Gerlach, Nevada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gerlach, Nevada
Census-designated place
Location of Gerlach, Nevada
Gerlach, Nevada Location in Nevada Show map of Nevada Gerlach, Nevada Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Nevada
Area
• Total	3.13 sq mi (8.09 km2)
• Land	3.13 sq mi (8.09 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	3,944 ft (1,202 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	130
• Density	41.60/sq mi (16.06/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code	89412
Area code(s)	775
FIPS code	32-27300
GNIS feature ID	845471
Website
Nevada Historical Marker
Reference #:	152

Gerlach, Nevada is a small community in Washoe County, Nevada, USA. It is known as a "census-designated place" (CDP), which means it's a special area defined for gathering population data. In 2020, about 130 people lived there. Gerlach is part of the larger Reno–Sparks area. The nearby town of Empire used to be part of Gerlach's census area but is now its own separate community. About 60 miles south is Nixon, a town on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation. You can also find the amazing Fly Geyser close to Gerlach.

History of Gerlach

Gerlach was started in 1906. This happened when the Western Pacific Railroad was building its "Feather River Route."

The town got its name from the Gerlach Land and Cattle Company. This company was owned by a person named Louis Gerlach.

In 1997, a British team used Gerlach as their base. They were trying to break the world land speed record with their Thrust SSC car. Their goal was to be the first to go faster than the speed of sound. They achieved this amazing feat on October 15, 1997. The record they set still stands today! The Black Rock Saloon in Gerlach even tracked their progress. Another driver, Craig Breedlove, was also trying to break the sound barrier at the same time. In 2017, some of the original Thrust team members came back to Gerlach. They had a reunion to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their record.

In 2009, something called the Space Chair was launched. It went almost into space from an area north of Gerlach.

Where is Gerlach?

Gerlach is about 8 square kilometers (or 3.1 square miles) in size. All of this area is land. The town sits at an elevation of about 3,944 feet above sea level. Gerlach is located roughly 100 miles north of Reno, Nevada.

People Living in Gerlach

The number of people living in Gerlach has changed over time. In 2010, there were 206 residents. By 2020, the population had decreased to 130 people.

Weather in Gerlach

Gerlach has a steppe climate. This means it is usually dry, but not a desert. It has hot summers and cold winters.

Economy and Activities

Gerlach's economy mostly depends on tourism. Many visitors come to explore the nearby Black Rock Desert. Hunting is also a popular activity in the area.

In the past, mining for gypsum was very important. The nearby town of Empire was a "company town" for the United States Gypsum Corporation (USG). This plant closed in 2011, and 95 jobs were lost. However, in 2016, the Empire Mining Company bought the town. They have started gypsum mining again and are fixing up the houses.

Other important jobs in Gerlach include:

• A Union Pacific train station.
• Public services from Washoe County, like the roads department.
• A K–12 public school run by the Washoe County School District. The future of this school is uncertain. After the gypsum plant closed, only about a dozen children remained in Gerlach.

Many people in Gerlach are older retirees. Some residents also have small businesses, often run online because the town is so far away from bigger cities. Hunters come from all over to hunt animals like chukar, geese, deer, and antelope.

Since 1990, a big event called Burning Man has been held nearby. This week-long festival brings in thousands of people. In 2013, about 68,000 people attended. Burning Man accounts for about a quarter of the yearly sales for the few shops in the area. These shops include the closest gas station and grocery store to the festival site. As of 2023, the Burning Man Project owns about half of the business properties in Gerlach. The Black Rock Desert is also used for many other fun activities throughout the year.

Getting Around Gerlach

The main road to Gerlach is State Route 447. You can also reach it by three older state highways. These are State Route 34, State Route 48, and State Route 49 (also known as Jungo Road).

Gerlach used to have a small airfield, which was just a dirt strip. It is no longer safe to use, except in emergencies.

The California Zephyr was a train service that went through Gerlach. This train ran from 1949 until 1970. It offered direct travel from Oakland, California to Chicago.

Media and Local Radio

Gerlach has two non-profit radio stations run by the community.

• KFBR 91.5 FM was run by Friends of Black Rock/High Rock. In 2022, the Burning Man Project bought KFBR.
• KLAP 89.5 FM is run by Open Sky Radio Corp. Its studio is located at 395 Main Street, in the old Gerlach Gas Station and Garage Building Office.

Education in Gerlach

The Washoe County School District runs the Gerlach K-12 School.

The Ernest M. Johnson School was first an elementary school in Empire. In 2001, it moved to the same location as Gerlach High School in Gerlach. By 2000, the school's address was already listed in Gerlach. Johnson became a school for all grades, K-12, in 2011.

Gerlach High School, for grades 6-12, opened in 1931. A new building was built in 1955 because the first one was destroyed by a fire. The fire happened in January 1955.

Gerlach also has a public library. It is a part of the Washoe County Library System and is located on the school property.

Images for kids

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  The Gerlach Water Tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

See also

In Spanish: Gerlach (Nevada) para niños