Churchill County is a
countyA county is a land area of local government within a country. A county may have cities and towns within its area. Originally, in continental Europe, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count .Counts are called earls in post-Celtic Britain, Ireland and France—the term is from Old...
located in the western
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government . Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile...
of
NevadaNevada is a state located in the western region of the United States. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas. The state's nickname is Silver State, due to the large number of silver deposits that were discovered and mined there...
. As of the 2000 census, the population was 23,982. As of July 1, 2007, the population of Churchill County was estimated at 27,190. The county, named after Mexican-American War hero
brevetIn many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being brevetted...
Brigadier General
Sylvester ChurchillSylvester Churchill was an American journalist and Regular Army officer.-Early life:Churchill was born in Woodstock, Vermont, the son of Joseph and Sarah Churchill...
, was formed in 1861. Its
seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
is
FallonFallon is a city in Churchill County, located in western Nevada, United States. The population was 7,536 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Churchill County and is located in the Lahontan Valley.Fallon is primarily an agricultural community...
.
Churchill County is noteworthy in that it owns and operates the local telephone carrier, Churchill County Communications.
Churchill County was created in 1861 and named for Fort Churchill (which today is actually in
Lyon CountyLyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 34,501. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:...
), which had been named for General
Sylvester ChurchillSylvester Churchill was an American journalist and Regular Army officer.-Early life:Churchill was born in Woodstock, Vermont, the son of Joseph and Sarah Churchill...
, a Mexican-American War hero who was Inspector General of the U.S.
Churchill County is a
countyA county is a land area of local government within a country. A county may have cities and towns within its area. Originally, in continental Europe, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count .Counts are called earls in post-Celtic Britain, Ireland and France—the term is from Old...
located in the western
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government . Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile...
of
NevadaNevada is a state located in the western region of the United States. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas. The state's nickname is Silver State, due to the large number of silver deposits that were discovered and mined there...
. As of the 2000 census, the population was 23,982. As of July 1, 2007, the population of Churchill County was estimated at 27,190. The county, named after Mexican-American War hero
brevetIn many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being brevetted...
Brigadier General
Sylvester ChurchillSylvester Churchill was an American journalist and Regular Army officer.-Early life:Churchill was born in Woodstock, Vermont, the son of Joseph and Sarah Churchill...
, was formed in 1861. Its
seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
is
FallonFallon is a city in Churchill County, located in western Nevada, United States. The population was 7,536 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Churchill County and is located in the Lahontan Valley.Fallon is primarily an agricultural community...
.
Churchill County is noteworthy in that it owns and operates the local telephone carrier, Churchill County Communications.
History
Churchill County was created in 1861 and named for Fort Churchill (which today is actually in
Lyon CountyLyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 34,501. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:...
), which had been named for General
Sylvester ChurchillSylvester Churchill was an American journalist and Regular Army officer.-Early life:Churchill was born in Woodstock, Vermont, the son of Joseph and Sarah Churchill...
, a Mexican-American War hero who was Inspector General of the U.S. Army in 1861. Churchill County was not organized until 1864, and its county seats were Bucklands (1861-64)which is now in Lyon County, La Plata (1864-68), Stillwater (1868-1904) and
FallonFallon is a city in Churchill County, located in western Nevada, United States. The population was 7,536 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Churchill County and is located in the Lahontan Valley.Fallon is primarily an agricultural community...
(1904-present). In the nineteenth century there were several attempts to eliminate Churchill County because of its small population, but Assemblyman Lemuel Allen was able to stop it on all occasions including convincing the Governor to veto the bill after it had been passed by both houses in 1875.
It is not named after Sir Winston Churchill, who was born after the county was organized.
Railroads
The
Eagle Salt Works RailroadThe Eagle Salt Works Railroad was a 13.5 mile shortline railroad that ran northeast from a connection with the Southern Pacific Company at Luva to Leete, Nevada. The line then branched from the old Central Pacific grade and went southeast for about 2 miles to the Eagle Salt Works.The railroad was...
ran for , primarily on the original Central Pacific grade from Luva ( east of Fernley) to Eagle Salt Works.
The
Central PacificThe Central Pacific Railroad was the California-to-Utah portion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in North America.Many proposals to build a transcontinental railroad failed because of the disputes over slavery in Washington; with the secession of the South, the modernizers in the Republican...
(the
first transcontinental railroadThe First Transcontinental Railroad is the popular name of the U.S. railroad line built between 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad of California and Union Pacific Railroad from Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska to Alameda, California...
) also ran through the county, although a portion of the original route has been shifted for a new route south of Wadsworth in favor of Fernley. The Central Pacific later became the
Southern Pacific RailroadThe Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company , and usually simply called the Southern Pacific, was an American railroad. The railroad was founded as a land holding company in 1865, later acquiring the Central Pacific Railroad by lease...
which was merged into Union Pacific in 1996.
Geography
Churchill County is in northwestern
NevadaNevada is a state located in the western region of the United States. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas. The state's nickname is Silver State, due to the large number of silver deposits that were discovered and mined there...
in the southwestern
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to the
U.S. Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the county has a total area of 5,023 square miles (13,010 km²), of which, 4,929 square miles (12,766 km²) of it is land and 94 square miles (244 km²) of it (1.88%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Lyon County, Nevada
Lyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 34,501. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:...
- west
- Washoe County, Nevada
Washoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. The population was 339,486 at the 2000 census; 2008 Census Bureau estimates listed a population of 410,443. Its county seat is Reno....
- northwest
- Pershing County, Nevada
Pershing County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 6,693. Its county seat is Lovelock. The county is named for General John Pershing. It was created out of Humboldt County in 1919, and is the last county in the state of Nevada to be...
- north
- Lander County, Nevada
Lander County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,794. Its county seat is Battle Mountain.-History:...
- east
- Nye County, Nevada
Nye County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 32,485. As of 2007, the population was estimated to be 46,308. At 18,159 total square miles, Nye is the third largest county in terms of area in the United States, excluding the boroughs of Alaska....
- southeast
- Mineral County, Nevada
Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,071. Its county seat is Hawthorne.-History:...
- south
National protected areaProtected areas are locations which receive protection because of their environmental value, or environmental plus cultural values. Examples include parks, nature reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries...
s
- Fallon National Wildlife Refuge
Fallon National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1931 as a refuge and breeding ground for birds and wild animals. It is located in the Lahontan Valley of western Nevada, at the terminus of the Carson River...
- Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge
Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge is located in the Lahontan Valley, near the community of Fallon, Nevada, sixty miles east of Reno.The Stillwater wetlands are well-known to birders, as this area has been designated a site of international importance by the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve...
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 23,982 people, 8,912 households, and 6,461 families residing in the county. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 9,732 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.20%
WhiteRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.60%
BlackRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
African AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.78%
Native AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.71%
AsianRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.23%
Pacific IslanderRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.22% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.27% from two or more races. 8.66% of the population were
HispanicRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
LatinoRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 8,912 households out of which 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.90% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,808, and the median income for a family was $46,624. Males had a median income of $36,478 versus $25,000 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the county was $19,264. About 6.20% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.80% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- Dixie Valley
Dixie Valley, Nevada was a ranching community in Churchill County, Nevada. The community is located in a valley of the same name that runs north-south in the west-central part of the state. The valley lies between the Stillwater Range and the Clan Alpine Mountains. The community was reached by a...
- Eastgate
- Fallon
Fallon is a city in Churchill County, located in western Nevada, United States. The population was 7,536 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Churchill County and is located in the Lahontan Valley.Fallon is primarily an agricultural community...
- Fallon Station
Fallon Station is a census-designated place in Churchill County, Nevada, United States. The population was 1,265 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fallon Station is located at ....
- Hazen
- Lahontan
- Middlegate
- Nevada City
For the seat of Nevada County, California see Nevada City, California.Nevada City is a ghost town in Churchill County, Nevada, United States....
- Salt Wells
- Stillwater
- White Cloud City
White Cloud City, also known as Coppereid, is a ghost town inside Churchill County country, in Nevada, United States. It had a total population of 40 people. However nobody lives there today.-External links:* at GhostTowns.com...
External links
- http://www.churchillcounty.org/