Sparks was originally born in 1904 as a replacement
for Wadsworth as the big switching yard on this section
of the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Originally named Harriman after the railroad tycoon,
the political climate at the time motivated the Southern
Pacific to rename the town Sparks, to honor Governor
John T. Sparks. Sparks soon gained a reputation as a
family oriented and hard-working community. The
railroad consumed the bulk of Spark's city life and
business until the 1950s. Quickly the town was
exploding into a burgeoning bedroom community.
Communities began cropping up in the grazing lands
on the northeast. The growth, and relative quiet of this
residential hub, continued for almost 20 years. As the
railroad began to play a lesser role in Sparks, the town
focused new commerce expansion into the areas of
warehousing, distribution and manufacturing.

After John Ascuga erected Spark's first skyscraper,
the surrounding downtown area evolved to a Victorian
style hamlet. This pronounced architectural design set
the tone for a warm, friendly community that embraces
tear round lively public events. Currently, Sparks is
Nevada's fourth-largest city and offers abundant
services to travelers.