White Pine County, Nevada

White Pine County, Nevada
White Pine County Courthouse in Ely
Location in the state of Nevada
Nevada's location in the U.S.
Founded	1869
Seat	Ely
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	8,897 sq mi (23,043 km²) 8,876 sq mi (22,989 km²) 21 sq mi (54 km²), 0.23%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	10,030 1/sq mi (0.44/km²)
Website	www.whitepinecounty.net

Wheeler Peak, elevation 13,065 feet (3,982 m), in Great Basin National Park.

Timber Creek in the Schell Creek Range

White Pine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. Its population at the 2010 census was 10,030. Its county seat is Ely. It is the home of Great Basin National Park. The name "White Pine" is an old name for the Limber Pine, a common tree in the county's mountains.

History

White Pine County was established in 1869 from Lander County and named after the heavy growth of pine trees in the area which were thought to be white pine. Hamilton was the first county seat from 1869 to 1887 when it was replaced after a fire by Ely.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 8,897 square miles (23,042 km²), of which 8,876 square miles (22,989 km²) is land and 21 square miles (53 km²) (0.23%) is water.

Several sections of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest exist within the county, within the Snake Range, Egan Range, White Pine Range, Ruby Mountains, and Schell Creek Range. The county also contains Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park.

In the southeastern part of the county is Great Basin National Park and Wheeler Peak, the tallest mountain wholly within Nevada.

Wilderness

White Pine County is home to a number of designated wilderness areas. They were created on December 20, 2006, by the "White Pine County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2006." About half are integral parts of Humboldt National Forest. The rest are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. One is shared between the two agencies. Some extend into neighboring counties, as indicated.

• Bald Mountain Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
• Becky Peak Wilderness (BLM)
• Bristlecone Wilderness (BLM)
• Currant Mountain Wilderness (Humboldt NF) partly in Nye County, NV
• Goshute Canyon Wilderness (BLM)
• Government Peak Wilderness (BLM)
• High Schells Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
• Highland Ridge Wilderness (BLM)
• Mount Grafton Wilderness (BLM) partly in Lincoln County, NV
• Mount Moriah Wilderness (Humboldt NF / BLM)
• Red Mountain Wilderness (Humboldt NF) partly in Nye County, NV
• Shellback Wilderness (Humboldt NF)
• South Egan Range Wilderness (BLM) partly in Lincoln County, NV; Nye County, NV
• White Pine Range Wilderness (Humboldt NF)

Adjacent counties

• Elko County, Nevada - north
• Eureka County, Nevada - west
• Nye County, Nevada - southwest
• Lincoln County, Nevada - south
• Millard County, Utah - east
• Juab County, Utah - east
• Tooele County, Utah - northeast

National protected areas

• Great Basin National Park
• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (part)
• Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Economy

From the late 19th century until near the end of the 20th century, the major industry was mining the region's deposits of copper, silver, and gold. The most notable of these operations included a series of open-pit copper mines near the town of Ruth, and a copper smelter in McGill, run by the Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	7,189		—
1880	2,682		−62.7%
1890	1,721		−35.8%
1900	1,961		13.9%
1910	7,441		279.4%
1920	8,935		20.1%
1930	11,771		31.7%
1940	12,377		5.1%
1950	9,424		−23.9%
1960	9,808		4.1%
1970	10,150		3.5%
1980	8,167		−19.5%
1990	9,264		13.4%
2000	9,181		−0.9%
2010	10,030		9.2%

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,181 people, 3,282 households, and 2,159 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.0 people per square mile (0.40/km²). There were 4,439 housing units at an average density of 0.50 per square mile (0.19/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.35% White, 4.14% Black or African American, 3.29% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 3.09% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. 10.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,282 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% 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 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 128.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 138.5 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,688, and the median income for a family was $44,136. Males had a median income of $36,083 versus $26,425 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,309. About 10.3% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Steam excursion train at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum's East Ely depot

• Baker
• Cherry Creek
• Crosstimbers
• East Ely
• Ely
• Lages Station
• Lund
• Majors Place
• McGill
• Riepetown
• Ruth
• Schellbourne
• Strawberry

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in White Pine County, Nevada

External links

Media related to White Pine County, Nevada at Wikimedia Commons

• "Scientists Voice Their Overwhelming Support for Wilderness Designations in White Pine County, Nevada" by the Wilderness Society