People came to Reno married… and left single.

In this episode of the Nevada History Segment, we explore how Reno became known as the Divorce Capital of America, and how a simple change to Nevada law quietly reshaped the city. During the Great Depression, Nevada reduced its divorce residency requirement to just six weeks, turning Reno into a legal escape hatch for unhappy marriages across the country.

What followed was not chaos, but an industry. Dude ranches, hotels, lawyers, and courts formed a smooth pipeline for visitors waiting out the clock. Celebrities, socialites, and everyday Americans arrived under assumed names, lived quietly in the high desert, and left legally single. National newspapers took notice, and Reno’s reputation spread far beyond Nevada.

As divorce laws changed nationwide in the decades that followed, Reno’s unique advantage faded. But the impact of the divorce era never fully disappeared. It helped stabilize the city during hard times, shaped its tourism infrastructure, and cemented Reno’s identity as a place of reinvention rather than escape.

This isn’t gossip. It’s Nevada history.

Subscribe to Fourth Street Live Podcast for more wild stories from the Silver State — outlaws, casinos, and the real history behind the neon. The past is never really dead, and Nevada is just waiting to be told.

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