Sparks, Railroad city in Washoe County, United States
Sparks sits along Interstate 80 in Washoe County, forming a connected metro area with neighboring Reno in western Nevada. The town spreads at an elevation of about 1345 meters (roughly 4400 feet), surrounded by dry hills typical of the high desert region.
The Southern Pacific Railway Company established maintenance facilities here in 1904, creating a new settlement from open land. Over the following decades, the site grew from a railroad hub into an independent community with residential neighborhoods and shops.
The name honors John Sparks, who served as governor of Nevada when the railroad facilities were being built. Today, you can still see traces of this railway past in the layout of the streets and in some of the older buildings near the tracks.
Victorian Square sits in the older downtown core and is easy to explore on foot, while the large shopping centers along the interstate are best reached by car. Most public areas are flat and accessible, though summer heat can be intense during midday.
Victorian Square hosts the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook Off each Labor Day, drawing dozens of barbecue teams from across North America. This multiday event regularly attracts tens of thousands of visitors who walk between stalls and sample different grilling styles.
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