Women Once Flocked To This Nevada Town To Get A Quick Divorce
By Natasha Kayes|Published March 29, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Before Reno was known as “The Biggest Little City In the World,” it was a rural town, albeit one of the first to be built up in the state. And before it became known for its gaming tourism industry and quick marriages, this town had a very different reputation. The unique history of Reno, Nevada, is a great story.
In 1864, when the state of Nevada was established, the law only required individuals to be a resident for six months in order to have certain rights, such as voting and filing lawsuits (including divorce). By 1927, only three months of residency was required, and in 1931, it dropped to just six weeks.
In addition to short residency requirements, Nevada allowed for divorce on a fairly wide range of grounds, which was far different from the rest of the country. In Nevada, the plaintiff could file on the grounds that their spouse had been unkind or disrupted their life by causing them some sort of distress or restriction.
By 1910, the town of Reno had a reputation for quick, and the “divorce industry” took off. Reno became known as the “divorce capital of the world,” offering its temporary residents the chance to “take the six-week cure.” Of course, there were men who came to Reno for a quick split, but the vast majority of the town’s divorce-seekers were women.
Divorcees came from all different backgrounds, including celebrities, and arrived by every possible means, from air to automobile to train. In fact, the Overland Limited train brought so many to town that it apparently gained the moniker, “divorcee special.”
Truckee Meadows ranches were known for advertising themselves as “Guest Ranches” on the side of the highway to let divorce-seekers know they were open to newcomers who preferred the quiet of the countryside to the casinos and hotels in town.
Dude ranches, which offered city folk the opportunity to don boots, ride horses, swing ropes and pretend to be real cowboys, took on a new role as “divorce ranches.” From rustic, nearly empty cabins and cottages to high-end ranches with various amenities and entertainment, these ranches became tight little communities of people seeking a second chance at the single life.
Washoe County Courthouse processed tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of divorces. It was located in a growing center of entertainment and lodging, and not far from the so-called divorce ranches.
The Virginia Street Bridge which was close to the Washoe County Courthouse became known as Wedding Ring Bridge, a spot where newly-freed women would come and toss their wedding rings (or cheap versions purchased for this purpose) into the Truckee River.
There has been some debate as to how many women actually did throw their rings off the bridge, and whether it started with a real person or with Marilyn Monroe’s character in a movie, but the nickname stuck.
Some women came alone and quietly waited out the required time to be able to have their day in court. Some came and partied their way through the time - gambling, flirting, and having a good time. Others brought their children with them, one even being spoken of as being afraid her husband would follow her to Reno and take her kids.
Still other women brought a suitor, someone who either inspired the divorce or was already lined up for marriage when the divorce was final. And some found a new man while in Reno.
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Divorces in Reno were so common and well-known during the early decades of the 20th century that they became the subject of articles, memoirs, and films. In fact, from 1910 to 1985, over 60 films either featured or mentioned the famous divorce industry of Reno, Nevada.
In 1927, Warner Brother produced “A Reno Divorce,” A silent romantic drama about a “Reno-quickie divorce.” Another movie, simply called “Reno,” tells the story about a Reno lawyer who helps a woman to get a quick divorce while trying to keep his own wife from divorcing him.
When other states finally changed their requirements, Nevada’s divorce industry faded quickly. However, a new trend had already started. Many quick divorces were actually followed up by quick marriages, and a new reputation was born that has lasted ever since. Did you know about the unique history of Reno, Nevada, and the divorce ranches? Do you have any other interesting stories about this state’s history?
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