Nevada

Located in western Nevada, just 35 miles south of Reno and 50 miles east of breathtaking Lake Tahoe, growing Carson City (population 56,000) started out as a cattle ranch along the Carson River, which a few years earlier had been named for western explorer Kit Carson.  In 1859, silver was discovered at the Comstock Lode, underneath what is present-day Virginia City, and miners from around the country streamed into the area.    Not long after, Carson City was named the territorial, and then the state, capital.  The arrival of the railroad and then a U.S. Mint helped secure its economic footing.    Today, the city plays up its frontier character, but that does not take much since it is the real deal, a casual Western city with an independent streak.   The cost of living is 10% above the national average, and the median home price is $220,000, 15% less than a year ago and 40% less than just before the Great Recession began (foreclosures are still a problem).  The crime rate meets the national average, and 40% of residents, which are almost exactly divided between Republicans and Democrats, are age 45 or better.
	The city (elevation 4,730 feet above sea level) sits in the small Eagle Valley, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada's Carson Mountain Range and at the northern end of the Carson Valley, a scenic stretch of pasturelands and mountains that runs south to pretty Topaz Lake.  It is one of the few state capitals that is not serviced by a major airport or a railroad (which left long ago) or an interstate highway (although that may change soon), and some city slickers from Las Vegas have unkindly referred to it as a "dull cow town."  It is true that Carson City, fairly quiet and somewhat isolated, is not in the mold of Reno or Las Vegas, and tourists do not come primarily to gamble (even though at least ten casinos are located here).  The reason people come here, to visit or to settle down, is because Lake Tahoe is so tantalizingly close.
Like a lot of Western towns, Carson City grew up without a lot of planning (although it did adopt a master plan for the downtown in 1991), and it is spread out.   Street are wide (so early horse-drawn wagons could easily turn around), buildings are short, and the sky, nearly always a balmy blue, looms large.  The downtown is home to government buildings, bars, a few restaurants and some casinos (but also to some elegantly restored 19th-century buildings).   Highway 395 is the city's main drag and is full of commercial ventures (strip malls, motels, gas stations, etc.).  It slows down a bit in town but is still a busy street.   Shopping venues include everything from Wal-Mart and Costco to J.C. Penny's and Target.
While the 191-square miles of Lake Tahoe and the adjacent casinos, ski resorts, hotels and other tourist attractions are the main draw here, the city boasts a few attractions of its own, including the Nevada State Museum and Mint and the Nevada State Railroad Museum.  The Carson City Symphony and the Western Nevada Musical Theater Company provide a bit of culture.    Western Nevada College has a community education department and offers classes in cooking, bird watching, floral design and more.  Antique-hunters have a good selection of stores, and some beautiful homes from the city's silver era still stand, evoking a more gracious time.  Mark Twain's brother, Orion Clemens, lived in Carson City, and his home is but one on the "Kit Carson Trail," a walking tour of the city's historic residences.
Annual events include two Ghost Walks, one in the fall and one in the spring, and the popular Rendezvous, a celebration of 1800s history, complete with stagecoach rides, a gunfighters' show, a Civil War encampment and Native American dancing.   The Carson City Library has homebound delivery, downloadable books and Internet access.  Nine golf courses, some with dramatic mountain backdrops, keep golfers happy.   The Carson City Senior Center (for ages 60+) is in a low-slung modern building and has a variety of services, including computer classes, games, tax assistance, exercise classes, tours, art classes, blood pressure clinics, legal assistance and more.   Congregate noon meals are served weekdays ($2.25 donation requested).  The Senior Sentinel is a monthly publication that keeps the mature demographic up to date on local events. JAC (Jump Around Carson) provides public bus transportation, and seniors (age 60+) ride for free (registration required).  JAC Assist offers a para-transit, door to door service.   Reno has an international airport (and shuttles to Carson City are available through RTC Intercity). Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission and has 172 beds.   Nearly 90% percent of patients, well above the national average, would recommend it to a friend.   Medicare and Medicaid patients are accepted. This region has a semi-arid climate.  Summer temperatures reach into the 80s and 90s.  Winter temperatures are typically in the 20s and 30s (but it can get colder), and it snows up to six inches a month from December through March.  Summer precipitation is practically non-existent.  On the comfort index, a combination of humidity and temperature, the city ranks well above the national average.  The sun shines 265 days of the year.  Wildfires are not unknown in this part of the country (thanks to dry air, hot days and little precipitation).  In fact, a fire has been burning on the edges of southwest Reno for the last couple of days.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes Have a town in mind for retirement?  Write to us and we will review it in a weekly issue!

Carson City does not ooze charm, and foreclosures are a lingering problem, but a good hospital, a good senior center, a dry, sunny climate, clean air, a pretty locale, an average crime rate and close proximity to dazzling Lake Tahoe make it worth a look at retirement time.

---

---