Carson City is an independent city located in the United States and serves as the capital of the state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 58,639, ranking as the sixth most populous city in the state. The majority of its residents live in Eagle Valley, situated on the eastern edge of the Carson Range, which is a branch of the Sierra Nevada mountains approximately 30 miles south of Reno.
The city was named in honor of the mountain man Kit Carson. Originally established as a stopover for immigrants traveling to California, it developed into a significant urban center following a silver strike known as the Comstock Lode in the northeastern mountains. Carson City has functioned as Nevada's capital since 1861, while it was still a territory.
Historically, the city served as a primary hub for the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Although the railroad tracks were removed in 1950, the city remains a central location within the state's political landscape.