The capital of Nevada, in the western part of the state near the California border. It was laid out in 1858 on the site of an earlier trading post and named in honor of Kit Carson. Population: 40,443. the capital of the state of Nevada in the US. City (pop., 2000: 52,457), capital of Nevada, U.S. Located east of Lake Tahoe and south of Reno, it was settled in 1858 and later renamed for Kit Carson. The discovery of silver in 1859 in the nearby Virginia City area stimulated Carson City's economy. The federal government established a mint at Carson City, which later became the Nevada State Museum. Carson City became the state capital in 1864 when Nevada gained statehood