by Xiao Zhang, Outpost staff
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The University of Nevada, Reno in 1990 Photo essay: Nevada at the turn of the century Links on Nevada History |
But as historians will tell you, looking back is just as important in seeing where we're headed.
As Nevada enters the 2000s, it's worthwhile to reflect on the 1900s. While we can't clearly look at what the state was like at the last turn of the millennium, we can examine the state at the last turn of the century.
And Nevada historians will tell you it wasn't a pretty picture in 1900. The state was in the end of a depression at the turn of that century.
"So bad were affairs in Nevada that the Chicago Tribune urged Congress to end Nevada's statehood," wrote Bill Rowley, professor and chairman of the history department at University of Nevada, Reno, in the current issue of Nevada magazine.
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Sierra Nevada Mine sat on the hill of Virginia
City in Nevada. |
Gaming now easily tops all of those industries as the key economic machine in the state. But it's not only the economy that's changed in 100 years.
People were living a completely different life at the beginning of the century. Electricity was not popular. People relied heavily on the railroad for transportation. And while many more people lived in rural areas, most people who lived in cities lived in the state's largest city - Reno. The state's current population leaders, Las Vegas and Henderson, weren't even on the map.
As you look ahead to the new millennium, stop for a moment and take a tour with us through Nevada's past -- specifically 1900. Here's a brief look at the state at the last turn of the century.
Nevada lost a third of its population because of the 20-year depression from 1880 to 1900. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state's population decreased from 62,266 in 1880 to 42,335 in 1900. Also, the population concentrated in the northwestern part of the state. Washoe County, one of the few counties that managed a population growth, had a little more than 9,000 people at the time, whereas Douglas County had only about 1,500. Las Vegas was no more than several ranches at the time.
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Reno was the largest city in Nevada at the turn
of the century. This photo is an overview of the
city. |
The gap between the number of men and women living in the state closed in 1900. The number of men in the Nevada decreased to about 25,000, a little less than half of the total population.
This was a big contrast to the proportion of men among the population in 1880, when men made up two thirds of the total population because of the demand for workers on the mines.
"There were no jobs for women," Rowley said.
He said women were either housewives or school teachers. Back to list
Historian Russell Elliot attributed the depression to the
state's total dependence on the mining industry in his book,
History of Nevada. In 1890, the revenue from mining
was
$2,632, 923, whereas the gold and silver production was $504
million from 1866 to 1902, averaging $14 million a year. The
revenue from mining ranked third among the states in the
nation, following Colorado and California, according to
Greater Nevada, a state Chamber of Commerce
publication at the beginning of this century.
Still some other industries were active in the state at the time.
"There was a lot going on," Earl said.
He was referring to the lumber industry, agriculture, cattle business and railroad industry. Also the copper became in great demand after the use of electricity.
The beginning of the 20th century was also the beginning of a new boom for Nevada.
Jim Butler discovered silver and gold at Tonopah in 1900. Two years later, rich gold ore was discovered 25 miles to the south at Goldfield. These two discoveries began Nevada's 20th century boom. Back to list
Railroad was the popular transportation for intercity traveling. In 1900, the Western Pacific Railroad, also referred to as the second transcontinental railroad in the United States, was completed.
Every day in the newspapers, such as The Territorial Enterprise and the Nevada Journal, train time tables were listed. Trains from Reno to San Francisco ran each way.
Steam boat services, which started in Nevada in the 1850s, were still provided in the state, too. Elbert Edwards wrote in 200 Years in Nevada that the steam traffic continued on the Colorado until the coming of the railroad to Las Vegas in 1905.
Earl said the steam boat service went on even longer in Nevada.
"There was steamer traffic until 1916 on the Colorado River, and still some in 1940," he said. Back to list
The turn of the century saw the return of the Mormons.
"Mormons began to move back (to Nevada from Utah) around the turn of the century or after," Earl said.
He said they came in to the White River Valley in White Pine County and the Ely area, where the copper boom was happening.
But the major religion at the time was Catholic, Earl said. Other religions also were present in Reno. Methodists, Episcopalians, Baptists, Congregationalists, Adventists and Volunteers of America all had churches in the state. Back to list
Life for women was a different at the turn of the century.
"Employment opportunities were restricted," Earl said.
He said women got married at a very young age. They could get married at as early as 12 because no law dealing with age of consent was available at the time.
Women had heavy burdens, Earl said. There were few conveniences for them at home as housewives. No electricity. No kitchen appliances. No washing machine. They had a lot to do, all by hand.
Most often, women had jobs when their husbands were sick or if they were widows.
"There was no social service net, no welfare," the history curator said. "And they formed kind of an Internet among themselves with friends."
He said women did jobs such as nursing and teaching. But "a lot of women were forced into prostitution."
Families at the turn of the century were larger than the modern families of today. The average family had a mother, a father and a average of 4.5 children, Earl said. Large families like this were formed because there was no birth control at the time. Maternal death rate was high, and children often caught diseases and died before they were five. Life expectancy in 1900 was 42 years. Back to list
Nevadans in early 20th century had different recreations. In Virginia City and Reno, there were three to four live theaters. California companies with itinerant theaters travel to Nevada to give live shows. Many parades and dances took place in the state.
An example of these theaters can be found in the Nevada Official Bicentennial Book. The McKissick Opera House, built in 1887, had featured performances such as Othello and Cinderella, before it was converted into a hotel in 1900. It used to give away money occasionally to attract customers.
Women at the time formed literary and poet groups, Earl said. Schools and churches had functions that involved families.
Many men sought less virtuous recreation. At nights mine, workers frequented the red light districts.
"A lot of them were single men or men who left their families," he said.
At turn of the century, prostitution was legal in Reno and other cities in the state.
Earl attributed this to the lack of social infrastructure in Nevada at the time.
Gambling, although not a big business in 1900, was legal and could be found in Reno. Back to list
Posted Dec. 13, 1999
Copyright 1999 Nevada Outpost
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