Churchill County, Nevada

History

Churchill County was established in 1861, and was named for Fort Churchill (which is now in Lyon County), which was named for 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 first county seat was Bucklands (which is now in Lyon County). In 1864 the county seat was moved to La Plata, Nevada; and on January 1, 1904, it was settled in its present position, Fallon. In the 19th century there were several attempts to eliminate Churchill County because of its small population, but Assemblyman Lemuel Allen stopped it on all occasions including convincing the Governor to veto an 1875 bill after it had been passed by both houses.

Railroads

The Eagle Salt Works Railroad ran for 13.5 mi, primarily on the original Central Pacific grade from Luva (2 mi east of Fernley) to Eagle Salt Works.

The Central Pacific portion of the nation's first transcontinental railroad ran through Churchill 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.

Geography

The terrain of Churchill County consists of rugged mountainous ridges, dotted with lakes and ponds. The county's east and west sides are higher than the intermediate valley; its highest point around the county periphery is a ridge on the lower east boundary line, at 9,380 ft ASL. The county has an area of 5024 sqmi, of which 4930 sqmi is land and 94 sqmi (1.9%) is water. The county's highest point is Desatoya Peak at 9,977 ft, while the most topographically prominent peak is Mount Augusta, at 9,970 ft ASL.

Major highways

• [[File:I-11 (Future).svg|20px]] Interstate 11 (Future)
• [[File:I-80 (NV).svg|20px]] Interstate 80
• [[File:US 50.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 50
• [[File:Alt plate.svg|20px]]
• [[File:US 95.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 95
• [[File:Alt plate.svg|20px]]
• [[File:Nevada 115.svg|20px]] State Route 115
• [[File:Nevada 116.svg|20px]] State Route 116
• [[File:Nevada 117.svg|20px]] State Route 117
• [[File:Nevada 118.svg|20px]] State Route 118
• [[File:Nevada 119.svg|20px]] State Route 119
• [[File:Nevada 120.svg|20px]] State Route 120
• [[File:Nevada 121.svg|20px]] State Route 121
• [[File:Nevada 361.svg|20px]] State Route 361
• [[File:Nevada 715.svg|20px]] State Route 715
• [[File:Nevada 718.svg|20px]] State Route 718
• [[File:Nevada 720.svg|20px]] State Route 720
• [[File:Nevada 722.svg|20px]] State Route 722
• [[File:Nevada 723.svg|20px]] State Route 723
• [[File:Nevada 726.svg|20px]] State Route 726
• [[File:Nevada 839.svg|20px]] State Route 839

Adjacent counties

• Lyon County – west
• Washoe County – northwest
• Pershing County – north
• Lander County – east
• Nye County – southeast
• Mineral County – south

Protected areas

• Fallon National Wildlife Refuge
• Humboldt State Wildlife Management Area
• Lahontan State Game Refuge
• Lahontan State Recreation Area (partial)
• Sand Mountain Recreation Area
• Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge

Lakes and reservoirs

• Big Water
• Carson Lake
• Cattail Lake
• Division Lake
• Dog Head Pond
• Dry Lake
• Dutch Bill Lake
• East Alkali Lake Number One
• East Alkali Lake Number Two
• Foxtail Lake
• Goose Lake
• Humboldt Lake (partial)
• Lahontan Reservoir
• Little Soda Lake
• North Nutgrass Lake
• Pintail Bay
• Scheckler Reservoir
• Soda Lake
• Stillwater Point Reservoir
• Swan Check
• Swan Lake
• Tule Lake
• West Nutgrass
• Willow Lake

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 25,516. The median age was 40.7 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.8 males age 18 and over. 65.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 34.3% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 73.4% White, 1.8% Black or African American, 4.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.7% Asian, 0.4% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.9% from some other race, and 11.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 14.1% of the population.

There were 10,017 households in the county, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 10,772 housing units, of which 7.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.1% were owner-occupied and 32.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, the county had 24,877 people, 9,671 households, and 6,631 families. The population density was 5.0 PD/sqmi. There were 10,826 housing units at an average density of 2.2 /sqmi.

The county's racial makeup was 82.0% white, 4.5% American Indian, 2.7% Asian, 1.6% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 4.8% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 19.2% were English, 18.8% were German, 13.6% were Irish, 6.5% were Italian, and 5.9% were American.

Of the 9,671 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.4% were non-families, and 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 39.0 years.

The county's median household income was $51,597 and the median family income was $63,599. Males had a median income of $45,057 versus $32,550 for females. The county's per capita income was $22,997. About 6.8% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, the county had 23,982 people, 8,912 households, and 6,461 families. The population density was 5 /mi2. There were 9,732 housing units at an average density of 2 /mi2.

The country's racial makeup was 84.2% White, 1.6% Black or African American, 4.8% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. 8.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,912 households, of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% 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.

28.0% of the county's population was under age 18, 8.1% was from age 18 to 24, 28.7% was from age 25 to 44, 22.3% was from age 45 to 64, and 11.9% was age 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The country's median household income was $40,808 and the median family income was $46,624. Males had a median income of $36,478 versus $25,000 for females. The county's per capita income was $19,264. About 6.2% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Fallon

Census-designated place

• Fallon Station

Unincorporated communities

• Cold Springs
• Dixie Valley
• Eastgate
• Hazen
• Middlegate
• Stillwater

Education

The school district is the Churchill County School District. Its public high school is Churchill County High School.

There is a charter school in Fallon, Oasis Academy.

Politics

Lying on the boundary between the northwest urban areas of Nevada and the conservative Mormon Great Basin, Churchill County has more in common with the latter region, being overwhelmingly Republican. It was one of three Nevada counties Barry Goldwater won in 1964, and since that time only Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Barack Obama in 2008 have passed so much as thirty percent of the county's ballots. The last time Churchill County voted for a Democratic presidential candidate was when it supported Franklin D. Roosevelt against Wendell Willkie in 1940.

Notes

Notable people

• Luella Kirkbride Drumm, the only woman to serve in the Nevada State Legislature in 1939.
• Mary Daisy White, one of the first women elected to the Nevada Assembly.

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. [http://www.churchillcounty.org/index.aspx?NID=740 "Churchill County Communications is the only county-owned telephone company in the United States." (accessed 10 February 2019)]
3. . (November 8, 1867). ["Removal of the County Seat of huchill.[sic]"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1218314086). *Daily [[Territorial Enterprise]]*.
4. [[21st Nevada Legislature]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20240921193230/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Statutes/21st1903/Stats190301.html#Stats190301page47 Chap. XXVII.–An Act to remove the county seat of Churchill County from the Town of Stillwater to the Town of Fallon.]
5. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Churchill+County,+NV/@39.5737781,-118.6135808,10z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x80a27da1627664d7:0x49d4f75f2bf027bd!8m2!3d39.6626678!4d-118.4863963 ''Churchill County NV'' Google Maps (accessed 10 February 2019)]
6. ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed 10 February 2019)".
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
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32. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
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35. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau.
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37. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
38. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
39. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
40. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Geographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau.
41. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". US Census Bureau.
42. "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau.
43. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau.
44. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau.
45. "Oasis Academy". [[National Center for Education Statistics]].
46. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections".
47. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
48. (July 15, 1940). "Luella K. Drumm to Seek Office". Nevada State Journal.
49. Corkill, Bunny. “[https://www.nevadawomen.org/research-center/biographies-alphabetical/luella-kirkbride-drumm/ Luella Kirkbride Drumm].” Reno, Nevada: Nevada Women's History Project, retrieved online June 19, 2021.
50. “The Lady in the Race.” Fallon, Nevada: ''The Fallon Standard'', August 6, 1924.
51. Bernard, Patti and Janice Hoke. “[https://www.nevadawomen.org/research-center/biographies-alphabetical/mary-daisy-allen-williams-white/ Mary Daisy Allen Williams White].” Reno, Nevada: Nevada Women's History Project, retrieved online June 19, 2021.