Wadsworth, Nevada Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Wadsworth, Nevada
CDP
Central Wadsworth
Location of Wadsworth, Nevada
Country	United States
State	Nevada
Area
• Total	3.71 sq mi (9.61 km²)
• Land	3.71 sq mi (9.61 km²)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Elevation	4,075 ft (1,242 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	991
• Density	267.04/sq mi (103.10/km²)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	89442
Area code(s)	775
FIPS code	32-81000
GNIS feature ID	0844607

Nevada Historical Marker
Reference #:	68

Wadsworth is a small community in Washoe County, Nevada. It is called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that looks like a town but isn't officially governed as one. In 2020, about 991 people lived there.

Wadsworth is part of the larger Reno and Sparks area. It is also located entirely within the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation. The town got its name from General James S. Wadsworth. He was a general in the American Civil War who died in 1864. Leland Stanford of the Central Pacific Railroad named the town after him. This was a favor to General Irvin McDowell, who Wadsworth had worked with during the war.

Where is Wadsworth Located?
Who Lives in Wadsworth?
A Look at Wadsworth's Past
Learning in Wadsworth
- Natchez Elementary School
Images for kids
See also

Where is Wadsworth Located?

Wadsworth is in Nevada, at specific geographic coordinates: 39.635550 degrees North and 119.283175 degrees West.

The Wadsworth Union Church is a historic building.

The community covers an area of about 3.7 square miles (9.6 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.

Who Lives in Wadsworth?

The population of Wadsworth was 991 people in 2020. This information comes from the United States Census.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
2020	991	—
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 881 people living in Wadsworth. About 328 homes were in the area. Most of these homes (225) were families.

About 65% of the people were Native American.
About 29% were White.
A smaller number were Asian or African American.
About 12% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Many homes (36.3%) had children under 18 living there. The average household had about 2.69 people. The average family had about 3.16 people.

The population was quite young. About 31.3% of residents were under 18 years old. The average age was 31 years.

A Look at Wadsworth's Past

Wadsworth has an interesting history with connections to famous people and events.

The Truckee River flows through Wadsworth.

The author Gwendolyn B. Bennett spent her early childhood here. Her parents were teachers on the Paiute Indian Reservation.
In 1959, a law was passed to protect wild horses in America. This law made it illegal to use planes or cars to hunt wild horses on public land. This bill was supported by Velma Bronn Johnston from Wadsworth. She was known as "Wild Horse Annie."
Wadsworth is a well-known spot for people going to the Burning Man festival. It's the exit from Interstate 80 that leads to Black Rock City. The festival is held about 62 miles (100 km) north of Wadsworth.
Wadsworth is also home to Renegade Radio, a Christian Rock radio station. You can listen to it at 101.3 FM or online.
The movie The Iron Horse by John Ford had its opening scene filmed in Wadsworth. John Ford became a very famous director, winning many awards.

Learning in Wadsworth

Students in Wadsworth attend schools that are part of the Washoe County School District.

Natchez Elementary School

Natchez Elementary School is located in Wadsworth. It is the only school in the district that is on a Native American reservation, specifically the Paiute Indian Reservation.

Around 2000, about 160 students attended Natchez Elementary. Most of these students (94%) were Native American. The school's enrollment remained similar in 2016. In 2017, the school received a new principal and new teachers. The district also spent $1.5 million to improve the school building in the summer of 2017.

After Natchez Elementary, students typically go to Mendive Middle School and then Edward C. Reed High School. Some students also attend Pyramid Lake Schools, which is a secondary school.