Churchill County, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Churchill County
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Churchill County | |||
Churchill County Courthouse in Fallon
|
|||
|
|||
Location within the U.S. state of Nevada
|
|||
 Nevada's location within the U.S. |
|||
| Country |  United States |
||
| State |  Nevada |
||
| Founded | 1861 (created) 1864 (organized) |
||
| Named for | Sylvester Churchill | ||
| Seat | Fallon | ||
| Largest city | Fallon | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 5,024 sq mi (13,010 km2) | ||
| • Land | 4,930 sq mi (12,800 km2) | ||
| • Water | 94 sq mi (240 km2) 1.9% | ||
| Population
(2010)
|
|||
| • Total | 24,877 | ||
| • Estimate
(2019)
|
24,909 | ||
| • Density | 4.9516/sq mi (1.91184/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 2nd | ||
Churchill County is a county in the western U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 24,877. Its county seat is Fallon. Named for Mexican–American War hero brevet Brigadier General Sylvester Churchill, the county was formed in 1861. Churchill County comprises the Fallon, NV Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is in northwestern Nevada. Churchill County is noteworthy in that it owns and operates the local telephone carrier, Churchill County Communications.
Contents
History
Churchill County was established in 1861 and named after Fort Churchill (which is now in Lyon County), 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 19th 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 Railroad 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.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,024 square miles (13,010 km2), of which 4,930 square miles (12,800 km2) is land and 94 square miles (240 km2) (1.9%) is water. The highest point is Desatoya Peak at 9,977 ft (3,041 m), while the most topograhically prominent peak is Mount Augusta.
Major highways
Interstate 11 (Future)
Interstate 80
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 Alternate
U.S. Route 95
U.S. Route 95 Alternate
State Route 115
State Route 116
State Route 117
State Route 118
State Route 119
State Route 120
State Route 121
State Route 361
State Route 715
State Route 718
State Route 720
State Route 722
State Route 723
State Route 726
State Route 839
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
Adjacent counties
- Lyon County - west
- Washoe County - northwest
- Pershing County - north
- Lander County - east
- Nye County - southeast
- Mineral County - south
National protected areas
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 196 | — | |
| 1880 | 479 | 144.4% | |
| 1890 | 703 | 46.8% | |
| 1900 | 830 | 18.1% | |
| 1910 | 2,811 | 238.7% | |
| 1920 | 4,649 | 65.4% | |
| 1930 | 5,075 | 9.2% | |
| 1940 | 5,317 | 4.8% | |
| 1950 | 6,161 | 15.9% | |
| 1960 | 8,452 | 37.2% | |
| 1970 | 10,513 | 24.4% | |
| 1980 | 13,917 | 32.4% | |
| 1990 | 17,938 | 28.9% | |
| 2000 | 23,982 | 33.7% | |
| 2010 | 24,877 | 3.7% | |
| 2020 | 25,516 | 2.6% | |
| US Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018 |
|||
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 inhabitants per square mile (1.9/km2). There were 10,826 housing units at an average density of 2.2 per square mile (0.85/km2).
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.
Communities
City
Census-designated place
- Fallon Station
Other unincorporated places
- Bernice
- Bolivia
- Boyer
- Clan Alpine
- Clemens
- Cold Springs
- Coppereid
- Dixie
- Dixie Valley
- Eagleville
- Eastgate
- Fillmore
- Frenchman
- Gregory
- Hazen
- Humboldt Salt Marsh
- Island City
- Jessup
- Kingston
- Lahontan
- Leete
- Leeteville
- Middlegate
- Miriam
- Nevada City
- Nevada Hills
- Northam
- Parran
- Ragtown
- Red top
- Salt Wells
- Sand Springs
- St. Clair
- Stillwater
- Trinity
- White Cloud City
- Willowtown
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.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Churchill para niños
