The Demographics of Reno, Nevada

In this post, I want to expand on what the people and culture of Reno are like. In other words, I want to look at the demographics of Reno, Nevada.

Below, you’ll learn more about the population here. Find out more about the cultures you’ll find, the types of households, and a little bit of history into how Reno residents arrived in the first place. Keep reading below.

Reno Demographic Statistics

Over 255,000 people live in Reno, Nevada, and the median household income there is close to $59k a year. The poverty rate in Reno is close to 14%. Almost 50% of the people in Reno own their own homes, which have a median property value of almost $335,000. Most people in Reno commute 20 minutes or less to work.

Only about 84% of the people in Reno have high speed internet connections, although almost 93% of the households there have a computer. And 91% of the people living in Reno are citizens of the United States.

Historically, population growth in Reno has been in the double digits until the last decade when it dropped to under 10% for the first time in over 100 years. In fact, since the 1930s, population growth in Reno has been above 20% every decade until the 2010s.

Stereotypes About Reno

There are lots of stereotypes about Reno that mostly come from TV shows like Reno 911 and movies like Kingpin. But let it be known that most of the people who live in Reno are not living in mobile homes.

That just isn’t the way it is in Reno. Half the people living there are originally from California. Close to 20% of Reno residents were born in another country, often Mexico or somewhere else in Latin America. Most of the other residents of Reno are from the western side of the country, although a small but significant percentage of the population come from back east.

The Hispanic and Latino community make up 20% of the population, and Asian communities make up another 6% of the population. Only 3% of the population in Reno is Black. 

This is interesting because the population of California, which is literally just a stone’s throw from Reno, is 6% Black and 13% Asian. Why is that?

Reno’s History of Racism

It’s safe to assume that the unusual demographics in Reno are because of its history of racism. And its reputation for racial disparity is one of the reasons why the town has been nicknamed “The Mississippi of the West.” Since Reno began as a silver mining town, there was little to for anyone who wasn’t white do in the early days of the town.

Silver mining was considered a whites-only occupation in the 19^th century, so the town didn’t attract people from other cultures and ethnicities.

Around 1855, Chinese immigrants built the western portion of the transcontinental railroad, so they settled in the West. Many of them worked in all kinds of businesses as gardeners, laundrymen, servants, and cooks. At the time, Reno had plenty of gambling halls, laundries, and opium dens for the Chinese to work.

In fact, in 1878, and again in 1908, the townsfolk of Reno burned down Chinatown. The first time was the work of vigilantes. But the second time, it was the work of actual city officials.

What was their reasoning for burning down Chinatown? They claimed it was for “sanitation purposes.”

The city hasn’t traditionally been much kinder to its Black population either. For most of the history of Reno, the casinos were usually white-only. Black people were restricted to a small neighborhood northeast of downtown. The only jobs available for years were minimum-wage gigs like washing dishes or being porters.

Even celebrities like Sammy Davis Jr. were required to stay at mixed-race hotels after performing at white-only casinos. When you consider all of this, it should be of no surprise that Asian and Black communities have skipped Reno as a place to live in favor of the state of California.

Of course, many people know only a little about the racist past of the town.

The Largest Minority Population in Reno Is Latino

The Hispanic and Latino population helped build both Reno and Las Vegas, and they make up the largest minority population in the town of Reno.

Historically speaking, the United States is so new that its entire culture is a big amalgamation of many different cultures. And that’s why it’s often referred to as a “melting pot.”

Reno isn’t there quite yet. And it isn’t known to be the most diverse city, but perhaps the future could change that.

The Smaller Minority Populations in Reno

Rural white Americans are the smaller minority in and around Reno. This population is likely made up of people who were born in Nevada and live in the small towns outside of Reno, like Carson City, Stead, or Winnemucca.

Historically, the entire area was settled by cowboys and ranchers, so it’s natural that the rural communities near Reno would be a little bit more “country” when it comes to culture and lifestyles.

California Immigrants

Contrary to popular belief, most of the immigrants in Reno aren’t from Latin America. They’ve simply immigrated from California. A huge percentage of people living in Reno hail originally from Northern California.

This portion of Reno’s population is generally more liberal, politically, than the rest of the city and/or state. This has made Reno an important town during Nevada elections. Las Vegas is a liberal stronghold, but much of the rest of the state is a conservative stronghold. Reno has a mix of political ideologies, based at least in part on the immigrant population from California.

You’ll see more campaigning activity in Reno, Nevada, than you will in most other towns of that size in the United States.

Other Ethnicities and Cultures Represented in Reno

Reno has a variety of other cultures and ethnicities.

There’s an Italian population and a Greek population. There’s even a Polish population. Many of which are descendants of workers who immigrated to Reno decades ago. Reno also has a large Pacific Islander community, particularly Hawaiians and Samoans.

You can even find New York transplants who have opened delis and pizza joints. In the 1930s, Reno was one of the cultural jewels of the west, and it wasn’t uncommon for New Yorkers to visit and later move here.

Conclusion

That’s a broad, layman’s overview of the demographics of Reno, Nevada. If you like to gamble but prefer someplace that’s more low-key, Reno is great destination for you. And if you enjoy western culture in the old silver-mining area but prefer smaller cities, then Reno may be preferable over the larger Las Vegas.