The city of Reno, Nevada has a current population of more than 220,000 people, making it the second most populous city within Nevada, with only the city of Las Vegas being larger. The city serves as the seat for the County of Washoe. Reno is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains within a desert valley. The city of Reno is near the city of Sparks. The Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, called Truckee Meadows by residents, has a population of around 400,000.
Known as the "Biggest Little City in the World", Reno's name has become synonymous with gambling, gaming, and casinos. Harrah's Entertainment, that is a giant gaming corporation, had its beginning in Reno. Tourism in the primary business in Reno, with more than five million guests on a yearly basis. The casino and hotel business is the major attraction. Aside from tourism, the city of Reno has businesses associated to computers, electronics, financial services and communications. Businesses located here make products varying from cement to pet food.
As early as the 1850's, the first pioneers started settling within the Truckee Meadows. They were attracted to the valley with free flowing water of the Truckee River that flowed directly down from Lake Tahoe. Adventurers traversing the California Trail stopped here as they followed the Truckee River westward headed for the Sierras. Gold was discovered in the middle part of the nineteenth century, followed quickly by the discovery of silver, which resulted in a mining rush.
Reno has a well-developed arts scene, with collections housed in the Nevada Museum of Art and the Stremmel Gallery. The Art District in downtown Reno is the place to find shops, galleries, coffeehouses and restaurants. The Historic Reno Preservation Society offers tours of ancient rock art sites and other historic places. Reno's cultural and artistic organizations include the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, the Reno Chamber Orchestra, the Broadway Comes To Reno series, the Nevada Opera and community theaters. A well-regarded cooking school, Nothing To It Culinary Center, offers classes.
Reno hosts community events every year, like for instance a classic car convention referred to as Hot August Nights, and a motorcycle rally and fan gathering known as Street Vibrations. There is likewise the Reno Air Races, the Great Reno Balloon Race, the Cinco De Mayo celebration, the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off within Sparks City, and bowling tournaments.