Storey County, County seat in Virginia City, Nevada, US
Storey County is a small administrative area in Nevada stretching across about 264 square miles, making it the state's smallest county by land area. The territory includes Virginia City and today hosts a mix of historic towns and modern industrial zones like the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center.
The area was named after Captain Edward Farris Storey, a soldier who died in 1860 during the Pyramid Lake War. Silver mining in the late 1800s brought rapid growth and wealth to the region.
Silver mining shaped how Virginia City developed and looks today, with old buildings and streets telling the story of what brought people here. Walking through town, you see reminders of the era when this region thrived because of what miners found underground.
The territory is small and compact, making it easy to explore places like Virginia City and the industrial zone. Visitors should know the region has winding roads and varying elevation, so a car is helpful for getting around.
After silver mines closed, the population fell to around 568 people in 1960, but its location near Reno later sparked a comeback. Today those ups and downs tell a story of how places can reinvent themselves.
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