Living in Old Southwest Reno
Some neighborhoods tell you they’re established.
Old Southwest Reno doesn’t have to.
You can see it in the mature trees arching over residential streets, homes built across different eras, established landscaping, and the way the neighborhood connects naturally with Midtown, downtown Reno, Virginia Lake, and the Truckee River.
This is a part of Reno that developed over generations rather than all at once.
That history created architectural variety, established streets, older homes, renovated properties, and residential areas that can feel noticeably different from the newer development found farther south in Reno.
If you’re considering living in Old Southwest Reno, understanding its geography, housing, history, and relationship to the rest of the city can help you decide whether this is an area you want to explore more closely.
Old Southwest Reno at a Glance
Location: Southwest of downtown Reno, near Midtown, Virginia Lake, and the Truckee River
City: Reno, Nevada
County: Washoe County
Primary Zip Code: 89509
Elevation: Approximately 4,500 feet above sea level, with elevation varying by location
Nearby Areas: Midtown Reno, downtown Reno, Virginia Lake, Newlands, and the Truckee River corridor
Major Streets and Corridors: California Avenue, Plumas Street, Arlington Avenue, and nearby Virginia Street
Landscape: Established central Reno residential areas with mature landscaping and streets developed over multiple eras
Housing: Historic and vintage homes, mid century residences, renovated properties, multifamily housing, condominiums, and architecturally varied residential streets
A Neighborhood That Grew Up With Reno
Old Southwest Reno feels different because much of it developed during earlier periods of Reno’s growth.
Instead of repeating blocks of similar homes built during a single development cycle, the area contains housing from different decades and architectural periods.
That can mean different rooflines from one street to the next, mature landscaping, older street patterns, varied lot sizes, additions completed over time, and homes that have been renovated to very different degrees.
Parts of the broader Old Southwest area also overlap or connect with places that have their own historic identity.
The Newlands area, for example, represents an important part of Reno’s residential development history. Portions of Newlands are recognized within the Newlands Historic District, which reflects the transition of Reno’s early residential growth from streetcar and pedestrian oriented development toward neighborhoods increasingly shaped by the automobile.
That history is still visible in the housing and street patterns found throughout this part of Reno today.
Understanding Old Southwest Reno’s Geography
Old Southwest is a commonly used Reno neighborhood name, but it does not describe one perfectly defined subdivision.
That distinction matters when researching homes.
The broader area southwest of downtown includes established residential streets around California Avenue and Plumas Street and extends toward areas surrounding Virginia Lake, Newlands, and other central Reno neighborhoods.
Some of these places have their own neighborhood identities, planning histories, or MLS subdivision names.
That means a property may be described locally as being in Old Southwest while its MLS subdivision, historic district, or planning area uses a more specific name.
Neighborhoods and Areas Around Old Southwest Reno
Newlands
Newlands is one of the historic residential areas associated with Reno’s older southwest neighborhoods. The area includes established streets, mature landscaping, and homes representing different periods of Reno’s residential development.
Portions of Newlands are included within the Newlands Historic District, adding another layer of architectural and development history to this part of Reno.
Location: Southwest of downtown Reno, near California Avenue, Arlington Avenue, the Truckee River, and other established Old Southwest residential areas.
Newlands Heights
Newlands Heights is a name buyers may encounter while searching for MLS listings within the broader Old Southwest and Newlands area.
Homes and individual streets vary, making the property itself, its location, and its surrounding blocks more useful than relying on the subdivision name alone.
Location: Within the broader Newlands and Old Southwest area southwest of downtown Reno.
Newlands Manor
Newlands Manor is another residential name that can appear in property searches within the broader Old Southwest area.
As with many older Reno neighborhoods, housing age, renovations, architecture, lot characteristics, and individual property condition can vary considerably.
Location: Within the established residential areas of southwest Reno near the broader Newlands and Old Southwest neighborhoods.
Plumas Area
Plumas Street is one of the major north south streets running through this part of Reno and connects residential areas between the Truckee River corridor, Old Southwest, and Virginia Lake.
Residential streets surrounding the corridor include homes from different periods of Reno’s development.
Location: Along and around Plumas Street southwest of downtown Reno, extending toward Virginia Lake.
A Saturday in Old Southwest Reno
One of the easiest ways to understand Old Southwest is to spend time here without looking at houses.
Start with coffee near California Avenue or Midtown.
Walk through the surrounding residential streets and notice how quickly the architecture changes from one block to another.
Head toward Virginia Lake or make your way north toward the Truckee River.
Lunch, coffee shops, local businesses, downtown Reno, and Midtown are all nearby, but much of Old Southwest itself remains residential.
By evening, you can be back beneath mature trees and established streets while still being only a short distance from some of central Reno’s busiest destinations.
That relationship between residential streets and central Reno is one of the defining geographic characteristics of Old Southwest.
Homes and Real Estate in Old Southwest Reno
Housing is one of the biggest reasons Old Southwest deserves to be understood separately from newer parts of Reno.
Homes here were built across different decades.
Buyers may encounter historic properties, smaller vintage homes, larger renovated residences, mid century houses, condominiums, multifamily properties, and homes that have changed substantially since they were originally constructed.
That variety also means buyers should look beyond finishes and square footage.
With an older home, questions about previous renovations, electrical systems, plumbing, sewer lines, roofing, foundations, drainage, windows, heating and cooling systems, additions, permits, and general maintenance history can become especially important.
Two houses on neighboring streets may have been built decades apart or maintained very differently.
That is part of what makes Old Southwest interesting.
It is also why individual property due diligence matters.
Old Southwest Reno vs. Newer Reno Neighborhoods
Old Southwest and newer parts of Reno can offer very different housing experiences.
Old Southwest generally contains older housing, established streets, mature landscaping, architectural variety, and closer proximity to Midtown, downtown Reno, Virginia Lake, and the Truckee River.
Newer areas of Reno, particularly portions of South Reno, are more likely to include recently developed subdivisions, master planned communities, newer infrastructure, and neighborhoods created during more recent periods of the city’s growth.
Neither development pattern is inherently better.
They are simply different.
Someone comparing Old Southwest with South Reno should consider housing age, architecture, lot characteristics, homeowners associations when applicable, maintenance expectations, proximity to central Reno, commute routes, surrounding development, and the amenities they use most often.
What Should Buyers Look at in Old Southwest Reno?
Start with the house.
Then look beyond it.
Consider when the property was built and what has been updated since then.
Look at the surrounding street, parking, sidewalks where present, landscaping, lot configuration, traffic patterns, and proximity to the places you expect to use regularly.
If the home has been substantially renovated or expanded, understanding permits and the history of the work may also be useful.
And because Old Southwest includes housing from multiple periods, avoid assuming that one property represents the entire neighborhood.
A few blocks can make a noticeable difference in architecture, street design, housing density, and surroundings.
That variation is part of understanding Old Southwest Reno.
Frequently Asked Questions About Old Southwest Reno
Where is Old Southwest Reno?
Old Southwest Reno is located southwest of downtown Reno and near Midtown, Virginia Lake, Newlands, and the Truckee River. The name is commonly used for a broader collection of established residential areas rather than one universally defined subdivision, so exact neighborhood descriptions can vary depending on the source.
What ZIP code is Old Southwest Reno in?
Much of Old Southwest Reno is located within ZIP code 89509.
ZIP codes cover areas larger than individual neighborhoods, however, so a ZIP code alone should not be used as the boundary for Old Southwest Reno.
Is Old Southwest Reno a historic neighborhood?
Old Southwest contains some of Reno’s older residential areas and historic housing.
Within the broader area, Newlands has a particularly significant historic identity, and portions of the neighborhood are included within the Newlands Historic District.
Not every property in Old Southwest is historic, and housing age varies considerably throughout the area.
What types of homes are in Old Southwest Reno?
Old Southwest contains homes built across different periods of Reno’s development.
Depending on the street and property, buyers may encounter historic houses, vintage homes, mid century residences, renovated properties, condominiums, multifamily housing, and other established residential options.
What are Newlands Heights and Newlands Manor?
Newlands Heights and Newlands Manor are names buyers may encounter when searching properties within the broader Newlands and Old Southwest area.
Because local neighborhood names, historic districts, planning areas, and MLS subdivision names do not always use identical boundaries, buyers should evaluate the location of individual properties rather than assuming every geographic label means the same thing.
Is Old Southwest Reno close to Midtown?
Yes.
Old Southwest is directly adjacent to or near Midtown depending on the specific location within the broader neighborhood.
California Avenue and surrounding streets help connect Old Southwest with Midtown and central Reno.
Is Old Southwest Reno close to downtown?
Yes.
Old Southwest is located southwest of downtown Reno, and many parts of the neighborhood are only a short distance from downtown, Midtown, and the Truckee River corridor.
Actual travel time depends on the specific property, destination, traffic, and route.
Is Old Southwest Reno walkable?
Walkability varies significantly depending on the specific street and destination.
Some portions of Old Southwest are close to restaurants, coffee shops, parks, Midtown, Virginia Lake, and other central Reno destinations, while other residential streets may require driving for everyday errands.
Buyers who consider walkability important should evaluate the specific property rather than relying on the neighborhood name alone.
How is Old Southwest different from South Reno?
Old Southwest is an established central Reno area characterized by older housing, mature landscaping, varied architecture, and proximity to Midtown, downtown Reno, Virginia Lake, and the Truckee River.
South Reno covers a much larger portion of the southern Truckee Meadows and generally includes more recent suburban development, master planned communities, shopping areas, parks, trails, and foothill neighborhoods.
The two areas represent different periods and patterns of Reno’s growth.
What should I compare when considering a home in Old Southwest Reno?
Compare the individual home’s age, condition, renovation history, architecture, lot, parking, major systems, and maintenance needs.
Then consider its specific location within Old Southwest, proximity to the places you use regularly, surrounding streets, traffic patterns, and how the property connects with the rest of Reno.
Understanding both the house and its location provides a much clearer picture than choosing based on the neighborhood name alone.
Explore More of Reno
Old Southwest is one part of a much larger Reno housing landscape.
Compare Old Southwest with Midtown, South Reno, and other Reno neighborhoods to understand how housing, geography, development patterns, and access to amenities change across the city.
➡️ Explore Our Moving to Reno, Nevada Guide
