Carson City is a city located in Carson City Nevada. Carson City has a 2023 population of 59,630. Carson City is currently growing at a rate of 0.54% annually and its population has increased by 1.62% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 58,677 in 2020.
The average household income in Carson City is $84,897 with a poverty rate of 10.01%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Carson City is 42.3 years, 41.5 years for males, and 43.3 years for females.
It is an independent city, and it also serves as the state capital. The city was originally founded in 1858 and was once a stopover until silver was discovered in the mountains. Since then, the city has grown and expanded.
Over 14% of the Carson City population speaks Spanish at home, while over 82% speak English. The city’s largest employer is Carson Tahoe Health. The Carson City School District, Carson City Municipal Government, and the Nevada Department of Transportation are other top employers.
According to census data, Carson City's population has seen highs and lows, with declining populations recorded during the early 20th century. However, by the time of the 1940 census, the population was on the rise again, with numbers jumping significantly in the 1970s and 1980s. Recent estimates show that the population is down slightly from the last census. However, there is nothing that would indicate that this will become a trend, and Carson City is likely to see continued growth in its future.
The Washoe people were the first known inhabitants in what is now Carson City. John Fremont was the first European to come to the area and first arrived in the region of Eagle Valley in 1843. The region was initially named Washoe after the first inhabitants.
During the next decade, the area served as a trading post and stopover for people settling in California. The post was named Eagle Station and was located along the Carson River. In 1858, it was purchased by Abraham Currey and was surveyed for development, and it was at this time that the name was changed to Carson City. Curry believed that Carson City would be the capital, so a plot of land was reserved in which to build a capitol building.
The population began to grow following the discovery of gold and silver at Comstock Lode in the late 1850s. The city had a hotel built in the city center, and further growth continued when Carson City was chosen as the capital of the territory. It was during the next decade when Nevada was made a state and Carson City designated as its capital.
Through the end of the 19th century, growth continued with the arrival of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad and the Carson City Mint. Many Chinese immigrants came to the area during this period. However, when the Central Pacific Railroad arrived, the population decreased, as it was located far north of Carson City. The population continued to drop through the 1930s. It was at this time that Carson City nicknamed itself, “America’s smallest capital,” although the population rose again following World War II.
Carson City expanded its boundaries in the 1960s when Ormsby County and Carson City merged, making Carson City one of the largest state capitals in the United States. The population also continued to grow, and today the city’s population exceeds 50,000.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Carson City was:
White
Two or more races
Other race
Asian
Native American
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 23,191 | 2.4 | 59.8 | 40.2 |
Married | 9,999 | 3.08 | 76 | 24 |
Non Family | 8,680 | 1.18 | 50.4 | 49.6 |
Female | 2,871 | 3.25 | 35.6 | 64.4 |
Male | 1,641 | 3.2 | 53.3 | 46.7 |
2.98
Average Family Size
2.4
Average Household Size
59.8%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
77.82% of Carson City residents speak only English, while 22.18% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 18% of the population.
rate
10.01%
Overall Poverty Rate
8.59%
Male Poverty Rate
11.45%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Carson City is Multiple, with 21.02% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Carson City is Asian, with 6.6% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.91%. Among those working part-time, it was 7.82%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 18.89%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
45.2%
Overall Marriage Rate
44.9%
Male Marriage Rate
45.6%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 45-54, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
5.34%
Veteran Poverty Rate
32.68%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
60.8%
Labor Force Participation
57.9%
Employment Rate
4.6%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
32.29%
Born in Carson City
91.01%
Native Born
13.36%
Foreign Born
7.07%
Non Citizen
6.3%
Naturalized
91.01% of Carson City residents were born in the United States, with 32.29% having been born in Nevada. 7.07% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 4,229 | -57,354 | 1.81% |
1890 | 3,950 | -279 | -0.68% |
1900 | 2,100 | -1,850 | -6.12% |
1910 | 2,500 | 400 | 1.76% |
1920 | 1,700 | -800 | -3.78% |
1930 | 1,600 | -100 | -0.6% |
1940 | 2,500 | 900 | 4.56% |
1950 | 3,082 | 582 | 2.11% |
1960 | 5,163 | 2,081 | 5.29% |
1970 | 15,468 | 10,305 | 11.6% |
1980 | 32,022 | 16,554 | 7.55% |
1990 | 40,443 | 8,421 | 2.36% |
2000 | 52,457 | 12,014 | 2.64% |
2010 | 55,274 | ||
2011 | 55,610 | 336 | 0.61% |
2012 | 55,946 | 336 | 0.6% |
2013 | 56,282 | 336 | 0.6% |
2014 | 56,618 | 336 | 0.6% |
2015 | 56,954 | 336 | 0.59% |
2016 | 57,290 | 336 | 0.59% |
2017 | 57,626 | 336 | 0.59% |
2018 | 57,962 | 336 | 0.58% |
2019 | 58,298 | 336 | 0.58% |
2020 | 58,677 | 379 | 0.65% |
2021 | 58,993 | 316 | 0.54% |
2022 | 59,311 | 318 | 0.54% |
2023 | 59,630 | 319 | 0.54% |
2024 | 59,951 | 321 | 0.54% |
2025 | 60,274 | 323 | 0.54% |
2026 | 60,599 | 325 | 0.54% |
2027 | 60,925 | 326 | 0.54% |
2028 | 61,253 | 328 | 0.54% |
2029 | 61,583 | 330 | 0.54% |