Churchill County, Nevada

Churchill County is a county in the western U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,516. Its county seat is Fallon. Named for Mexican–American War hero brevet Brigadier General Sylvester Churchill, the county was formed in 1861. Churchill County comprises the Fallon, NV Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is in northwestern Nevada. Churchill County is noteworthy in that it owns and operates the local telephone carrier, Churchill County Communications.

History
Churchill County was established in 1861, and was named for Fort Churchill (which is now in Lyon County), which was 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 first county seat was Bucklands (which is now in Lyon County). In 1864 the county seat was moved to La Plata; in 1868 it was moved to Stillwater; and in 1904 it was settled in its present position, Fallon. In the 19th century there were several attempts to eliminate Churchill County because of its small population, but Assemblyman Lemuel Allen stopped it on all occasions including convincing the Governor to veto an 1875 bill after it had been passed by both houses.

Railroads
The Eagle Salt Works Railroad ran for 13.5 mi, primarily on the original Central Pacific grade from Luva (2 mi east of Fernley) to Eagle Salt Works.

The Central Pacific portion of the nation's first transcontinental railroad ran through Churchill 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.

Geography
The terrain of Churchill County consists of rugged mountainous ridges, dotted with lakes and ponds. The county's east and west sides are higher than the intermediate valley; its highest point around the county periphery is a ridge on the lower east boundary line, at 9,380 ft ASL. The county has an area of 5024 sqmi, of which 4930 sqmi is land and 94 sqmi (1.9%) is water. The county's highest point is Desatoya Peak at 9,977 ft, while the most topographically prominent peak is Mount Augusta, at 9,970 ft ASL.

Major highways

 * I-11 (Future).svg Interstate 11 (Future)
 * I-80 (NV).svg Interstate 80
 * US 50.svg U.S. Route 50
 * Alt plate.svg US 50.svg U.S. Route 50 Alternate
 * US 95.svg U.S. Route 95
 * Alt plate.svg US 95.svg U.S. Route 95 Alternate
 * Nevada 115.svg State Route 115
 * Nevada 116.svg State Route 116
 * Nevada 117.svg State Route 117
 * Nevada 118.svg State Route 118
 * Nevada 119.svg State Route 119
 * Nevada 120.svg State Route 120
 * Nevada 121.svg State Route 121
 * Nevada 361.svg State Route 361
 * Nevada 715.svg State Route 715
 * Nevada 718.svg State Route 718
 * Nevada 720.svg State Route 720
 * Nevada 722.svg State Route 722
 * Nevada 723.svg State Route 723
 * Nevada 726.svg State Route 726
 * Nevada 839.svg State Route 839

Adjacent counties

 * Lyon County – west
 * Washoe County – northwest
 * Pershing County – north
 * Lander County – east
 * Nye County – southeast
 * Mineral County – south

Protected areas

 * Fallon National Wildlife Refuge
 * Humboldt State Wildlife Management Area
 * Lahontan State Game Refuge
 * Lahontan State Recreation Area (partial)
 * Sand Mountain Recreation Area
 * Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge

Lakes and reservoirs

 * Big Water
 * Carson Lake
 * Cattail Lake
 * Division Lake
 * Dog Head Pond
 * Dry Lake
 * Dutch Bill Lake
 * East Alkali Lake Number One
 * East Alkali Lake Number Two
 * Foxtail Lake
 * Goose Lake
 * Humboldt Lake (partial)
 * Lahontan Reservoir
 * Little Soda Lake
 * North Nutgrass Lake
 * Pintail Bay
 * Scheckler Reservoir
 * Soda Lake
 * Stillwater Point Reservoir
 * Swan Check
 * Swan Lake
 * Tule Lake
 * West Nutgrass
 * Willow Lake

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, the county had 23,982 people, 8,912 households, and 6,461 families. The population density was 5 /mi2. There were 9,732 housing units at an average density of 2 /mi2.

The country's racial makeup was 84.2% White, 1.6% Black or African American, 4.8% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. 8.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,912 households, of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% 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.

28.0% of the county's population was under age 18, 8.1% was from age 18 to 24, 28.7% was from age 25 to 44, 22.3% was from age 45 to 64, and 11.9% was age 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The country's median household income was $40,808 and the median family income was $46,624. Males had a median income of $36,478 versus $25,000 for females. The county's per capita income was $19,264. About 6.2% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, the county had 24,877 people, 9,671 households, and 6,631 families. The population density was 5.0 PD/sqmi. There were 10,826 housing units at an average density of 2.2 /sqmi.

The county's racial makeup was 82.0% white, 4.5% American Indian, 2.7% Asian, 1.6% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 4.8% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 19.2% were English, 18.8% were German, 13.6% were Irish, 6.5% were Italian, and 5.9% were American.

Of the 9,671 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.4% were non-families, and 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 39.0 years.

The county's median household income was $51,597 and the median family income was $63,599. Males had a median income of $45,057 versus $32,550 for females. The county's per capita income was $22,997. About 6.8% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

City

 * Fallon

Census-designated place

 * Fallon Station

Unincorporated communities

 * Cold Springs
 * Dixie Valley
 * Eastgate
 * Hazen
 * Middlegate
 * Stillwater

Education
The school district is the Churchill County School District. Its public high school is Churchill County High School.

There is a charter school in Fallon, Oasis Academy.

Politics
Lying on the boundary between the northwest urban areas of Nevada and the conservative Mormon Great Basin, Churchill County has more in common with the latter region, being overwhelmingly Republican. It was one of three Nevada counties Barry Goldwater won in 1964, and since that time only Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Barack Obama in 2008 have passed so much as thirty percent of the county's ballots. The last time Churchill County voted for a Democratic presidential candidate was when it supported Franklin D. Roosevelt against Wendell Willkie in 1940.

Notable people

 * Luella Kirkbride Drumm, the only woman to serve in the Nevada State Legislature in 1939.
 * Mary Daisy White, one of the first women elected to the Nevada Assembly.