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Virginia City, Nevada |
Virginia City is an unincorporated community that is the county seat of Storey County, Nevada, United States.
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Virginia City is located at [1].
Virginia City is one of the oldest established cities in Nevada. Like many cities and towns in the state, Virginia City was a mining boomtown; in fact it is one of the most famous boomtowns in the Old West as it virtually appeared overnight as a result of the Comstock Lode silver strike of 1859. During its peak, Virginia City had a population of nearly 30,000 residents. When the Comstock Lode ended in 1898, the city's population declined sharply.
Virginia City could be considered the birthplace of Mark Twain, as it was here in 1863 that writer Samuel Clemens, then a reporter on the local Territorial Enterprise newspaper, first used his famous pen name.citation needed
Historical data in The Virginia City Historical documents, point out that newspaper writer Samuel Clemens, was "mugged" one night as he walked over the hill from the south while returning to Virginia City (probably after consuming alcoholic beverages at the home of friends.) The evidence shown points out that this was one of the reasons that persuaded him to relocate elsewhere. The highwaymen with the common "Stand and deliver!" relieved Mr. Clemens of his watch and money he had with him. This evidence is found in the newspaper office and the veracity of the robbery is likely valid as it is reported as a crime in the (period)newspaper. As a motivation for his leaving, it is just speculation since the date of the robbery is prior but close to his leaving and beginning his writing career in earnest at a more developed city. This robbery (10 Nov 1863) turns out to have been a practical joke played on Sam Clemens by his "friends", to give him "material" to write about!. He did not appreciate the joke, but at least he got his belongings back, especially his gold watch worth $300), which had great "sentimental" value to him. (Reference:page 167, Ch.16 "Mark Twain - A Life" Ron Powers 2005, Free Press, 722pp hardback). Sam Clemens also mentions the incident in his own book "Roughing It", (published Feb 1872) - and he was still sore about it(Ibid)!
Virginia City had the first elevator between California and Chicago.citation needed
In the 1950s, two Virginia City neighbors got into a dispute.[2] When one of the men built a new house, the other bought the lot next to it and built a house less than twelve inches from his neighbor's house in spite to deprive the neighbor of both view and breeze.[2] The Virginia City Spite House still is standing and occupied.[2]
Virginia City is nearcitation needed the Ponderosa Ranch on the Western television drama Bonanza. As such, the show's characters made visits to the town regularly -- or at least to the flat Hollywood backlot town.
It was the setting of a 1940 Errol Flynn movie set during the Civil War.
Elmar Bartlmae (Dir.): Virginia City und die wahre Geschichte des Wilden Westens. Dokumentation, France 2007, Arte-TV, May 26th, 2007 (the real history...; French, German)
Virginia City was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961.[3]name="nrhpinv2">Charles Snell and Marilynn Larew (April 21, 1978), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Virginia City Historic DistrictPDF (1.01 MiB), National Park Service and Accompanying 50 or so photos from 1968, 1971, 1978 and other dates.PDF (4.82 MiB)</ref> This in effect created a Virginia City Historic District.
Today, Virginia City is but a shadow of its former glory, however, it still draws over 2 million visitors per year. It is one of the nation's largercitation needed National Historic Landmarks and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Keeping with tradition, Virginia City does not have any chain stores or fast food restaurants.citation needed
Virginia city consists of a population of 1,000 people in the town and 4,000 in Storey County. It has 1 elementary school, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. Many locals work at the shops in town that cater to tourists, while others seek jobs in the surrounding cities. Popular hangouts for teens include the swimming pool and restaurants. Basketball is very popular, with the high school possessing the most state championship titles in Nevada. The middle school is passing on the tradition by winning four league titles in two years between the varsity and junior varsity teams.
There is an annual hillclimb that runs from Silver City to Virginia City via Highway 341 (a truck route) that is put on jointly between the Ferrari Club of America Pacific Region and the Northern California Shelby Club. Originally the event was put on by the SCCA and took a totally different route; before the truck route was constructed cars would run up Highway 342, past the Gold Hill Hotel and other landmarks. Highway 342 is now the return route for cars that have completed their runs up Highway 341. The hillclimb covers 5.2 miles, climbing 1260 feet and passing through 21 corners.
Darcy Farrow, a folk song written by Steve Gillette and Tom Campbell mentions Virginia City and other places and landmarks in the area (including Yerington, the Carson Valley, and the Truckee River). The most popular version was performed by John Denver.
Virginia City Historic District
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