Moapa Valley, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moapa Valley, Nevada
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Location of Moapa Valley in Clark County, Nevada
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Clark |
| Area | |
| • Total | 43.68 sq mi (113.13 km2) |
| • Land | 43.66 sq mi (113.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,335 ft (407 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,289 |
| • Density | 144.06/sq mi (55.62/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 702 and 725 |
| FIPS code | 32-47880 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1867349 |
| Website | Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board |
Moapa Valley is a community located in Clark County, Nevada, in the United States. It's not a city with its own government, but rather an "unincorporated town." This means it's managed by the county. The valley itself is about 40 miles (64 km) long. It stretches from the northwest to the southeast. As of the 2020 census, about 6,289 people live here.
Contents
Geography of Moapa Valley
The Muddy River flows through Moapa Valley. This river used to be called the Moapa River. It starts at the Warm Springs Natural Area. Then it flows through the valley and empties into Lake Mead.
The valley is home to a few smaller communities. These include Moapa Town, Logandale, and Overton. Logandale is about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Moapa Town. Overton is about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Logandale. Before Lake Mead was created, the town of St. Thomas was also part of Moapa Valley. However, it was abandoned in 1938 because the lake's water level rose too high.
Moapa Valley sits about 1,335 feet (407 meters) above sea level. The area officially known as the "census-designated place" (CDP) of Moapa Valley covers about 43.7 square miles (113.2 km2). Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit (0.05%) being water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 1,111 | — | |
| 1990 | 3,444 | 210.0% | |
| 2000 | 5,784 | 67.9% | |
| 2010 | 6,924 | 19.7% | |
| 2020 | 6,289 | −9.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 5,784 people living in Moapa Valley. There were 1,934 households and 1,525 families. The population density was about 132.7 people per square mile (51.2 people per km2).
Many households (38.8%) had children under 18 living with them. About 69.8% of households were married couples. The average household had about 3 people. The average family had about 3.4 people.
The community has people of all ages. About 33.5% of the population was under 18. About 15.2% were 65 years or older. The average age in Moapa Valley was 36 years old.
History of Moapa Valley
Moapa Valley has a long and interesting history. People have lived here for thousands of years.
Native American History
The first people to settle in Moapa Valley were the Ancestral Puebloan people. They arrived around 350 B.C. They were also known as "Basketmakers" around 500 A.D. At this time, farming became their main way to get food, replacing hunting. They also learned how to make pottery.
By 600 A.D., the Ancestral Puebloan people started building homes above ground. They used wood and brush covered with adobe. They were good farmers, growing corn, beans, squash, and cotton. They also hunted animals like mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and rabbits using bows and arrows.
Around 1000 A.D., the Southern Paiute people moved into the area. The Paiutes were hunter-gatherers. This means they found their food by hunting and gathering plants. They lived in simple brush homes. They spoke the Southern Paiute language. The Paiutes and Ancestral Puebloan people lived together peacefully in the valley.
Around 1150 A.D., the Ancestral Puebloans left Moapa Valley. This might have been because of a long dry period called a drought. When the first European settlers arrived much later, the Paiutes moved to a reservation north of Moapa Town. They still live there today.
Early Settlers
The first European settlers came to Moapa Valley in the late 1860s. These were Mormon pioneers. The area is still home to many Mormon families today. Many streets in the valley are named after these early families. Some names you might see are Barlow, Hinckley, Leavitt, Lyman, Perkins, Whitmore, Wells, and Andersen.
One famous pioneer family, the Huntsmans, started the Huntsman Ranch. Their old cabin is still there near Kane Springs. It is now a historical site recognized by the State of Nevada.
Moapa Valley in Modern Times
In 1980, people living in Overton and Logandale voted to combine their two towns. They wanted to create one larger town called Moapa Valley. The local government, the Clark County Commission, approved this vote. So, Moapa Valley was officially created on February 13, 1981. At that time, about 1,400 people lived in the new town.
Radio Stations
Moapa Valley has a few radio stations that broadcast from the area:
- KRRN 92.7 FM plays Spanish music.
- KXLI 94.5 FM plays dance music, mostly for listeners in Las Vegas.
- KJUL 104.7 FM plays "middle-of-the-road" music.
- KQLL 102.3 FM plays oldies music. It also broadcasts on 1280 AM from Henderson.
See also
In Spanish: Moapa Valley (Nevada) para niños
