Carson City, Nevada

A consolidated municipality that had a population of 55,274 at the 2010 census. The state capital, Carson City is an independent city and is its own Metropolitan Statistical Area. The area was first settled by the Washoe Indians. The first whites to visit were John C. Fremont's exploration party in 1853. Fremont named the river flowing through the valley Carson River, after his main scout, Kit Carson. A ranch here served as a way station on the California Trail. In 1858 it was renamed Carson City. After the discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859, prospectors began arriving in the area and the population exploded. It became territorial capital in 1861 and state capital upon statehood in 1864. The population fell after the railroad was routed north - its population did not reach 1880 levels until 1960. In 1969 the surrounding county was dissolved and Carson City took over all municipal services as a consolidated municipality.

Carson City has the distinction of being the smallest of the 361 Metropolitan Statistical Areas as designated by the United States Census Bureau (as of July 1, 2004).

The largest nearby city to Carson City is Reno, about 30 miles to the north. Carson City is one of only two capital cities in the United States that borders another state; the other is Trenton, New Jersey.