Carson City, the capital of Nevada, is an independent city and not a part of any county. It began as a trading post and small ranch called Eagle Station and, by 1851, it was serving as a stopover for gold prospectors traveling to California. In 1858, Abraham Curry bought the post and the surrounding land with the intention of building a capital city. He even designated a ten-acre plaza for the State Capitol when he laid out his plans for the city, which was renamed Carson City in honor of frontiersman Kit Carson.

Despite Curry's grand plans, it was the discovery of gold in the Comstock Lode in 1859 that brought growth and prosperity to Carson City. The "silver stampede" brought tens of thousands of miners and prospectors to the area, and the settlement grew into a bustling city almost overnight. In 1861, thanks in large part to Curry's efforts, Carson City was named the capital of the Nevada Territory.