Overton, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Overton
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Overton seen from the edge of Mormon Mesa
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 Overton
Location in Nevada
Overton
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Clark |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
89040
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| Area code(s) | 702 and 725 |
Overton is a small community in Clark County, Nevada. It is part of a larger area called Moapa Valley. Overton is located near the northern end of Lake Mead. It is also home to two airports, Perkins Field and Echo Bay Airport.
Contents
History of Overton
Overton was started in 1869 by a group of people called Latter-day Saints. Their leader was Helaman Pratt. They formed a church group there in 1883.
In the 1880s, Overton had the only store in the lower Moapa Valley. People from nearby towns came to Overton to buy what they needed. In the 1930s, the town of St. Thomas was covered by water when Lake Mead was filled. Most of its residents moved to Overton. After that, Overton became the main business and social center of the lower Moapa Valley.
In 1980, people living in Overton and the nearby town of Logandale voted to combine their towns. They decided to create one larger town called Moapa Valley. This change officially happened on February 13, 1981.
Geography and Climate
Overton is located in Moapa Valley, about 65 miles (105 km) northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. The area has interesting landscapes with flat-topped hills called mesas, smaller hills, and the nearby Lake Mead. Overton is also the closest community to Valley of Fire State Park, which is famous for its red rock formations.
Overton's Climate
Overton has a hot desert climate. This means it gets very hot and dry, especially in the summer.
| Climate data for Overton, Nevada (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1939–1968 and 1992–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) |
85 (29) |
99 (37) |
104 (40) |
116 (47) |
122 (50) |
122 (50) |
120 (49) |
117 (47) |
111 (44) |
91 (33) |
80 (27) |
122 (50) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 72.3 (22.4) |
77.5 (25.3) |
88.0 (31.1) |
97.7 (36.5) |
106.0 (41.1) |
114.7 (45.9) |
118.3 (47.9) |
115.2 (46.2) |
110.1 (43.4) |
99.1 (37.3) |
84.2 (29.0) |
71.2 (21.8) |
118.9 (48.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 62.1 (16.7) |
66.8 (19.3) |
75.2 (24.0) |
83.1 (28.4) |
93.0 (33.9) |
104.2 (40.1) |
109.4 (43.0) |
107.4 (41.9) |
100.0 (37.8) |
85.8 (29.9) |
71.3 (21.8) |
60.5 (15.8) |
84.9 (29.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 47.7 (8.7) |
52.2 (11.2) |
59.7 (15.4) |
66.7 (19.3) |
76.2 (24.6) |
85.8 (29.9) |
92.0 (33.3) |
90.4 (32.4) |
82.6 (28.1) |
69.1 (20.6) |
55.4 (13.0) |
46.4 (8.0) |
68.7 (20.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33.3 (0.7) |
37.6 (3.1) |
44.1 (6.7) |
50.2 (10.1) |
59.4 (15.2) |
67.5 (19.7) |
74.7 (23.7) |
73.3 (22.9) |
65.1 (18.4) |
52.3 (11.3) |
39.6 (4.2) |
32.4 (0.2) |
52.5 (11.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 24.0 (−4.4) |
28.6 (−1.9) |
34.3 (1.3) |
40.2 (4.6) |
47.8 (8.8) |
57.6 (14.2) |
66.1 (18.9) |
64.3 (17.9) |
54.2 (12.3) |
41.5 (5.3) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
22.8 (−5.1) |
21.2 (−6.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 8 (−13) |
17 (−8) |
20 (−7) |
17 (−8) |
34 (1) |
39 (4) |
51 (11) |
49 (9) |
40 (4) |
27 (−3) |
16 (−9) |
11 (−12) |
8 (−13) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.69 (18) |
0.91 (23) |
0.81 (21) |
0.31 (7.9) |
0.14 (3.6) |
0.05 (1.3) |
0.38 (9.7) |
0.44 (11) |
0.26 (6.6) |
0.48 (12) |
0.47 (12) |
0.64 (16) |
5.58 (142) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3.7 | 4.1 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 27.4 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Economy and Transportation
Overton has some natural resources nearby that are important for its economy.
Local Industries
Near Overton, you can find deposits of magnesite, kaolin, and gypsum. These are minerals used in many products. Silica sand, which is used to make glass, is also produced in the area.
Getting Around Overton
Nevada State Route 169 is a main road that connects Overton to other places. It goes north to Interstate 15 and south to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. A road leading to Valley of Fire State Park also branches off from this highway.
Overton is located along an old railway line. This line, called the St. Thomas branch, was built in 1911. It used to go all the way to St. Thomas, but part of it was abandoned when Lake Mead was filled. Today, the railway still serves a gypsum plant near Overton. There are no passenger trains, but freight trains still use the tracks.
Fun Things to See and Do
Overton and its surroundings offer several interesting places to visit.
- Double Negative is a unique piece of land art. It is a large artwork dug into the ground near Overton.
- The Lost City Museum displays artifacts from an ancient Native American settlement called Pueblo Grande de Nevada. You can even see a reconstructed ancient dwelling in the museum's courtyard.
- The Overton Wildlife Management Area is a great place for nature lovers. It is located south of Overton, next to Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
- Several places in Overton are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are important sites that are preserved for their history. They include:
- Boulder Dam Park Museum (listed in 1996)
- LDS Moapa Stake Office Building (listed in 2002)
- Overton Gymnasium (listed in 1992)
- St. Thomas Memorial Cemetery (listed in 2005)
- Overton Park (listed in 2024)
- Two other important sites near Overton are:
- The wreck of a Boeing B-29 plane submerged in Lake Mead.
- The ancient site of Pueblo Grande de Nevada.
Famous People from Overton
- Archie Butler (actor) (1911–1977) was an actor and stunt man. He worked in many movies and TV shows. He passed away in Overton.
- Betty Willis (1923–2015) was a visual artist and graphic designer. She is most famous for designing the iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign. She was born in Overton.
Overton in Books
The novel Lords of St. Thomas (2018) by Jackson Ellis tells a story about the last family to leave the nearby town of St. Thomas, Nevada. This happened in 1938 when the town was flooded by the waters of Boulder Dam. Part of the book is set in Overton, as the Lord family moves there after St. Thomas is flooded.
See also
In Spanish: Overton (Nevada) para niños
