Searchlight, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Searchlight is an unincorporated town
in Clark County, Nevada
, at the topographic saddle between two mountain ranges.
, who has written extensively about his hometown, the most likely story as to how the town received its name was when George Frederick Colton was looking for gold in the area in 1897 he supposedly said that it would take a searchlight
to find gold ore there. Shortly thereafter he found gold, leading to a boom era when Searchlight had a larger population than Las Vegas. At the time, it was in Lincoln County, Nevada
. As talk surfaced for carving Clark County, Nevada
out of Lincoln County, Searchlight was initially considered to be the county seat. Between 1907 and 1910 the gold mines produced $7 million in gold and other precious minerals and the town had a population of about 1,500.
Other stories on the origin of the name include a story that Colton was lighting a Searchlight brand of match
es when he discovered the gold ore. Reid dismisses this story saying that the Searchlight matches were not available in 1898. Yet another story says that Colton thought the area would be a good place because it was on a hill. Colton's mine was called the Duplex
because the gold ore was found on two levels.
Searchlight declined after 1917 but hung on as a stop on the Arrowhead Highway
. In 1927, U.S. Highway 91 bypassed the town and its population dropped to 50.
The town had a resurgence in the 1930s and 1940s with the construction of nearby Hoover Dam
and was home to the El Rey Bordello in the 1940s and early 1950s until it burned. The last gold mine ceased operating around 1953.
of 2000, there were 576 people, 315 households, and 136 families residing in the census-designated place
(CDP) of Searchlight (which may not coincide exactly with the town boundaries). The population density
was 44.1 people per square mile (17.0/km²). There were 444 housing units at an average density of 34.0 per square mile (13.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.97% White, 0.69% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 1.74% from other races
, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.65% of the population.
There are 315 households out of which 8.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.9% were married couples
living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.8% were non-families. 48.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.76 and the average family size was 2.46.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 10.1% under the age of 18, 3.1% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 35.8% from 45 to 64, and 31.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55 years. For every 100 females there were 125.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $24,407, and the median income for a family was $29,323. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $27,868 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $19,606. None of the families and 14.6% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64
operates the public schools. Reid Elementary School (K-5) serves Searchlight.
by Scott Joplin was published. In the early 1890s, Joplin's friends, the brothers Tom and Charles Turpin, had done prospecting in the Searchlight area. The brothers' frequent stories of this experience, recounted to the patrons of their bar, inspired the title of the rag.
Searchlight, Searchlight Airport and the Gold mines appear in the 2010 game, Fallout: New Vegas
. Searchlight was abandoned after it was dangerously irradiated following a skirmish with the games two main factions, the NCR (New California Republic) and Caesar's Legion.
Unincorporated towns in Nevada
Nevada state law allows for governance of unincorporated towns under two different systems. The Unincorporated Town Government Law, adopted in 1975, applies to counties of 100,000 people or more, and any other county that opts in...
in Clark County, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
, at the topographic saddle between two mountain ranges.
History
According to Nevada Senator Harry ReidHarry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
, who has written extensively about his hometown, the most likely story as to how the town received its name was when George Frederick Colton was looking for gold in the area in 1897 he supposedly said that it would take a searchlight
Searchlight
A searchlight is an apparatus that combines a bright light source with some form of curved reflector or other optics to project a powerful beam of light of approximately parallel rays in a particular direction, usually constructed so that it can be swiveled about.-Military use:The Royal Navy used...
to find gold ore there. Shortly thereafter he found gold, leading to a boom era when Searchlight had a larger population than Las Vegas. At the time, it was in Lincoln County, Nevada
Lincoln County, Nevada
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 4,165. Its county seat is Pioche.-History:...
. As talk surfaced for carving Clark County, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
out of Lincoln County, Searchlight was initially considered to be the county seat. Between 1907 and 1910 the gold mines produced $7 million in gold and other precious minerals and the town had a population of about 1,500.
Other stories on the origin of the name include a story that Colton was lighting a Searchlight brand of match
Match
A match is a tool for starting a fire under controlled conditions. A typical modern match is made of a small wooden stick or stiff paper. One end is coated with a material that can be ignited by frictional heat generated by striking the match against a suitable surface...
es when he discovered the gold ore. Reid dismisses this story saying that the Searchlight matches were not available in 1898. Yet another story says that Colton thought the area would be a good place because it was on a hill. Colton's mine was called the Duplex
Duplex (building)
The term duplex can be used to describe several different dwelling unit configurations:A duplex house is defined as a dwelling having apartments with separate entrances for two families. This includes two-story houses having a complete apartment on each floor and also side-by-side apartments on a...
because the gold ore was found on two levels.
Searchlight declined after 1917 but hung on as a stop on the Arrowhead Highway
Arrowhead Highway
The Arrowhead Trail or Arrowhead Highway was the first all-weather road connecting Los Angeles to Salt Lake City by way of Las Vegas. Built primarily in the late 1910s and viable roughly contemporaneously with Route 66, the road has since been supplanted by U.S. Route 91 and subsequently Interstate...
. In 1927, U.S. Highway 91 bypassed the town and its population dropped to 50.
The town had a resurgence in the 1930s and 1940s with the construction of nearby Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President...
and was home to the El Rey Bordello in the 1940s and early 1950s until it burned. The last gold mine ceased operating around 1953.
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 576 people, 315 households, and 136 families residing in the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) of Searchlight (which may not coincide exactly with the town boundaries). 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 44.1 people per square mile (17.0/km²). There were 444 housing units at an average density of 34.0 per square mile (13.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.97% White, 0.69% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 1.74% 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 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.65% of the population.
There are 315 households out of which 8.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.9% 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, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.8% were non-families. 48.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.76 and the average family size was 2.46.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 10.1% under the age of 18, 3.1% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 35.8% from 45 to 64, and 31.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55 years. For every 100 females there were 125.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $24,407, and the median income for a family was $29,323. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $27,868 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 CDP was $19,606. None of the families and 14.6% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64
Education
Clark County School DistrictClark County School District
The Clark County School District, , is the 5th largest school district in the United States. It serves all of Clark County, Nevada, including the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Mesquite; plus the census-designated places of Laughlin, Blue Diamond, Logandale,...
operates the public schools. Reid Elementary School (K-5) serves Searchlight.
Notable residents
- Rex BellRex BellRex Bell , born George Francis Beldam, was an American actor and politician. He was the Lieutenant Governor of Nevada and a western movie star. Rex was born in Chicago and married actress Clara Bow in 1931. They had two sons, Tony Beldon and George Beldon, Jr...
- Westerns actor and politician. Owned the Walking Box RanchWalking Box RanchWalking Box Ranch, west of Searchlight, Nevada in the Mojave Desert, was founded in 1931 by Rex Bell and Clara Bow as a working ranch. The ranch covered at the time it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 30, 2009...
with his wife Clara BowClara BowClara Gordon Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom in the silent film era of the 1920s. It was her appearance as a spunky shopgirl in the film It that brought her global fame and the nickname "The It Girl." Bow came to personify the roaring twenties and is described as its leading sex...
. The ranch was a popular destination for Hollywood actors. - Edith HeadEdith HeadEdith Head was an American costume designer who won eight Academy Awards, more than any other woman.-Early life and career:...
- costume designer who won more Oscars than any other woman - William Harrell NellisWilliam Harrell NellisWilliam Harrell Nellis flew 70 World War II combat missions and was shot down three times, the last time fatally. On April 30, 1950, the Las Vegas Air Force Base in Nevada was renamed Nellis Air Force Base in his honor....
- aviator for whom Nellis Air Force BaseNellis Air Force BaseNellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Combat Command .-Overview:...
is named - Harry ReidHarry ReidHarry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
- U.S. Senate Majority Leader
Popular culture
In 1907, the Searchlight RagSearchlight Rag
-Publication history:The copyright was registered August 12, 1907 to Joseph W. Stern and Company of New York.Like most Joplin compositions, Searchlight Rag was still under copyright during the ragtime revival of the 1970s, and the holder of copyrights for this piece, Fig Leaf Rag and Rose Leaf Rag...
by Scott Joplin was published. In the early 1890s, Joplin's friends, the brothers Tom and Charles Turpin, had done prospecting in the Searchlight area. The brothers' frequent stories of this experience, recounted to the patrons of their bar, inspired the title of the rag.
Searchlight, Searchlight Airport and the Gold mines appear in the 2010 game, Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas is a first person action role-playing video game in the Fallout series developed by Obsidian Entertainment, and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is based in a post-apocalyptic environment in and around Las Vegas, Nevada...
. Searchlight was abandoned after it was dangerously irradiated following a skirmish with the games two main factions, the NCR (New California Republic) and Caesar's Legion.
See also
- Barnwell and Searchlight Railroad
- LORAN-C transmitter SearchlightLORAN-C transmitter SearchlightLORAN-C transmitter Searchlight was the Yankee secondary of the U.S. West Coast LORAN-C Chain and the Whiskey secondary of the South Central U.S. Chain . The station, established in 1976, consisted of four transmission towers. It transmitted 540 kW from south of Searchlight, Nevada...
- Searchlight AirportSearchlight AirportSearchlight Airport is a public airport located two miles south of the central business district of Searchlight, in Clark County, Nevada, USA...