Douglas County, Nevada facts for kids

Douglas County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, about 49,488 people live there. The main town and government center, called the county seat, is Minden. Douglas County is part of a larger area that includes Gardnerville Ranchos, and it's also connected to bigger cities like Reno and Carson City.

Quick facts for kids Douglas County
County
From top, left to right: View of Stateline from near Heavenly Mountain Resort. Nevada Beach Campground in Zephyr Cove. Douglas County Courthouse in Minden. Downtown Gardnerville.
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Location within the U.S. state of Nevada
Nevada's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Nevada
Founded	1861; 164 years ago (1861)
Named for	Stephen A. Douglas
Seat	Minden
Largest city	Gardnerville Ranchos
Area
• Total	738 sq mi (1,910 km2)
• Land	710 sq mi (1,800 km2)
• Water	28 sq mi (70 km2)  3.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	49,488
• Density	67.06/sq mi (25.891/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district	2nd

History of Douglas County

Douglas County has a rich history! The town of Genoa, located in Douglas County, was the very first permanent settlement in Nevada. It was founded in 1851 by Mormon traders. These traders sold supplies to settlers who were traveling through on their way to California.

The county itself was named after Stephen A. Douglas. He was a famous politician known for his debates with Abraham Lincoln and his campaign for president in 1860. Douglas County was one of the first nine counties created in Nevada in 1861 by the Nevada territorial legislature, which was like the early government of the area.

The county seat, which is where the main government offices are, was originally Genoa. However, in 1915, it was moved to Minden, where it remains today.

The county government provides many important services for its residents. These include taking care of parks, enforcing laws, maintaining roads, checking building safety, and even running the Minden–Tahoe Airport. Fire protection and emergency medical help are also provided by special fire districts in different parts of the county.

Geography and Nature

Douglas County covers an area of about 738 square miles. Most of this is land (710 square miles), with a smaller part being water (28 square miles). It's the second-smallest county in Nevada by land area.

The highest point in Douglas County is East Peak, which stands tall at 9,593 feet. Another important mountain is Mount Siegel.

Douglas County is in western Nevada, close to the Sierra Nevada mountains. It shares a border with California to the west. A significant part of the beautiful Lake Tahoe (about 13.2%) is located within Douglas County, with the rest in California. To the north, you'll find Carson City, the state capital. To the east is Lyon County.

Neighboring Areas

Douglas County shares borders with these counties and cities:

• Carson City – to the north
• Lyon County – to the east
• Mono County, California – to the southeast
• Alpine County, California – to the south
• El Dorado County, California – to the west
• Placer County, California – to the northwest

Protected Natural Areas

Part of the Toiyabe National Forest is located within Douglas County, offering beautiful natural spaces.

Getting Around: Transportation

Public transportation in Douglas County is available through several services. These include Douglas Area Rural Transit, Tahoe Transportation District, and Eastern Sierra Transit.

Main Roads

Many important highways run through Douglas County, connecting its communities and leading to other parts of Nevada and California. These include:

Population and People

In 2010, there were 46,997 people living in Douglas County. The population density was about 66 people per square mile. Most residents were white (89.6%), with smaller percentages of Native American, Asian, Black, and other racial groups. About 10.9% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Douglas County in 2010 was 47.4 years old. The median income for a household was $60,721, meaning half of the households earned more than this and half earned less.

Communities in Douglas County

Douglas County does not have any officially incorporated cities or towns. Instead, it has many communities that the U.S. Census Bureau tracks for population and other data. These are called census-designated places.

Census-Designated Places

Other Communities

There are also several smaller, unincorporated communities in the county:

• Centerville
• Dresslerville
• Holbrook Junction
• Mottsville
• Sheridan

Economy and Jobs

Douglas County is home to several important employers that provide many jobs for its residents. These include:

• Starbucks roasting plant
• Patmont Motor Werks
• Bently Nevada, which is part of Baker Hughes
• North Sails
• TeslaWatt

Education in Douglas County

Public schools in Douglas County are managed by the Douglas County School District. This district serves students across the entire county, covering two main areas: Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley. Douglas High School also welcomes most high school students from Alpine County, California.

Schools in the Lake Tahoe Area

• George Whittell High School
• Zephyr Cove Elementary School

Schools in the Carson Valley Area

Private Schools

In addition to public schools, Douglas County also has private school options:

• Sierra Lutheran High School
• Faith Christian Academy
• Grace Christian Academy

Local News and Media

Residents of Douglas County can stay informed through local newspapers:

• Carson Valley Times
• The Record-Courier

Images for kids

• 

  The Douglas County Courthouse in Minden.

• 

  A view of downtown Gardnerville.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Douglas (Nevada) para niños