kids encyclopedia robot

Caliente, Nevada facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Caliente, Nevada
The historic Caliente Railroad Depot,January 2007
The historic Caliente Railroad Depot,
January 2007
Nickname(s): 
City of Roses
Location of Caliente, Nevada
Location of Caliente, Nevada
Caliente, Nevada is located in Nevada
Caliente, Nevada
Caliente, Nevada
Location in Nevada
Caliente, Nevada is located in the United States
Caliente, Nevada
Caliente, Nevada
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Nevada
County Lincoln
Area
 • Total 53.02 sq mi (137.33 km2)
 • Land 53.02 sq mi (137.33 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
5,131 ft (1,564 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 990
 • Density 18.67/sq mi (7.21/km2)
Time zone UTC−8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code
89008
Area code(s) 775
FIPS code 32-08500
GNIS feature ID 2409959

Caliente is a city in Lincoln County, Nevada, United States. It was once known as Culverwell and Calientes. The city's name comes from the nearby hot springs, as "caliente" is the Spanish word for "hot."

At the 2020 census, Caliente had a population of 990 people. This makes it the least populated incorporated city in Nevada.

History of Caliente

Caliente was founded in 1901. It was built on land owned by William and Charles Culverwell, and was first called "Culverwell Ranch." The town was soon named "Calientes" because of the hot springs in the area. Later that year, a post office was built, and the "s" was removed, making the name "Caliente."

In 1905, the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad was finished. This brought more people and activity to the town. A large train depot was built in 1923, designed in the style of Spanish mission architecture. Today, this historic building holds city and county offices, plus a museum with information about the area's past.

Caliente's population grew to over 5,000 people at its busiest time. However, in the late 1940s, the number of residents decreased. This happened because trains started using diesel engines instead of steam, which meant fewer railroad workers were needed.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1950 970
1960 792 −18.4%
1970 916 15.7%
1980 982 7.2%
1990 1,111 13.1%
2000 1,123 1.1%
2010 1,130 0.6%
2020 990 −12.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

The city's population has changed over the years. In 2000, there were 1,123 people living in Caliente. About 29.4% of homes had children under 18. The average household had about 2.34 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 39.1% of residents were under 18 years old. The median age in the city was 33 years. This means half the people were younger than 33 and half were older.

Geography and Climate

2015-01-15 14 39 33 View south along U.S. Route 93 in Caliente, Nevada
South along U.S. Route 93 in Caliente, January 2015

Caliente is located in a high-desert area, about 5,131 feet (1,564 meters) above sea level. The city covers an area of about 53 square miles (137 square kilometers), and all of it is land.

Understanding Caliente's Weather

Caliente has a unique high-desert climate. Winters are cool, but not extremely cold. Summers are very sunny with long days and warm temperatures. However, the nights are usually cool.

In January, the average high temperature is around 48.5°F (9.2°C). In July, the average high is about 96.5°F (35.8°C). It's common for summer days to reach over 100°F (38°C). Even with hot days, the desert air and clear skies allow the temperature to drop a lot at night, making evenings mild.

Most of the rain falls in the winter months, from November to March. This is when Pacific storms bring moisture. From mid-July through September, the area gets "monsoon" rains. These bring thunderstorms, which can sometimes cause flash flooding.

Climate data for Caliente, Nevada (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–1916, 1931–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 71
(22)
81
(27)
90
(32)
94
(34)
103
(39)
109
(43)
110
(43)
108
(42)
106
(41)
95
(35)
82
(28)
71
(22)
110
(43)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 48.5
(9.2)
53.4
(11.9)
62.1
(16.7)
68.7
(20.4)
78.7
(25.9)
90.0
(32.2)
96.5
(35.8)
94.2
(34.6)
86.8
(30.4)
73.7
(23.2)
59.9
(15.5)
48.1
(8.9)
71.7
(22.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 33.5
(0.8)
38.0
(3.3)
45.2
(7.3)
51.3
(10.7)
60.4
(15.8)
69.8
(21.0)
76.8
(24.9)
74.8
(23.8)
66.5
(19.2)
54.0
(12.2)
41.7
(5.4)
33.0
(0.6)
53.8
(12.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 18.6
(−7.4)
22.5
(−5.3)
28.2
(−2.1)
33.8
(1.0)
42.1
(5.6)
49.7
(9.8)
57.2
(14.0)
55.4
(13.0)
46.1
(7.8)
34.2
(1.2)
23.6
(−4.7)
17.9
(−7.8)
35.8
(2.1)
Record low °F (°C) −31
(−35)
−19
(−28)
2
(−17)
15
(−9)
22
(−6)
33
(1)
40
(4)
34
(1)
25
(−4)
9
(−13)
0
(−18)
−18
(−28)
−31
(−35)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.86
(22)
0.99
(25)
1.20
(30)
0.58
(15)
0.68
(17)
0.39
(9.9)
0.69
(18)
0.86
(22)
0.49
(12)
0.75
(19)
0.55
(14)
0.81
(21)
8.85
(225)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 2.8
(7.1)
2.2
(5.6)
0.5
(1.3)
0.2
(0.51)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.3
(0.76)
2.7
(6.9)
8.7
(22)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.1 4.2 1.9 4.2 4.1 3.2 3.5 2.8 4.0 46.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 1.2 1.1 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.2 4.7
Source: NOAA

Things to Do in Caliente

Caliente offers several fun places to visit and activities to enjoy.

Kershaw–Ryan State Park

This park is located very close to Caliente. It's a great spot for outdoor fun. You can find:

  • Hiking trails
  • Campgrounds for overnight stays
  • Volleyball courts
  • Picnic areas
  • Horseshoe pits
  • A small natural swimming pool

Caliente Railroad Depot

The historic Caliente Railroad Depot is a two-story building right next to the train tracks. It's not just a museum! It also houses the city's offices and a library. You can learn about the history of the area and see how the city works.

Outdoor Adventures

Caliente is a hub for many outdoor activities, especially for those who love the desert.

Mountain Biking Trails

As of 2020, there are about 30 miles of special trails for mountain biking in and around Caliente. These trails attract mountain bikers from all over the country to explore the wild Nevada desert.

Off-Road Motorized Fun

There are thousands of miles of tracks and trails for motorized off-road vehicles. Caliente also hosts several large motorized races and events each year, bringing excitement to the area.

Rock Climbing and Fishing

If you enjoy rock climbing, Rainbow Canyon and Big Rocks Wilderness offer many different climbing routes. For those who like fishing and boating, the nearby Eagle Valley Reservoir is a popular spot.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Caliente (Nevada) para niños

kids search engine
Caliente, Nevada Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.