 17.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    This ornate mansion is a testament to Virginia City's fiery spirit, rising from ashes to become a symbol of wealth and resilience. Built shortly after the devastating Great Fire of 1875, the King–McBride Mansion was…

  • The Comstock Lode: Silver That Saved the Union · 17.6 mi · Historical

    The Comstock Lode was the first major silver deposit discovered in the United States, producing over $400 million in silver and gold that helped finance the Union during the Civil War.

  • McCarthy House (Virginia City, Nevada) · 17.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Look closely, because this little house is a survivor! The McCarthy House is a rare glimpse into Virginia City *before* the Great Fire. Built in 1875, this one-and-a-half story house with its simple shiplap siding was…

  • Boca Dam · 17.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wonder how they control the flow of water between California and Nevada? It all starts here at Boca Dam. Built between 1937 and 1939 by the Bureau of Reclamation, Boca Dam is an earthfill dam that's a crucial part…

  • Chollar Mansion · 17.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    This isn't just another pretty house; it's a monument to the Comstock Lode's incredible wealth. Built between 1862 and 1864, the Chollar Mansion belonged to William “Billy” Chollar, a miner who struck it rich. His…

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