Eureka County, Nevada

Eureka County
County
Eureka County Court House
Location within the U.S. state of Nevada
Nevada's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°59′N116°16′W / 39.98°N 116.27°W / 39.98; -116.27
Country	United States
State	Nevada
Founded	1873;151 years ago (1873)
Named for	Eureka
Seat	Eureka
Largest community	Crescent Valley
Area
• Total	4,180 sq mi (10,800 km2)
• Land	4,176 sq mi (10,820 km2)
• Water	4.3 sq mi (11 km2)  0.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,855
• Density	0.44/sq mi (0.17/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	co.eureka.nv.us

Eureka County is a county in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,855, ^[1] making it the second-least populous county in Nevada. Its county seat is Eureka. ^[2]

Eureka County is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Eureka County was established in 1873 and formed from Lander County after silver was discovered more than 100 miles (160 km) east of Austin. The new mining camp's residents complained 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." ^[3] This term was used earlier in California and other locations. Eureka has always been the county seat.

Geography

HVAC transmission towers crossing Crescent Valley east of State Route 306

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 4,180 square miles (10,800 km²), of which 4,176 square miles (10,820 km²) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km²) (0.1%) is water. ^[4]

The county's highest point is the 10,631 ft (3,240 m) summit of Diamond Peak in the Diamond Mountains along the border with White Pine County. ^[5]

Adjacent counties

• Elko County - northeast
• White Pine County - east
• Nye County - south
• Lander County - west

National protected area

• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (part)

Major highways

• Interstate 80
• U.S. Route 50
• State Route 278
• State Route 306
• State Route 766
• State Route 781

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	7,086		—
1890	3,275		−53.8%
1900	1,954		−40.3%
1910	1,830		−6.3%
1920	1,350		−26.2%
1930	1,333		−1.3%
1940	1,361		2.1%
1950	896		−34.2%
1960	767		−14.4%
1970	948		23.6%
1980	1,198		26.4%
1990	1,547		29.1%
2000	1,651		6.7%
2010	1,987		20.4%
2020	1,855		−6.6%
2023 (est.)	1,917	[6]	3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2018 [1]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 1,651 people, 666 households, and 440 families living in the county. The population density was 0.39 people per square mile (0.15 people/km²). There were 1,025 housing units at an average density of 0.25 units per square mile (0.097/km²). ^[11] Of the 666 households 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 households were one person and 9.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 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% 65 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 county's median household income was $41,417, and the median family income was $49,438. Males had a median income of $45,167 versus $25,000 for females. The county's per capita income was $18,629. 12.60% of the population and 8.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the people living in poverty, 11.70% are under the age of 18 and 16.40% are 65 or older.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 1,987 people, 836 households, and 495 families living in the county. ^[12] The population density was 0.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.19/km²). There were 1,076 housing units at an average density of 0.3 units per square mile (0.12 units/km²). ^[13] The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% white, 2.4% American Indian, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 5.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12.0% of the population. ^[12] In terms of ancestry, 43.3% were American, 14.8% were German, 11.4% were Irish, 7.3% were English, and 6.9% were Italian. ^[14]

Of the 836 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.8% were non-families, and 33.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 42.4 years. ^[12]

The median household income was $61,400 and the median family income was $75,179. Males had a median income of $54,625 versus $42,321 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,306. About 9.9% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over. ^[15]

Communities

There are no incorporated places in Eureka County.

Census-designated places

• Crescent Valley
• Eureka (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Beowawe
• Palisade
• Primeaux

Ghost towns

• Alpha
• Ruby Hill

Education

Eureka County School District is the county school district.

Politics

Background

Eureka County is strongly Republican; the last time they voted for a Democratic candidate was in 1964, and the last time a Democratic candidate received a quarter of the county's vote was in 1988. The last time a Republican candidate failed to receive a majority of the county's vote was in 1992, when the vote was somewhat split when independent candidate Ross Perot recorded approximately a third of the county's vote.

However, due to the county's low population, its heavy Republican voting does not have a large effect on elections in the state, as a majority of Nevada's population live in Democratic-leaning Clark County and Washoe County.

United States presidential election results for Eureka County, Nevada ^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	895	88.00%	105	10.32%	17	1.67%
2016	723	84.66%	74	8.67%	57	6.67%
2012	663	82.05%	107	13.24%	38	4.70%
2008	564	75.70%	144	19.33%	37	4.97%
2004	571	77.37%	144	19.51%	23	3.12%
2000	632	75.51%	150	17.92%	55	6.57%
1996	412	59.88%	158	22.97%	118	17.15%
1992	330	47.83%	129	18.70%	231	33.48%
1988	413	70.96%	151	25.95%	18	3.09%
1984	439	75.95%	124	21.45%	15	2.60%
1980	430	76.24%	103	18.26%	31	5.50%
1976	272	58.24%	163	34.90%	32	6.85%
1972	371	72.75%	139	27.25%	0	0.00%
1968	277	56.53%	149	30.41%	64	13.06%
1964	243	46.02%	285	53.98%	0	0.00%
1960	239	51.73%	223	48.27%	0	0.00%
1956	330	64.33%	183	35.67%	0	0.00%
1952	379	70.71%	157	29.29%	0	0.00%
1948	312	51.74%	278	46.10%	13	2.16%
1944	317	59.36%	217	40.64%	0	0.00%
1940	284	44.58%	353	55.42%	0	0.00%
1936	180	31.25%	396	68.75%	0	0.00%
1932	136	26.10%	385	73.90%	0	0.00%
1928	251	49.02%	261	50.98%	0	0.00%
1924	209	50.00%	94	22.49%	115	27.51%
1920	313	63.75%	157	31.98%	21	4.28%
1916	239	45.96%	263	50.58%	18	3.46%
1912	70	16.51%	209	49.29%	145	34.20%
1908	224	46.57%	218	45.32%	39	8.11%
1904	235	62.50%	107	28.46%	34	9.04%

See also

• Nevada portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Eureka County, Nevada
• Jessie Callahan Mahoney - Eureka country commissioner

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
2. "County Explorer". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p.  122 . Retrieved January 1, 2016.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
5. "Diamond Peak, Nevada". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
14. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
15. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• Eureka Branch Library

39°59′N116°16′W / 39.98°N 116.27°W / 39.98; -116.27