city (1990 pop. 40,443), state capital, W Nev., in the Carson valley; inc. 1875. The city is a trade center for a mining and agricultural area. State government is the major employer, and tourism is economically important. The city was laid out in 1858 on the site of Eagle Station, a trading post established (1851) on the immigrant trail from Salt Lake City to California. A supply station for miners in the valley, it achieved importance with the discovery (1859) of the Comstock Lode and became the terminus of the railroad carrying ore. In 1861, when the Territory of Nevada was created, the city was made the capital, and in 1864 it became the state capital. A U.S. mint, closed in 1893, is now the Nevada State Museum. Carson City and Ormsby co. were consolidated into one community in 1969.

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