Prior to incorporation, Nevada County provided services to the region. Although the 1990 census shows a Truckee population of 8912, the Town believes that growth has resulted in a current population of 12,700. This is the area which encompasses the main commercial area of the Town along Commercial Row, Bridge Street and West River Street. The Downtown Commercial Core is an area of both mixed and multiple residential, office and retail uses. Multiple uses are those which are adjacent to each other, typically in separate buildings.
Mixed uses require that the uses be in the same or interconnected buildings.
This portion of the Town functions as the community core and activity center, and is the Town's major tourist attraction due to the variety of retail shopping experiences and the presence of rich historic character. Most of the retail and office establishments are located in Commercial Row. Recently, retail activity has begun to spread west on Donner Pass Road, into the area known locally as Brickelltown, and has also begun to locate on West River Street, across the Southern Pacific tracks from Commercial Row. Residential buildings which traditionally occupied the first block of West River Street have slowly converted to retail, professional and industrial space. Located towards the end of West River Street near Highway 89, are a light industrial park and many heavy industrial facilities.