Washoe County
Overview
The Washoe County area is outwardly pro-business and continues to expand as numerous large name industries and corporations call the area home.
With a population of approximately 409,000 the area offers the essence of a close-knit community while offering the amenities available in a big city. High quality of life is enhanced by quality education. The area enjoys four complete seasons which enhance the multitude of activities in the area.
Citizens enjoy cultural events, excellent public services, and boundless recreational opportunities including nearby skiing, fishing, hiking and boating just to name a few.
The Washoe County area is also the land of special events with dozens of annual celebrations such as the Reno Rodeo, the Great Reno Balloon Races, the Reno Air Races, and Hot August Nights. In addition to Reno and Sparks, Washoe County is also home to Crystal Bay, Empire, Gerlach, Incline Village, Nixon, Sun Valley, Verdi, Vya, and Wadsworth.
Reno
Reno, the county seat, is the third largest city in Nevada and has been long known as the "Biggest Little City in the World," but Reno has also gained a new title as "America's Adventure Place" and serves as a hub for a wide variety of outdoor recreation activities ranging from mountain biking to rock climbing. Reno is also the home of the University of Nevada, Reno, the world-class Nevada Museum of Art, and the National Automobile Museum.
Sparks
Once a railroad town, Sparks has grown into a vacation destination with a world-class hotel resort, the Wild Island water park, championship golf courses and the Sparks Marina. Victorian Square, in the center of Sparks, is a picturesque shopping/casino/restaurant district that incorporates a 19th century Victorian theme.
Advantages
The incentives of doing business in Nevada are expansive. Nevada boasts one of the most liberal tax structures in the nation and from a tax-planning perspective, the return on investment in the form of tax saving dollars can be enormous.
Incentives
- Minimum State Requirements for Urban Areas
- Minimum State Requirements for Expansions
- Minimum State Requirements for Rural Recycling and Intellectual Property
Taxes
Sales Tax Rate
In Washoe County, the sales tax rate is 7.725.
Property Tax Rate
In Washoe County, the 2009-10 average county wide tax rate is 3.5767.
Calculating Real Property Taxes
The formula for calculating real property tax is as follows:
- Taxable Value x .35 = Assessed Value
- Assessed Value x Tax Rate = Total Real Property Tax
For more information, please see How Property Taxes are Calculated.
Calculating Personal Property Taxes
Using the Cost Conversion Factor tables in the Personal Property Manual, use the following formula to calculate the assessed value. The assessed value is the value on which taxes are calculated.
- Actual Cost x Cost Index (for appropriate year) = Cost of Replacement
- Cost of Replacement x Percent Good = Taxable Value
- Taxable Value x .35 = Assessed Value
- Assessed Value x Tax Rate = Total Personal Property Tax
Demographics
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 423,833 |
| 2007 | 418,061 |
| 2006 | 409,085 |
| 2005 | 396,844 |
| 2004 | 383,453 |
Source: Nevada State Demographer
Population within the Cities of Washoe County
| City | Year | Population | City | Year | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reno | 2008 | 223,012 | Sparks | 2008 | 91,684 |
| 2007 | 220,613 | 2007 | 89,449 | ||
| 2006 | 214,371 | 2006 | 87,846 | ||
| 2005 | 206,735 | 2005 | 85,618 | ||
| 2004 | 199,249 | 2004 | 81,673 |
Source: State of Nevada Demographer
Gender Composition
| Year | Est Population | Male | Female | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | ||
| 2007 | 406,079 | 206,413 | 50.8 | 199,666 | 49.2 |
| 2006 | 396,428 | 201,191 | 50.8 | 195,237 | 49.2 |
| 2005 | 384,462 | 193,681 | 50.4 | 190,781 | 49.6 |
| 2004 | 375,344 | 192,885 | 51.4 | 182,459 | 48.6 |
| 2003 | 365,443 | 181,912 | 49.8 | 183,531 | 50.2 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
Labor
Employment
| Year | Labor Force | Employed | Unemployed | Unemployment Rate (Local) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 225,333 | 210,082 | 26,439 | 11.8 |
| 2008 | 231,840 | 216,069 | 15,771 | 6.8 |
| 2007 | 226,326 | 215,892 | 10,434 | 4.6 |
| 2006 | 216,078 | 207,510 | 8,568 | 4.0 |
| 2005 | 209,834 | 201,670 | 8,164 | 3.9 |
Source: Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR)
Job Growth Numbers
| Reno MSA | Number of Employed | % Job Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 196,300 | -6.3 |
| 2008 | 209,600 | -6.5 |
| 2007 | 224,200 | 0.4 |
| 2006 | 223,300 | 3.7 |
| 2005 | 215,400 | 3.3 |
Source: Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR)
