Elko County, Nevada

Elko County, Nevada
Location in the state of Nevada
Nevada's location in the U.S.
Founded	1869
Seat	Elko
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	17,203 sq mi (44,556 km²) 17,178 sq mi (44,491 km²) 24 sq mi (62 km²), 0.14%
PopulationEst.  - (2012)  - Density	51,216 3/sq mi (1.09/km²)
Time zone	Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website	www.elkocountynv.net

Elko County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,818. Its county seat is Elko. The county was established on March 5, 1869, from Lander County. Elko County is the fourth-largest county in the contiguous United States, ranking lower when the boroughs of Alaska are included.

Elko County is part of the Elko micropolitan area.

History

Elko County was established in 1869 from Lander County; the name was taken from the name of the county seat, Elko.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 17,203 square miles (44,555.6 km²), of which 17,179 square miles (44,493.4 km²) is land and 24 square miles (62.2 km²) (0.14%) is water. Not counting Alaska's boroughs (four of which are also larger), it is the fourth largest county in area in the United States (cf. San Bernardino County, California, Coconino County, Arizona, and Nye County, Nevada). The elevation ranges from about 4,300 feet (1,300 m) at the edge of the salt flats of the Great Salt Lake Desert, to 11,387 feet (3,471 m) in the Ruby Mountains.

The county has 3 physiographic sections (70% Great Basin section, 20% Payette, 10% Snake River Plain) and 4 watersheds (45% Humboldt River, 30% Upper Snake River, 20% central Nevada desert, 5% Pilot-Thousand Springs).

For a list of cities and unincorporated communities, see the municipalities and communities box, below.

National protected areas

• Humboldt National Forest (part)
• Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Time zones

Further information: Time in Nevada

Except for West Wendover which is in the Mountain Time Zone, the county is in the Pacific Time Zone.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	3,447		—
1880	5,716		65.8%
1890	4,794		−16.1%
1900	5,688		18.6%
1910	8,133		43.0%
1920	8,083		−0.6%
1930	9,960		23.2%
1940	10,912		9.6%
1950	11,654		6.8%
1960	12,011		3.1%
1970	13,958		16.2%
1980	17,269		23.7%
1990	33,530		94.2%
2000	45,291		35.1%
2010	48,818		7.8%
Est. 2012	51,216		4.9%

As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/sq mi (1/km²). There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.04% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 5.30% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 8.50% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. 19.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,638 households out of which 43.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 20.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the county the population was spread out with 32.50% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 5.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 108.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,383, and the median income for a family was $52,206. Males had a median income of $41,322 versus $24,653 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,482. About 7.00% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Elko is a highly conservative area. In 2011, all eleven of the partisan county officials were Republican. In the 2004 Presidential Election, George W. Bush won 78% of the vote, while only 20% voted for John F. Kerry. In 2008 voters in Elko County chose John McCain by 69.04% and 28.58% voted for Barack Obama.

Both former President Jimmy Carter and President George W. Bush made visits to the city of Elko during the 2006 mid-term election. These were not the first presidents to come to Elko County: William McKinley visited in 1901; Herbert Hoover made his final campaign broadcast as president from a railroad car in Elko in 1932; President Roosevelt spoke in Carlin in 1938 during his whistle stop tour; and Barack Obama visited while campaigning in 2008. In addition there have been many other high profile political figures to come to Elko, including former Vice President Cheney.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Elko County, Nevada

External links

• Elko County Economic Diversification Authority
• Elko County Library
• Western Folklife Center
• Northeastern Nevada Museum
• Great Basin College
• Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital