1957 Map of Reno

About this map

Carson City and the burgeoning mountain-side settlements of western Nevada appear during a period of transition in the mid-20th century. The landscape is defined by the high-desert basins of the Carson Sink and the steep eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. While Reno and Sparks show significant urban concentration, the surrounding valleys like Washoe Valley and Smith Valley maintain their agricultural character, supported by the intricate irrigation of the Truckee River and Carson River. Military influence is prominent across the salt flats, marked by several U S Naval Target Areas, reflecting the Cold War era's use of the basin for electronic training. This survey provides a look at the extensive transportation network of the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific railroads as they navigate the Virginia Range and connect the remote outposts of Gerlach and Wadsworth.