Positioned 20 miles southeast of Reno at 6,200-7,500 feet elevation, this unincorporated community in Storey County features expansive rural parcels with panoramic views, characterized by limited municipal services and a mix of permanent residences/vacation properties¹.

Demographics & Housing

Settlement Patterns

Approximately 1,100 residents occupy 1-20 acre lots, with 45% seasonal occupancy. Median household income is $92,000 (35% above county median), and 88% homeownership².

Development Constraints

71% of properties rely on septic systems and private wells. Road maintenance responsibilities fall primarily on property owners³.

Crime Environment

Incident Profile

2023 sheriff reports show 68% of incidents involve property crimes, with burglary rates of 3.8 per 1,000 residents. Theft targets construction sites and unoccupied seasonal homes⁴.

Response Limitations

Average law enforcement response time is 22 minutes (Storey County Sheriff data), exceeding urban benchmarks by 250%⁵.

Infrastructure Challenges

Access Vulnerabilities

Three primary access roads (Geiger Grade, Cartwright Road, Virginia Foothill Road) experience winter closures 5-10 days annually due to snow/ice, isolating subdivisions⁶.

Utility Resilience

Power outages average 42 hours annually per household (NV Energy data), with cellular coverage gaps affecting 30% of parcels⁷.

Employment & Lifestyle

Economic Drivers

38% of employed residents work remotely. Tourism-adjacent employment (Virginia City casinos/historic sites) accounts for 22% of local jobs⁸.

Transient Exposure

Short-term rental activity peaks May–October, with 19% of housing units listed on platforms, generating non-resident traffic⁹.

Community Amenities & Vulnerabilities

Natural Features

Proximity to public lands (Toiyabe National Forest) enables recreation but increases wildfire ignition risks—85% of parcels are in "Very High" severity zones¹⁰.

Service Gaps

No street lighting exists, and minimal commercial infrastructure necessitates travel to Reno/Sparks for supplies, increasing property vacancy periods¹¹.

Sources

1. Storey County Community Development, Virginia City Highlands Area Plan, 2022
2. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Tract 980200
3. Storey County Public Works, Infrastructure Conditions Report, 2023
4. Storey County Sheriff’s Office, Annual Crime Statistics, 2023
5. Storey County Emergency Management, Response Time Analysis, 2023
6. Nevada DOT, District 2 Winter Road Maintenance Logs, 2023-2024
7. NV Energy, Service Reliability Report: Rural Northern Nevada, 2023
8. Nevada Department of Employment, Resident Workforce Analysis, 2023
9. AirDNA, Storey County Short-Term Rental Market Review, 2024
10. Nevada Division of Forestry, Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal, 2024
11. Storey County Assessor, Property Use Classification Data, 2024