Legends of the Old West don’t get any richer than they are here. Storey County earned its place on the map in 1859 when miners discovered the largest deposit ever found of gold and silver in Virginia City, which pumped nearly half a billion dollars into the economy of the United States. This discovery ultimately heralded Storey County’s Virginia City/Gold Hill as “The Richest Place on Earth.” Long after the gold and silver rush became a memory, Storey County was left with a thriving tourism market that continues to attract over 1.6 million visitors annually. Complimenting the rich history and established tourism draw, Storey County’s growing industrial sector plays an equally important role in its vitality and future economic outlook.