1950 Map of Reno

About this map

Reno and Sparks anchor this mid-century survey, illustrating the concentrated growth in the Truckee Meadows before the sprawl of the late 20th century. The urban centers are defined by the convergence of the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific railroads alongside the Truckee River. Industrial and infrastructure signatures of the era are prominent, including the Reno Airport, the Reno Fair Grounds, and the Veterans Hosp. North of the city, the landscape shifts abruptly to the high desert terrain of the Military Reservation and the rising slopes of Peavine Peak. Local history is captured in the scattered remnants of mining activity, such as the Poeville (Site) and the Golden Fleece Mine, while a network of irrigation works like the Orr Ditch and Steamboat Canal trace the efforts to water this arid valley.