HomeNevadaSparks

Sparks, Nevada

Located in Washoe County, Nevada, Sparks was established in 1904. Tesla's Gigafactory near Sparks is one of the largest buildings in the world by footprint. Sparks is sometimes called 'The Biggest Little Sister' to Reno's 'Biggest Little City.'.
Founded 1904 | Population 115,000 | Peak 115,000 (2024) | County Washoe County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Sparks, Nevada

undefined
1890Higher Education: Educational institutions helped define Sparks's character and economy.
undefined
1904Railroad Town: Southern Pacific Railroad hub east of Reno.
undefined
1997Victorian Square Events: Downtown event venue draws tourism.
undefined
2014Tesla Gigafactory Nearby: Gigafactory at Tahoe Reno Industrial Center transforms economy.
undefined
2023Tech and Logistics Hub: Data centers and distribution centers cluster in Sparks.
🧠
How Well Do You Know Sparks?
5 questions • 2 minutes
Take the Quiz →

Complete Historical Timeline

1890 Culture
Higher Education
1904 Transport
Railroad Town
1997 Culture
Victorian Square Events
2014 Industry
Tesla Gigafactory Nearby
2023 Business
Tech and Logistics Hub

Did You Know?

1
Tesla's Gigafactory near Sparks is one of the largest buildings in the world by footprint.
2
Sparks is sometimes called 'The Biggest Little Sister' to Reno's 'Biggest Little City.'.
3
The Tahoe Reno Industrial Center near Sparks has attracted Tesla, Google, and other tech giants.
4
Sparks is located in Washoe County, Nevada.
5
Sparks was founded in 1904.

Famous People from Sparks, Nevada

JM
Jena Malone
Actor, Singer · Born Nov 21, 1984 · Age 41
MA
Mädchen Amick
Film Director, Film Producer · Born Dec 12, 1970 · Age 55
JG
Jim Gibbons
Lawyer, Politician · Born Dec 16, 1944 · Age 81
GW
Gabby Williams
Basketball Player · Born Sep 9, 1996 · Age 29
LB
Lloyd Butler
Rower · Born Nov 11, 1924 · Died May 19, 1991 (age 66)
See something that needs correcting?
We take accuracy seriously. Help us keep Sparks's history right.