Wendover, Utah

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Wendover is a city in Tooele County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,537 at the 2000 census.

Wendover is on the western border of Utah, and is contiguous with West Wendover, Nevada. Interstate 80 runs through both cities.

The town was established in 1906 as a station stop on the Western Pacific Railroad, then under construction. From 1917 to 1939, a Western Pacific subsidiary known as the Deep Creek Railroad also operated into Wendover. The Western Pacific became part of the larger Union Pacific Railroad in 1983.

During World War II, the nearby Wendover Army Air Field was a training base for bomber pilots, including the crew of the Enola Gay.

For years, West Wendover, Nevada, has thrived under a lucrative gambling industry in Nevada, which has generated tax revenue for city services and better schools. Meanwhile, just footsteps away, Wendover, Utah, has decayed with almost no business tax base. Residents in both cities have voted to annex Wendover into Nevada, saying they are one community that has been divided for too long. Both Utah and Nevada have endorsed the idea, however, the exact details of an annexation have not been worked out. Any change in state boundaries would have to be approved by Congress.

[edit] Geography

Wendover is located at 40°44′8″N, 114°1′59″W (40.735492, -114.032957)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.7 km² (6.4 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,537 people, 432 households, and 327 families residing in the city. The population density was 92.3/km² (238.9/mi²). There were 510 housing units at an average density of 30.6/km² (79.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 43.98% White, 1.17% African American, 1.76% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 43.59% from other races, and 8.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 68.64% of the population.

There were 432 households out of which 54.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.56 and the average family size was 4.10.

In the city the population was spread out with 39.9% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 3.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,196, and the median income for a family was $29,722. Males had a median income of $18,417 versus $20,682 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,794. About 24.7% of families and 26.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.