Gabbs, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Gabbs is an unincorporated community
in Nye County
, Nevada
, United States
. The population was 318 at the 2000 census
, at which time it was a city. Since then, it has been dis-incorporated, effective May 8, 2001.
production plant in the area. The town grew out of an earlier mining camp named Brucite (after the magnesium oxide brucite
that occurred locally), and took the name of the surrounding Gabbs Valley, itself named after palaentologist William Gabb (who had studied fossil specimens from the area). World War II
demand for magnesium fuelled the plant's expansion under the direction of the War Production Board
, and policing, a jail, and a school district were established during 1942. Gabbs became a township in June 1943, with a population of 426. Settlements at North Gabbs, South Gabbs, and Tent City (which later largely merged into North Gabbs) were served by a library, city hall, parks, and tennis courts, and a succession of local newspapers. The city incorporated
on March 29, 1955.
In September 1944 the original magnesium plant was closed, having produced enough ore to meet targets for the projected duration of the war. The local population initially fell, but revived when a new plant administered by Basic Refractories, Inc., producing magnesium for the private sector, was opened in 1955. The town's population climbed to 796 by 1960.
In 1982 BRI laid off half its 350 workers, prompting the town's population to decline once more. An influx of workers to a gold mine in nearby Paradise Peak briefly expanded the population again during the 1980s and 90s, but this plant too closed in 1994, and in 2001 Gabbs lost its incorporated status. Today the town retains a high school, stores, and homes.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city had a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 318 people, 133 households, and 84 families residing in the city. The population density
was 105.2 people per square mile (40.7/km²). There were 183 housing units at an average density of 60.5 per square mile (23.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.99% White, 2.20% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.63% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races
, and 5.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.23% of the population.
There were 133 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,500, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $33,365 versus $40,938 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,322. About 6.3% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Nye County
Nye County, Nevada
-National protected areas:* Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Death Valley National Park * Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest * Spring Mountains National Recreation Area -Demographics:...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 318 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, at which time it was a city. Since then, it has been dis-incorporated, effective May 8, 2001.
History
Gabbs was founded around December 1941 as a company town for Basic Magnesium, Inc. (BMI), who operated a magnesiumMagnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
production plant in the area. The town grew out of an earlier mining camp named Brucite (after the magnesium oxide brucite
Brucite
Brucite is the mineral form of magnesium hydroxide, with the chemical formula Mg2. It is a common alteration product of periclase in marble; a low-temperature hydrothermal vein mineral in metamorphosed limestones and chlorite schists; and formed during serpentinization of dunites...
that occurred locally), and took the name of the surrounding Gabbs Valley, itself named after palaentologist William Gabb (who had studied fossil specimens from the area). World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
demand for magnesium fuelled the plant's expansion under the direction of the War Production Board
War Production Board
The War Production Board was established as a government agency on January 16, 1942 by executive order of Franklin D. Roosevelt.The purpose of the board was to regulate the production and allocation of materials and fuel during World War II in the United States...
, and policing, a jail, and a school district were established during 1942. Gabbs became a township in June 1943, with a population of 426. Settlements at North Gabbs, South Gabbs, and Tent City (which later largely merged into North Gabbs) were served by a library, city hall, parks, and tennis courts, and a succession of local newspapers. The city incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
on March 29, 1955.
In September 1944 the original magnesium plant was closed, having produced enough ore to meet targets for the projected duration of the war. The local population initially fell, but revived when a new plant administered by Basic Refractories, Inc., producing magnesium for the private sector, was opened in 1955. The town's population climbed to 796 by 1960.
In 1982 BRI laid off half its 350 workers, prompting the town's population to decline once more. An influx of workers to a gold mine in nearby Paradise Peak briefly expanded the population again during the 1980s and 90s, but this plant too closed in 1994, and in 2001 Gabbs lost its incorporated status. Today the town retains a high school, stores, and homes.
Geography
Gabbs is located at 38°51′59"N 117°55′32"W (38.866469, -117.925512).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 city had a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), all of it land.
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 318 people, 133 households, and 84 families residing in the city. 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 105.2 people per square mile (40.7/km²). There were 183 housing units at an average density of 60.5 per square mile (23.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.99% White, 2.20% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.63% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 5.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.23% of the population.
There were 133 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,500, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $33,365 versus $40,938 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 city was $15,322. About 6.3% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.