Esmeralda County, Nevada

Infobox U.S. County
county = Esmeralda County
state = Nevada


map size = 175
founded = 1861
seat = Goldfield | area_total_sq_mi =3589
area_land_sq_mi =3588
area_water_sq_mi =0
area percentage = 0.01%
census yr = 2007
pop = 695
density_km2 = 0.1358
web = www.accessesmeralda.com
|

Esmeralda County is a county in the west of U.S. state of Nevada. Its county seat is GoldfieldGR|6. Its 2000 census population was officially 971 persons. At that time its population density of 0.1045 inhabitants/km² (0.2706/sq mi) was the second-lowest (to Loving County, Texas) of any county-equivalent outside of Alaska. As of 2007, the population had decreased to 695 people [http://www.factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?geo_id=05000US32009&_state=04000US32&pctxt=cr] Its school district has no high school.

History

Esmeralda County is one of the original Nevada counties, created in 1861. "Esmeralda" is the Spanish word for "emerald." An early Nevada miner, J. M. Corey, named the Esmeralda Mining District. It is believed that Corey named the district after the gypsy dancer, Esmeralda, from Victor Hugo's novel, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". Esmeralda has had three county seats: Aurora until 1883, Hawthorne from 1883 to 1907 and finally Goldfield.

Esmeralda grew from a gold mining boom in the first years of the 20th century. The mines were largely tapped out by the end of the 1910s and the economy and population declined afterwards.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,589 square miles (9,295 km²), of which, 3,588 square miles (9,294 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.01%) is water. A very small part of Death Valley National Park lies in its southeast corner.

The county is dominated by the Silver Peak and Monte Cristo mountain ranges. Mountains in the county include:
* Boundary Peak, 13,147 feet (4,007 m), the highest point in Nevada
* Piper Peak, 9450 feet (2,880 m)
* Magruder Mountain 9044 feet (2,756 m)
* Montezuma Peak, 8373 feet (2,552 m)
* Emigrant Peak, 6790 feet (2,069 m)

Major highways

*
*
*State Route 264
*State Route 266
*

Adjacent counties

* Mineral County - northwest
* Nye County - east
* Inyo County, California - south
* Mono County, California - west

National protected areas

* Death Valley National Park (part)
* Inyo National Forest (part)

Law and government

The county seat of Esmeralda County is Goldfield. It was moved to Goldfield on May 1, 1907. The courthouse was opened on May 1, 1908 and has been in continuous use since then. Currently, the Offices of the Assessor, Auditor/Recorder, District Attorney, Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, Treasurer, District Court, and Commissioner are located in the building. [ [http://www.accessesmeralda.com/Courthouse.htm Esmeralda County web site] ]

Education

The Esmeralda County School District has three elementary schools that currently serve approximately 90 students.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 971 people, 455 households, and 259 families residing in the county. The population density was 0 people per square mile (0/km²). There were 833 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.98% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 5.15% Native American, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 7.62% from other races, and 4.94% from two or more races. 10.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 455 households out of which 21.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.40% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.90% were non-families. 36.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the county, the population was spread out with 20.50% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 33.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 123.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,203, and the median income for a family was $40,917. Males had a median income of $39,327 versus $25,469 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,971. 15.30% of the population and 7.50% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.70% are under the age of 18 and 11.40% are 65 or older.

Cities and towns

* Goldfield
* Dyer
* Lida
* Gold Point
* Silver Peak

ee also

* USS "Esmeraldo County" (LST-761)

References

External links

* New Site: [http://www.accessesmeralda.com County of Esmeralda New Website]
* Esmeralda County School District [http://esmeralda.k12.nv.us Website]