Lyon County, Nevada

History

Lyon County was one of the nine original counties created on November 25, 1861. It was named after Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union General to be killed in the Civil War. Its first county seat was established at Dayton on November 29, 1861, which had just changed its name from Nevada City in 1862, and which had been called Chinatown before that. After the Dayton Court House burned down in 1909, the seat was moved to Yerington in 1911. There were stories that it was named for Captain Robert Lyon, a survivor of the Pyramid Lake War in 1860, but Nevada State Archives staff discovered a county seal with the picture of the Civil War general.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2024 sqmi, of which 2001 sqmi is land and 23 sqmi (1.1%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Nevada by area. The highest point is approximately 10,565 ft on the northeast ridge of Middle Sister, the peak of which is located in adjacent Mono County, California, while the highest independent mountain completely within Lyon County is the nearby East Sister. The most topographically prominent peak in Lyon County is Bald Mountain.

Part of the Toiyabe National Forest is located within Lyon County.

Major highways

• [[File:I-80 (NV).svg|20px]] Interstate 80
• [[File:Business Loop 80.svg|20px]] Interstate 80 Business (Wadsworth–Fernley)
• [[File:US 50.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 50
• [[File:US 95.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 95
• [[File:Alt plate.svg|20px]]
• [[File:Alt plate.svg|20px]]
• [[File:Nevada 208.svg|20px]] State Route 208
• [[File:Nevada 338.svg|20px]] State Route 338
• [[File:Nevada 339.svg|20px]] State Route 339
• [[File:Nevada 340.svg|20px]] State Route 340
• [[File:Nevada 341.svg|20px]] State Route 341
• [[File:Nevada 427.svg|20px]] State Route 427
• [[File:Nevada 439.svg|20px]] State Route 439
• [[File:Nevada 823.svg|20px]] State Route 823
• [[File:Nevada 824.svg|20px]] State Route 824
• [[File:Nevada 827.svg|20px]] State Route 827
• [[File:Nevada 828.svg|20px]] State Route 828
• [[File:Nevada 829.svg|20px]] State Route 829

Adjacent counties and city

• Washoe County - north
• Storey County - northwest
• Churchill County - east
• Douglas County - west
• Carson City - west
• Mineral County - southeast
• Mono County, California - southwest

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 59,235. The median age was 43.0 years, 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18, and 21.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.1 males age 18 and over. 55.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 44.6% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 75.7% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 2.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.2% from some other race, and 12.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 17.5% of the population.

There were 22,704 households in the county, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 24,401 housing units, of which 7.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.7% were owner-occupied and 25.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 51,980 people, 19,808 households, and 14,137 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022942/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US32019 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191831/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US32019 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013513/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US32019 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 19,808 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.6% were non-families, and 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 40.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,433 and the median income for a family was $56,106. Males had a median income of $45,319 versus $31,536 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,041. About 8.7% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023210/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US32019 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 34,501 people, 13,007 households, and 9,443 families living in the county. The population density was 17 /mi2. There were 14,279 housing units at an average density of 7 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 88.62% White, 0.65% Black or African American, 2.45% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 4.59% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. 10.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,007 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,699, and the median income for a family was $44,887. Males had a median income of $34,034 versus $25,914 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,543. About 7.20% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

From 2000 until 2008, Lyon County was one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. However, its growth rate collapsed during 2008.

Communities

Cities

• Fernley
• Yerington (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Dayton
• Silver City
• Silver Springs
• Smith Valley
• Stagecoach

Other unincorporated places

• Argo
• Artesia
• Bucklands Station
• Cambridge
• Churchhill
• Como
• Davis Station
• Greenville
• Hoye
• Hudson
• Johntown
• Ludwig
• Lux
• Marshland
• Mason
• Mound House
• Nordyke
• Palmyra
• Pine Grove
• Ramsey
• Rapids City
• Rockland
• Simpson
• Stone Cabin
• Sutro
• Sweetwater
• Thompson
• Tippecanoe
• Twin Flat
• Wabuska
• Walker River
• Weeks
• Wellington
• Willington Springs
• Wichman

Politics

Although not so historically Republican as neighboring Douglas County, Lyon is nonetheless a powerfully Republican county. The last Democrat to carry the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 – the county was one of three in Nevada to vote for Barry Goldwater in 1964 – and Jimmy Carter in 1976 is the last Democrat to pass forty percent of Lyon County's vote.

An advisory question about Lyon County's legal brothels was put on the 2018 ballot. "Lyon County Question 1" asked whether or not voters wanted to rescind Title 3, Chapter 5, which is the Lyon County Brothel Ordinance. Out of 20,674 votes cast, 4,031 voted to have it rescinded, and 16,643 voted to keep the brothels open in Lyon County.

Education

Lyon County has sixteen schools provided by the Lyon County School District.

Transportation

Air

There are three public airports in Lyon County:

• Yerington Municipal Airport, with a 5,800-foot-long runway.
• Silver Springs Airport, with a 7,200-foot-long runway capable of accepting 737s (its runway lights are visible when driving down on Fir Street from Ramsey Weeks cut-off to 95A).
• Tiger Field on US 95A about three miles from Fernley, with a gravel runway of 2,750 feet and a paved runway of 5,600 feet.

Railroads

The Central Pacific (the first transcontinental railroad) 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.

The Virginia and Truckee Railroad runs through Mound House in western Lyon County, on its way from Carson City to Virginia City.

The narrow-gauge Carson and Colorado Railroad had its terminus in Mound House, where it intersected with the V&T. It traveled east through Dayton, then turned south to the Mason Valley, and east again on its way to Walker Lake. Later a branch line connected the C&C to the Southern Pacific at Hazen. While the line west of Silver Springs was removed, the line from Hazen to Walker Lake (now standard gauge) is still in place, and used several times each week by the Union Pacific to service the NV Energy Fort Churchill Generating Station, near Yerington.

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

The Nevada Copper Belt Railroad ran on the west side of the Mason Valley.

Train

Amtrak's California Zephyr passenger train passes through, but does not stop in Lyon County. The nearest Amtrak passenger stations are located in Reno and Winnemucca. The California Zephyr runs from the San Francisco Bay Area to Chicago via Salt Lake City, Denver and Omaha.

Entertainment

Prostitution is licensed and legalized in Lyon county. There are several open ranches, including:

• Moonlite Bunny Ranch (the most famous Lyon Country brothel)
• Sagebrush Ranch All are located in Mound House, which is on US Highway 50 adjacent to the line dividing Lyon and Carson City counties.

Several gambling casinos are located in various parts of Lyon County, as are numerous restaurants, clubs, saloons, etc.

Notes

References

References

1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lyon County, NV". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Creation of Nevada's Counties". Nevada Association of Counties.
3. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". U.S. Government Printing Office.
4. . (1862). ["Laws of the Territory of Nevada passed at the first regular session of the Legislative Assembly"](https://books.google.com/books?id=oq0wAQAAMAAJ). *Valentine & Co.*.
5. (March 12, 1993). "Lyon got its name where?". Mason Valley News.
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
12. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. Les Christie, CNNMoney staff writer. (March 16, 2006). "100 fastest growing counties - Mar. 16, 2006". Money.cnn.com.
17. "County Intercensal Tables: 2000-2010". [[United States Census]].
18. (November 7, 2018). "Lyon County Question 1 Votes Are In.... {{!}} Nevada Brothels". Nevada Brothels.
19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
20. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".