Churchill County, Nevada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Churchill County, Nevada | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Nevada |
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| Statistics | |
| Formed | 1864 |
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| Seat | Fallon |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
13,010 km² (5,023 mi²) sq mi ( km²) 244 km² (94 mi²), 1.88% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
26,106 2/km² |
| Website: www.churchillcounty.org | |
Churchill County is a county located in the southwestern U.S. state of Nevada. As of 2000, the population was 23,982. The county, named after Mexican-American War hero brevet Brigadier General Sylvester Churchill, was formed in 1861. The county seat is Fallon.
Churchill County is unique in that it owns and operates the local telephone carrier, Churchill County Communications. Prostitution is legal in Churchill county.
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[edit] History
Churchill County was created in 1861 and named for Fort Churchill (which today is really in Lyon County), which had been named for General Sylvester Churchill, a Mexican-American War hero who was Inspector General of the U.S. Army in 1861. Churchill County was not organized until 1864, and its county seats were Bucklands (1861-64)which is now in Lyon County, La Plata (1864-68), Stillwater (1868-1904) and Fallon (1904-present). In the nineteenth century there were several attempts to eliminate Churchill County because of its small population, but Assemblyman Lemuel Allen was able to stop it on all occasions including convincing the Governor to veto the bill after it had been passed by both houses in 1875.
[edit] Railroads
The Eagle Salt Works Railroad ran for 13.5 miles, primarily on the original Central Pacific grade from Luva (2 miles east of Fernley) to Eagle Salt Works.
The Central Pacific (the first transcontinental railroad) also ran through the county, although a portion of the original route has been shifted for a new route south of Wadsworth in favor of Fernley. The Central Pacific later became the Southern Pacific Railroad which was merged into Union Pacific in 1996.
[edit] Geography
Churchill County is in northwestern Nevada in the southwestern United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 13,010 km² (5,023 mi²). 12,766 km² (4,929 mi²) of it is land and 244 km² (94 mi²) of it (1.88%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Lyon County, Nevada - west
- Washoe County, Nevada - northwest
- Pershing County, Nevada - north
- Lander County, Nevada - east
- Nye County, Nevada - southeast
- Mineral County, Nevada - south
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 23,982 people, 8,912 households, and 6,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 2/km² (5/mi²). There were 9,732 housing units at an average density of 1/km² (2/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.20% White, 1.60% Black or African American, 4.78% Native American, 2.71% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 3.22% from other races, and 3.27% from two or more races. 8.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,912 households out of which 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.90% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,808, and the median income for a family was $46,624. Males had a median income of $36,478 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,264. About 6.20% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.80% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.
