Eureka County, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Eureka County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Nevada
. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,651. Its county seat
is Eureka
.
Eureka County is part of the Elko
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
after silver was discovered more than 100 miles (160.9 km) east of Austin
. The residents of the new mining camp complained that Austin was too far to go for county business and a new county was created. It was named for the ancient Greek
term, Eureka, meaning, "I have found it." This term was used earlier in California
and other locations. Eureka has always been the county seat.
, the county has a total area of 4180 square miles (10,826.2 km²), of which 4176 square miles (10,815.8 km²) is land and 4 square miles (10.4 km²) (0.10%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,651 people, 666 households, and 440 families residing in the county. The population density
was 0.39 people per square mile (0.15/km²). There were 1,025 housing units at an average density of 0.25 per square mile (0.09/km²).
There were 666 households out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples
living together, 5.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.80% under the age of 18, 5.20% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 106.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,417, and the median income for a family was $49,438. Males had a median income of $45,167 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $18,629. 12.60% of the population and 8.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 11.70% are under the age of 18 and 16.40% are 65 or older.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,651. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Eureka
Eureka, Nevada
Eureka is an unincorporated township in and the county seat of Eureka County, Nevada, United States. Eureka is by far the largest community in Eureka County...
.
Eureka County is part of the Elko
Elko, Nevada
Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Elko micropolitan area
The Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area is a two county Nevada statistical area of . The area includes portions of the Humboldt River Basin , the Snake River Basin , and the Central Nevada Desert Basins subregion ....
.
History
Eureka County was established in 1873 and formed from Lander CountyLander County, Nevada
Lander County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,794. Its county seat is Battle Mountain.-History:...
after silver was discovered more than 100 miles (160.9 km) east of Austin
Austin, Nevada
Austin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada, in the United States. As of 2004, its population is approximately 340. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of . U.S...
. The residents of the new mining camp complained that Austin was too far to go for county business and a new county was created. It was named for the ancient Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
term, Eureka, meaning, "I have found it." This term was used earlier in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and other locations. Eureka has always been the county seat.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 4180 square miles (10,826.2 km²), of which 4176 square miles (10,815.8 km²) is land and 4 square miles (10.4 km²) (0.10%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Elko County, NevadaElko County, Nevada-Demographics: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 . There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi...
- north, northeast - White Pine County, NevadaWhite Pine County, NevadaWhite 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...
- east - Nye County, NevadaNye County, Nevada-National protected areas:* Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Death Valley National Park * Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest * Spring Mountains National Recreation Area -Demographics:...
- south - Lander County, NevadaLander County, NevadaLander County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,794. Its county seat is Battle Mountain.-History:...
- west
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,651 people, 666 households, and 440 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 0.39 people per square mile (0.15/km²). There were 1,025 housing units at an average density of 0.25 per square mile (0.09/km²).
There were 666 households out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.80% under the age of 18, 5.20% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 106.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,417, and the median income for a family was $49,438. Males had a median income of $45,167 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $18,629. 12.60% of the population and 8.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 11.70% are under the age of 18 and 16.40% are 65 or older.
Communities
- EurekaEureka, NevadaEureka is an unincorporated township in and the county seat of Eureka County, Nevada, United States. Eureka is by far the largest community in Eureka County...
- Emigrant PassEmigrant Pass, NevadaEmigrant Pass is an unincorporated community in Eureka County, Nevada, United States. It is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area....
- Crescent ValleyCrescent Valley, NevadaCrescent Valley is an unincorporated community in Eureka County, Nevada, United States. It is the site of Crescent Valley Elementary School, Crescent Valley Fair Grounds, and Crescent Valley Community Park....
- BeowaweBeowawe, NevadaBeowawe is a ghost town in Eureka County in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. Beowawe is a Paiute Native American word meaning "gate", so named for the peculiar shape of the hills close to town which gives the effect of a gateway opening to the valley beyond. The town is located at...
- PalisadePalisade, NevadaPalisade is located in Eureka County in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada, in the western United States. It is about 10 miles south of Carlin, and about 27 miles southwest of Elko. Although now a virtual ghost town, it had a rich history following construction of the...
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Eureka County, Nevada