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Lincoln County, Nevada facts for kids

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Lincoln County
Lincoln County Courthouse in Pioche
Flag of Lincoln County
Flag
Official seal of Lincoln County
Seal
Map of Nevada highlighting Lincoln County
Location within the U.S. state of Nevada
Map of the United States highlighting Nevada
Nevada's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Nevada
Founded 1866; 158 years ago (1866)
Named for Abraham Lincoln
Seat Pioche
Largest city Caliente
Area
 • Total 10,637 sq mi (27,550 km2)
 • Land 10,633 sq mi (27,540 km2)
 • Water 3.8 sq mi (10 km2)  0.04%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 4,499
 • Density 0.42296/sq mi (0.163305/km2)
Time zone UTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district 4th
Cathedral Gorge
Cathedral Gorge and Lincoln County near Panaca

Lincoln County is a county in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,499, making it the fourth-least populous county in Nevada. Its county seat is Pioche. Like many counties in Nevada, it is dry and sparsely populated, though notable for containing the Area 51 government Air Force base.

History

Lincoln County was established in 1866 after Congress enlarged Nevada by moving its state line eastward and southward at the expense of Utah and Arizona territories. It is named after Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Original legislation called for the creation of a "Stewart County", after Nevada Senator William M. Stewart, but this was later changed in a substitute bill. Crystal Springs was the county's first seat in 1866, followed by Hiko in 1867 and Pioche in 1871.

Lincoln County initially included a ranch village and railroad siding named Las Vegas. However, that siding, which led to the future city of Las Vegas, was separated from Lincoln County upon the founding of Clark County effective July 1, 1909, by act of the Nevada Legislature.

Area 51 is in Lincoln County and the county sheriff acts in proxy for the perimeter security forces.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 10,637 square miles (27,550 km2), of which 10,633 square miles (27,540 km2) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) (0.04%) is water. While only the third-largest county by area in the state of Nevada, it is the seventh-largest county in area in the United States, not including boroughs and census areas in Alaska. The south cliff of Mount Rummel, the summit of which is just north of the county line in White Pine County, contains Lincoln County's highest point, at 10,640 feet (3,240 m). The highest independent mountain completely within Lincoln County is Shingle Peak, while the county's most topographically prominent peak is Mormon Peak.

Major highways

  • US 93.svg U.S. Route 93
  • Nevada 317.svg State Route 317
  • Nevada 318.svg State Route 318
  • Nevada 319.svg State Route 319
  • Nevada 320.svg State Route 320
  • Nevada 321.svg State Route 321
  • Nevada 322.svg State Route 322
  • Nevada 375.svg State Route 375
  • Nevada 816.svg State Route 816

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Lincoln County contains 16 official wilderness areas that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. All are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Several extend into neighboring counties (as indicated below).

  • Big Rocks Wilderness
  • Clover Mountains Wilderness
  • Delamar Mountains Wilderness
  • Far South Egans Wilderness (partly in Nye County, NV)
  • Fortification Range Wilderness
  • Meadow Valley Range Wilderness (partly in Clark County, NV)
  • Mormon Mountains Wilderness (partly in Clark County, NV)
  • Mount Grafton Wilderness (mostly in White Pine County, NV)
  • Mount Irish Wilderness
  • Parsnip Peak Wilderness
  • South Egan Range Wilderness (partly in White Pine County, NV; Nye County, NV)
  • South Pahroc Range Wilderness
  • Tunnel Spring Wilderness
  • Weepah Spring Wilderness (partly in Nye County, NV)
  • White Rock Range Wilderness
  • Worthington Mountains Wilderness

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 2,985
1880 2,637 −11.7%
1890 2,466 −6.5%
1900 3,284 33.2%
1910 3,489 6.2%
1920 2,287 −34.5%
1930 3,601 57.5%
1940 4,130 14.7%
1950 3,837 −7.1%
1960 2,431 −36.6%
1970 2,557 5.2%
1980 3,732 46.0%
1990 3,775 1.2%
2000 4,165 10.3%
2010 5,345 28.3%
2020 4,499 −15.8%
2023 (est.) 4,452 −16.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,345 people, 1,988 households, and 1,282 families living in the county. The population density was 0.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.19/km2). There were 2,730 housing units at an average density of 0.3 per square mile (0.12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.1% white, 2.3% black or African American, 1.1% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific islander, 2.2% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 39.8% were English, 19.5% were German, 12.4% were Irish, 6.1% were Danish, 5.9% were Dutch, and 1.8% were American.

Of the 1,988 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.5% were non-families, and 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.16. The median age was 39.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,695 and the median income for a family was $56,167. Males had a median income of $51,475 versus $26,366 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,148. About 7.5% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools in Lincoln County are under the Lincoln County School District]]. The schools are:

  • Pioche Elementary School
  • Caliente Elementary School
  • Pahranagat Valley Elementary School
  • Panaca Elementary School
  • Meadow Valley Middle School
  • Pahranagat Valley Middle School
  • Lincoln County High School
  • C. O. Bastian High School
  • Pahranagat Valley High School

Communities

AlamoNV.2
A sign on U.S. Route 93 in Lincoln County

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Planned development

Notable people

  • Helen J. Stewart, at one time the largest landowner in the county
  • Land artist Michael Heizer lives in Garden Valley near his last work, City.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Lincoln (Nevada) para niños

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