Reno

Second-largest city in Nevada, USA, on the Truckee River; population (2000) 180,500. It is a major tourist venue, known for its easy marriage and divorce facilities, and gambling casinos, which are permitted by the state's liberal laws. Situated in a mining and ranching area, it is also a distribution and processing centre with diverse industries. Products include packed-meats, flour, dairy produce, building materials, forest products, and electronic equipment.

Reno was settled in 1858 and grew quickly with the discovery nearby of the Comstock Lode, a large gold and silver deposit. The Transcontinental Railroad reached the city in 1868.

The city was originally known as Lake's Crossing, but was later renamed after the American Civil War general Jesse Lee Reno. It is the seat of the University of Nevada-Reno. The Reno Arch proclaims it ‘the Biggest Little City in the World’.

Nevada's marriage laws require that a couple prove that they are over 18, swear to be unmarried, and appear before a judge to purchase a marriage licence for $35; the service may then be performed immediately at one of the city's numerous wedding chapels. A residential period of six weeks is required to sue for divorce, and the list of grounds is extensive.