BlockBefore

Sparks, Nevada

29 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1891 and the latest in 1980. It stands in the Sparks census division. It lies in ZIP code area 89431. The Survey maps it on the Reno quadrangle. 108,445 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 4,423 feet above sea level.

Sparks within Washoe County

On record in Sparks

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 5 records

Population over time

2 figures

Sparks grew from 90,264 to 108,445 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201090,264
2020108,445+18,181 (+20%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

10 surveys from 29 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

4 photographs, 2022

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

There's no mistaking the nature of this establishment outside Sparks, Nevada
There's no mistaking the nature of this establishment outside Sparks, Nevada
Highsmith, Carol M, 2022. Library of Congress
Meet Last Chance Joe, a grizzled, 36-foot-high prospector figure that was abandoned by its owner, a Sparks, Nevada casino
Meet Last Chance Joe, a grizzled, 36-foot-high prospector figure that was abandoned by its owner, a Sparks, Nevada casino
Highsmith, Carol M, 2022. Library of Congress
Marina Park, a lakeside development in Sparks, Nevada
Marina Park, a lakeside development in Sparks, Nevada
Highsmith, Carol M, 2022. Library of Congress
This is a nationally famous establishment outside Sparks, Nevada
This is a nationally famous establishment outside Sparks, Nevada
Highsmith, Carol M, 2022. Library of Congress

Fires near this place

91 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 91 fires within 5 miles of Sparks between 1992 and 2020, burning about 20,262 acres in total. 10 started naturally. 7 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined41
Natural10
Equipment and vehicle use9
Arson/incendiarism7
Misuse of fire by a minor6
Fireworks5
Debris and open burning5
Smoking4
Other causes2
Recreation and ceremony1
Power generation/transmission/distribution1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
9 September 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined25 acresCarson City District OfficeRIO ALAYNE
3 September 1997Natural379 acresCarson City District OfficeMUSTANG 2
27 September 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined5.2 acresCarson City District OfficeMARTINI
26 September 1999Missing data/not specified/undetermined5.0 acresCarson City District OfficePARK
23 September 2018Misuse of fire by a minor2.6 acresCarson City District OfficeROCKY RIDGE
21 September 1994Smokingunder an acreHumboldt-Toiyabe National ForestUSFS 099
20 September 2009Misuse of fire by a minorunder an acreCarson City District OfficeHIGHWAY QUEEN
17 September 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.5 acresCarson City District OfficeRNOX 22

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Washoe County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 15 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 15 workings within 5 miles of Sparks: 7 past producers, 4 occurrences, 2 producers, 1 prospect. 3 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Gold, Silver, Silver. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
(Facility) United States Platinum RefineryREE, Uranium, Silver, Platinum, GoldPlant
Arkell MineSilver, Gold, Antimony, Lead, ZincPast ProducerAnglesite, Argentite, Galena, Pyrite, Sphalerite
Black Panther Mine AreaTitaniumOccurrence
Desert King MineGold, Silver, Lead, Zinc, AntimonyPast ProducerAnglesite, Argentite, Galena, Pyrite, Sphalerite
Reno MizpahGoldOccurrenceGold
Truckee Canyon DepositPerliteOccurrence
Wedekind MineGold, Silver, Lead, Zinc, AntimonyPast ProducerAnglesite, Argentite, Galena, Pyrite, Sphalerite
Wedekind MineSilver, Zinc, Lead, Gold, CopperPast Producer
Arkell MineSilverProspect
Short Ranch PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every working recorded in Washoe County

Storms near this place

35 since 1998

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Sparks in 35 storm reports between 1998 and 2025: 8 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 6 flood, 6 heavy rain. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 1999LightningSparks1 hurtMan struck by lightning while trimming a tree
July 2019Heavy RainSparks$60,000KTVN Channel 2 News reported that the roof on Reed High School leaked during heavy rainfall from thunderstorms on the afternoon of 25 July. A nearby mesonet reported 0.21 inches of rainfall from 1703PST to 1803PST. According to Washoe County School District, three sections of the roof were being replaced at the time. All three sections leaked in multiple areas. Walls, ceilings, floors, and 36 computers were damaged by the rain water. Preliminary damage estimates were $40-60K according to the school district.
July 2025Flash FloodSparks$20,000Nevada DOT Reno reported flooding on Rock Blvd which prompted the closure of the road near I-80.
July 2005Flash FloodSparks$5,000Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in the Spanish Springs area of Sparks. A total of 1.19 inches of rain was recorded at the weather observing station at Spanish Springs High School during a period of 30 to 40 minutes. Muddy water and small rocks flowed down streets above Vista Blvd. in Sparks.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindSparks$3,000Straight-line winds from a thunderstorm downburst caused damage along Pyramid Highway north of Sparks. Roofing tiles and metal siding was damaged on a house. Shingles were also blown off of another house.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindSparks$3,000Strong winds estimated at around 55 kt (63 mph) knocked over small trees and broke tree limbs near Vista Blvd. in Sparks. A stop sign was also reportedly blown over.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindSparks$1,000A wind gust estimated at 39 kt (45 mph) caused damage near Los Altos Parkway in Sparks. The Reno Gazette-Journal reported that a few fences were knocked down by the strong winds. One homeowner had six feet of wood fence destroyed, along with two screen-glass doors that were shattered.
August 1999Thunderstorm WindSparks$500A 14" tree branch was blown onto a car, minor damage reported.
August 2025Flash FloodSparks-Minor debris and roadway flooding on South Rock Blvd along both directions near Hymer Ave in Sparks. Additional flooding was reported throughout the city of Sparks, with rainfall estimations up to 1.15 inches.
July 2024FloodSparks-Law enforcement reported 0.25 mi SW of Sparks, NV, of ponding water over the roadway causing a portion of Rock Blvd to be temporarily closed.
July 2024Heavy RainSparks-A mesonet station NSPA (DRI) located 2.8 mi S of Sparks, NV, reported a total rainfall amount of 0.54 inches.
June 2021FloodSparks-Urban flooding of typical flood prone spots.
June 2021FloodSparks-Training thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall over Spanish Springs, particularly near Pyramid and La Posada. Standing water on many roads and field access impossible. Washoe Alert gauge reported 1.69 inches in 3 hours and that station was not in the core of the storms.
December 2021FloodSparks-NDOT closed I-80 and Rock Blvd underpass due to minor flooding.
December 2018Heavy RainSparks-CO-OP observer SRKN2 in Sparks reported 0.75 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period from 24 December 0700PST to 25 December 0700PST.
March 2018Heavy RainSparks-CoCoRaHS station NV-WH-87, 1 mile north-northeast of Sparks reported 1.00 inch of storm total rainfall from 20 March 0535PST to 23 March 0535PST.
May 2018Heavy RainSparks-Mesonet C3920, 2 miles north-northeast of Sparks (elevation 4596 feet) reported 0.27 inches of rainfall within 15 minutes from 19 May 1633PST to 1648PST and 0.55 inches of rainfall within an hour from 19 May 1618PST to 1718PST.
May 2018Heavy RainSparks-CoCoRaHS station NV-WH-147, 6 miles south-southwest of Sparks reported 0.61 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period from 24 May 0600PST to 25 May 0600PST.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindSparks-KRNV News 4 posted a picture of a 70 foot tree which fell onto a house in Sparks.
May 2009HailSparks-A trained weather spotter reported three-quarter-inch hail between Sun Valley and Sparks.
July 2006HailSparks-Nickel size hail (0.88 inch) was reported by an amateur radio operator in Spanish Springs.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindSparks-A 53 kt (61 mph) wind gust was reported at the wind sensor at Spanish Springs High School north of Sparks.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindSparks-A 53 kt (61 mph) wind gust was reported at the Desert Springs RAWS sensor.
June 2005Flash FloodSparks-A flash flood in the Sparks and Spanish Springs area was caused by very heavy rainfall. In a period of two hours 1.57 inches of rain fell in Sparks, causing flash flooding on Sparks Blvd. and at the intersection of Springland Drive and Baring Blvd. in Sparks.
July 2004HailSparks-Golfball-sized hail was reported in Palomino Valley, north of Reno.
August 2002Tornado (F0)Sparks-tornado in Spanish Springs
February 2000Tornado (F0)Sparks-Pilot and public reported a small tornado located 5 miles north of Sparks in Spanish Springs Valley. No injuries were reported and only minor property damage, the amount of which is unknown.
July 1999Tornado (F0)Sparks-Small tornado observed by off-duty NWS meteorologist in the hills east of Sparks. The tornado was on ground for approximately 2 minutes. Tornado remained over unpopulated area causing no damage. Path length and width are estimated.
July 1999FloodSparks-Off-duty NWS hydrologist reported heavy rain from thunderstorms caused street flooding in Sparks with water rising over bumpers on cars and up to businesses along the streets. Several streets temporarily closed. No damage or injuries reported.
September 1998FloodSparks-30 minute rainfall resulting in 8 inches of water flowing through Sparks Rib Cook-Off booths along Pyramid Way and Victorian Square. Minor flooding also reported along Rock Blvd, also in Sparks.
July 2005HailSparks-no account filed
July 2005HailSparks-no account filed
July 2001HailSparks-no account filed
July 2001HailSparks-no account filed
July 2001HailSparks-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Washoe County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Glendale1.2 miles28
North Valley2.7 miles29
Vista2.8 miles28
Wedekind3.2 miles28
Reno3.3 miles29
Hidden Valley3.5 miles32
Sun Valley4.4 miles29
Andersons (historical)5.1 miles31

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on SparksAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q211629The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 856391. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.