Churchill County, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Churchill County is a county located in the western U.S. state
of Nevada
. 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 brevet
Brigadier General Sylvester Churchill
, was formed in 1861. Its seat
is Fallon
.
Churchill County is noteworthy in that it owns and operates the local telephone carrier, Churchill County Communications.
), which was named after General Sylvester 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 Fallon
(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.
ran for 13.5 miles (21.7 km), primarily on the original Central Pacific grade from Luva (2 miles (3.2 km) east of Fernley) to Eagle Salt Works.
The Central Pacific
(the first transcontinental railroad
) 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 Railroad
which was merged into Union Pacific in 1996.
in the southwestern United States
. According to the U.S. Census Bureau
, the county has a total area of 5023 square miles (13,009.5 km²), of which 4929 square miles (12,766.1 km²) is land and 94 square miles (243.5 km²) (1.88%) is water.
of 2000, there were 23,982 people, 8,912 households, and 6,461 families residing in the county. The population density
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% White
, 1.60% Black
or African American
, 4.78% Native American
, 2.71% Asian
, 0.23% Pacific Islander
, 3.22% from other races
, and 3.27% from two or more races. 8.66% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
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 couples
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 income
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.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 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. Four states use the official title of...
of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. 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 brevet
Brevet (military)
In 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 except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
Brigadier General Sylvester Churchill
Sylvester Churchill
Sylvester 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 seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Fallon
Fallon, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
.
Churchill County is noteworthy in that it owns and operates the local telephone carrier, Churchill County Communications.
History
Churchill County was established in 1861 and named after Fort Churchill (which is now in Lyon CountyLyon County, Nevada
Lyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,980. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:...
), which was named after General Sylvester Churchill
Sylvester Churchill
Sylvester 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
Stillwater, Nevada
Stillwater is a 19th century ghost town of Churchill County, Nevada.-External links:* at GhostTowns.com...
(1868–1904) and Fallon
Fallon, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
(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.
Railroads
The Eagle Salt Works RailroadEagle Salt Works Railroad
The 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 13.5 miles (21.7 km), primarily on the original Central Pacific grade from Luva (2 miles (3.2 km) east of Fernley) to Eagle Salt Works.
The Central Pacific
Central Pacific Railroad
The Central Pacific Railroad is the former name of the railroad network built between California and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad" in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Many 19th century national proposals to build a transcontinental...
(the first transcontinental railroad
First Transcontinental Railroad
The First Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad line built in the United States of America between 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad of California and the Union Pacific Railroad that connected its statutory Eastern terminus at Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska The First...
) 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 Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
which was merged into Union Pacific in 1996.
Geography
Churchill County is in northwestern NevadaNevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
in the southwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to the U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The 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...
, the county has a total area of 5023 square miles (13,009.5 km²), of which 4929 square miles (12,766.1 km²) is land and 94 square miles (243.5 km²) (1.88%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Lyon County, NevadaLyon County, NevadaLyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,980. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:...
- west - Washoe County, NevadaWashoe County, NevadaWashoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. The population was 421,407 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Reno. Washoe County includes the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area.-History:...
- northwest - Pershing County, NevadaPershing County, NevadaPershing 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 was named after army general John J. Pershing . It was formed from Humboldt County in 1919, and the last county to be established in...
- north - Lander County, NevadaLander County, NevadaLander 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, NevadaNye County, Nevada-National protected areas:* Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Death Valley National Park * Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest * Spring Mountains National Recreation Area -Demographics:...
- southeast - Mineral County, NevadaMineral County, NevadaMineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,071. In 2009, it was estimated to have dropped to 4,662. Its county seat is Hawthorne.-History:...
- south
National protected areas
- Fallon National Wildlife RefugeFallon National Wildlife RefugeFallon 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 RefugeStillwater National Wildlife RefugeStillwater 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 censusCensus
A 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. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 23,982 people, 8,912 households, and 6,461 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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 American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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 American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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 Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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 races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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 Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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 Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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 couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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 income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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
- EastgateEastgate, NevadaEastgate is an unincorporated community located within Churchill County, Nevada, United States. It is located on the Lincoln Highway. The community's elevation is . Other alternate unofficial names include East Gate, Eastgate Station, and Gibralter Gate....
- FallonFallon, Nevada-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
- Fallon StationFallon Station, NevadaFallon 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 ....
- HazenHazen, NevadaHazen is an unincorporated community in Churchill County, Nevada, United States, about 12 miles southeast of Fernley and 16 miles northwest of Fallon, on U.S. Route 50....
- Lahontan
- MiddlegateMiddlegate, NevadaMiddlegate is an unincorporated community in Churchill County, Nevada, United States.The local bar, gas station and restaurant of Middlegate were the location for Black Road, Gregory Hutton's award-winning 2002 short film starring William Nilon....
- Nevada CityNevada City, NevadaNevada City is a ghost town in Churchill County, Nevada, United States....
- Salt Wells
- StillwaterStillwater, NevadaStillwater is a 19th century ghost town of Churchill County, Nevada.-External links:* at GhostTowns.com...
- White Cloud CityWhite Cloud City, NevadaWhite 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...
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Churchill County, Nevada
- USS Churchill County (LST-583)USS Churchill County (LST-583)USS Churchill County , originally USS LST-583, was an built for the United States Navy during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1946 and 1960 to 1968. Named for Churchill County, Nevada she was the only U.S...
External links
- http://www.churchillcounty.org/