Wells, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Wells is a city in Elko County
, in northeast Nevada
in the western United States
. The population was 1,346 at the 2000 census. Wells is located at the junction of U.S. Route 93 and Interstate 80
, approximately 50 miles (80.5 km) east of Elko
and is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
, and was once a stopover for passenger trains. The Humboldt River
has its source in springs and a swampy area just west of the city that today is called Humboldt Wells. In the late 19th century, Humboldt Wells was burning down, and in a frantic plea for help, a telegraph was sent that said, "Wells is burning". After this the town was rebuilt and simply referred to as 'Wells'.
The Lone Star Motel located in Wells was used in the 2001 film Joy Ride for a critical scene.
.
A 6.0 earthquake
occurred near Wells at 6:16 am on February 21, 2008. Because of its proximity of the epicenter
, Wells experienced significant damage. The earthquake originated 9 km below the surface, with its epicenter only 12 miles (19.3 km) distant from Wells, at 41.077, 114.752.
, the city has a total area of 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²), all land, at an elevation of 5630 feet (1,716 m).
Wells is located by the intersection of U.S. Route 93 and Interstate 80.
of 2000, there were 1,346 people, 525 households, and 352 families residing in the city. The population density
was 195.6 people per square mile (75.5/km²). There were 633 housing units at an average density of 92.0 per square mile (35.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.24% White, 6.76% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 9.06% from other races
, and 3.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.47% of the population.
There were 525 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 107.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,870, and the median income for a family was $41,827. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,852 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,835. About 8.6% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.
Elko County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/sq mi . There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi...
, in northeast 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...
in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,346 at the 2000 census. Wells is located at the junction of U.S. Route 93 and Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
, approximately 50 miles (80.5 km) east of Elko
Elko, Nevada
Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River....
and is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area
Elko micropolitan area
The Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area is a two county Nevada statistical area of . The area includes portions of the Humboldt River Basin , the Snake River Basin , and the Central Nevada Desert Basins subregion ....
.
History
The site of Wells began as a place called Humboldt Wells along the trail to California. It was subsequently founded as a railroad town along the original Transcontinental RailroadTranscontinental railroad
A transcontinental railroad is a contiguous network of railroad trackage that crosses a continental land mass with terminals at different oceans or continental borders. Such networks can be via the tracks of either a single railroad, or over those owned or controlled by multiple railway companies...
, and was once a stopover for passenger trains. The Humboldt River
Humboldt River
The Humboldt River runs through northern Nevada in the western United States. At approximately long it is the second longest river in the Great Basin, after the Bear River. It has no outlet to the ocean, but instead empties into the Humboldt Sink...
has its source in springs and a swampy area just west of the city that today is called Humboldt Wells. In the late 19th century, Humboldt Wells was burning down, and in a frantic plea for help, a telegraph was sent that said, "Wells is burning". After this the town was rebuilt and simply referred to as 'Wells'.
The Lone Star Motel located in Wells was used in the 2001 film Joy Ride for a critical scene.
.
A 6.0 earthquake
Independence Valley fault system
The Independence Valley fault system is a group of interrelated normal faults located in northeastern Nevada in the United States. The fault system is characteristic of faulting throughout the Great Basin region.-2008 Wells earthquake:...
occurred near Wells at 6:16 am on February 21, 2008. Because of its proximity of the epicenter
Epicenter
The epicenter or epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates...
, Wells experienced significant damage. The earthquake originated 9 km below the surface, with its epicenter only 12 miles (19.3 km) distant from Wells, at 41.077, 114.752.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 city has a total area of 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²), all land, at an elevation of 5630 feet (1,716 m).
Wells is located by the intersection of U.S. Route 93 and Interstate 80.
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 1,346 people, 525 households, and 352 families residing in the city. 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 195.6 people per square mile (75.5/km²). There were 633 housing units at an average density of 92.0 per square mile (35.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.24% White, 6.76% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 9.06% 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 3.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.47% of the population.
There were 525 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% 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, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 107.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,870, and the median income for a family was $41,827. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,852 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 city was $16,835. About 8.6% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.