Nye County, Nevada
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| Nye County, Nevada | |
| Map | |
| Image:Map of Nevada highlighting Nye County.svg Location in the state of Nevada | |
| Statistics | |
| Formed | 1864 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Tonopah |
| Area - Total - Land - Water | 47,031 km² (18,159 mi²) 47,000 km² (18,147 mi²) 31 km² (12 mi²), 0.07% |
| Population - (2004) - Density | 46,714 1/km² |
| Website: www.nyecounty.net | |
Nye County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of 2000, the population was 32,485. In 2004 its population was 46,714. Nye is the third largest county in terms of area in the continental United States. Its county seat is Tonopah6. The center of population of Nevada is located in Nye County, very near Yucca Mountain [1].
The Nevada Test Site and proposed nuclear waste repository Yucca Mountain is located in the south-western part of the county and is the focus of a great deal of political and public controversy in the state. The U.S. federal government also owns 92% of the land in the county. This is also a controversial subject for the county and for the state.
A portion of Death Valley National Park is in Nye County, and visitors often stay at Beatty or Amargosa Valley.
Contents |
[edit] History
Nye County was created in 1864 and named in honor of James W. Nye, Governor of Nevada Territory and later United States Senator from Nevada. The first County seat was Ione in 1864, followed by Belmont in 1867, and lastly by Tonopah in 1905. There is currently popular talk of moving the county seat south to Pahrump, and/or splitting off the southern portion of the county, but neither of these ideas appears to have sufficient support at the county or state government level.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 47,031 km² (18,159 mi²). 47,000 km² (18,147 mi²) of it is land and 31 km² (12 mi²) of it (0.07%) is water.
Nye County is located in south central Nevada and is shaped, ironically given its nuclear history, somewhat like a lopsided mushroom cloud. Nye is the largest county in Nevada and is the third largest county in the continental United States, after San Bernardino County in California and Coconino County in Arizona. With a land area of 11,560,960 acres (46,786 km²), Nye County is larger than the combined total area of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Delaware. Of this vast land area, only 822,711 acres (3,329 km²), or just over seven percent of the total, is private land; the majority of the county's land is owned by the federal government. Las Vegas, in Clark County, is 100 miles southeast of Yucca Mountain.
[edit] Major Highways
- Image:US 95.svg U.S. Route 95
- Image:US 6.svg U.S. Route 6
- Image:Nevada 373.svg Nevada State Route 373
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Esmeralda County, Nevada - west
- Mineral County, Nevada - west
- Churchill County, Nevada - northwest
- Lander County, Nevada - north
- Eureka County, Nevada - north
- White Pine County, Nevada - northeast
- Lincoln County, Nevada - east
- Clark County, Nevada - east
- Inyo County, California - south
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 32,485 people, 13,309 households, and 9,063 families residing in the county. The population density was 1/km² (2/mi²). There were 15,934 housing units at an average density of 0/km² (1/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.63% White, 1.18% Black or African American, 1.96% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.32% Pacific Islander, 2.98% from other races, and 3.15% from two or more races. 8.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 13,309 households out of which 26.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 28.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 105.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,024, and the median income for a family was $41,642. Males had a median income of $37,276 versus $22,394 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,962. About 7.30% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Cities and towns
- Amargosa Valley
- Beatty
- Carvers
- Crystal
- Currant
- Duckwater
- Gabbs
- Hadley
- Ione
- Manhattan
- Mercury
- Pahrump
- Scotty's Junction
- Sunnyside
- Round Mtn.
- Tonopah
- Yomba
[edit] Ghost Towns
[edit] Trivia
Nye County is nicknamed "The Kingdom of Nye" from the radio program Coast to Coast AM, hosted by former Pahrump resident Art Bell.
