Misplaced Pages

#33966

24-551: 39°23′24″N 114°48′58″W  /  39.390°N 114.816°W  / 39.390; -114.816 The Steptoe Valley is a long basin located in White Pine County , in northeastern Nevada in the western United States . From the historic community of Currie , the valley runs south for approximately 100 miles (160 km). To the west are the high Egan Range and the Cherry Creek Range , while to

48-611: A land area of 104.99 acres (0.4249 km ) and a 2000 census official resident population of 133 people. European settlement in White Pine County began with mining exploration, activity generated by the Pony Express Trail (which passes through the county), and farming. The county was established by the Nevada legislature in 1869 from Lander County and named after the heavy growth of limber pine trees in

72-546: A larger share of jobs in the region. As of the census of 2000, there were 9,181 people, 3,282 households, and 2,159 families living in the county. The population density was 1.0 people per square mile (0.39 people/km ). There were 4,439 housing units at an average density of 0.50 per square mile (0.19/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 86.35% White , 4.14% Black or African American , 3.29% Native American , 0.78% Asian , 0.24% Pacific Islander , 3.09% from other races , and 2.10% from two or more races. 10.98% of

96-625: A point near Burnt Peak in Lincoln County , reaching the summit of Mt. Grafton , 10,990 feet (3,350 m), just north of the border with White Pine County. To the west are remote Cave Valley and the Egan Range , while to the east are U.S. Route 93 and the Fairview Range (Lincoln County) . North of Mt. Grafton, the range drops quickly to a line of lower summits, eventually reaching 7,723-foot (2,354 m) Connors Pass. That

120-758: A slow descent to lower elevations, dropping to Schellbourne Pass at 7,984 ft (2,434 m), where the Overland Stage Line , the Pony Express , and the Transcontinental Telegraph made their way through the Great Basin . Just west of the range was the Egan Canyon Pony Express Station. From there, the range ascends to Becky Peak at 10,008 feet (3,050 m) before quickly descending to

144-415: Is a largely rural, mountain county along the central eastern boundary of the U.S. state of Nevada . As of the 2020 census , the population was 9,080. Its county seat is Ely . The name "(Rocky Mountain) white pine" is an old name for the limber pine ( Pinus flexilis ), a common tree in the county's mountains. The county boasts dark skies, clean air and millions of acres of unspoiled public land. It

168-554: Is served by the White Pine County School District . Regional offices of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are located in Ely. Ely State Prison , the location of Nevada's death row for men and the state execution chamber, is located in the county. A swing county for much of the 20th century, White Pine County has become powerfully Republican like the rest of rural Nevada since

192-524: Is the home of Great Basin National Park , one of America's most remote and least visited national parks. It is also home to no less than 14 federally designated wilderness areas, offering an abundance of terrain available to explore for hikers, backpackers, skiers, hunters and anglers. The Ely Shoshone Indian Reservation is located in the county, on the south side of the City of Ely. The reservation has

216-588: Is where U.S. Route 50 , the "Loneliest Highway in America", crosses the range, connecting the nearby community of Ely with the Great Basin National Park and west-central Utah . North of Connors Pass the range continues into its higher northern section. To the west is Ely, Nevada , while to the east are Spring Valley and the high Snake Range , (including Great Basin National Park, Wheeler Peak , and Mt. Moriah ). Within this section of

240-527: The Bureau of Land Management . One is shared between the two agencies. Some extend into neighboring counties, as indicated. White Pine County's population grew rapidly in the early part of the 20th Century in response to mining activity, and has remained relatively stable at around 9,500 residents since about 1950. Although mining has been a major employer throughout the county's history, tourism and services related to outdoor recreation are beginning to account for

264-644: The Overland Stage Line and the subsequent Pony Express and Transcontinental Telegraph made their way through the mountains of central Nevada in the 1860s. The valley is named after Colonel Edward Steptoe , who explored the region in 1854. The White Pine Energy Station and the Ely Energy Center , proposed in 2004 and 2006, were planned coal-fired power plants that were to be built in Steptoe Valley, but both projects were delayed in 2009. White Pine County, Nevada White Pine County

SECTION 10

#1732797805034

288-532: The 1980s. The last Democrat to carry a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976. The most recent Democratic win in the county was a 36% plurality by Bill Clinton in 1992; Clinton went on to lose the county in 1996 by just 2 votes. Donald Trump received over 70% of the county's vote in both 2016 and 2020 . 39°26′N 114°54′W  /  39.44°N 114.90°W  / 39.44; -114.90 Schell Creek Range The range comprises two major groups of peaks. The southern section rises from

312-563: The Schell Creek Range are Cave Lake State Park and the scenic road over Success Summit into Duck Creek Basin. The crest continues to rise, reaching South Schell Peak at 11,785 feet (3,592 m), Taft Peak at 11,734 feet (3,577 m), and North Schell Peak which, at 11,883 feet (3,622 m), is the high point of the range. Nearby are the Timber Creek and Berry Creek campgrounds (and trailheads). The range then makes

336-523: The area, which were then called white pine . Hamilton was the first county seat from 1869 to 1887, when it was replaced by Ely after a fire. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 8,897 square miles (23,040 km ), of which 8,876 square miles (22,990 km ) is land and 21 square miles (54 km ) (0.2%) is water. Several sections of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest exist within

360-457: The county was $ 36,688, and the median income for a family was $ 44,136. Males had a median income of $ 36,083 versus $ 26,425 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 18,309. About 10.3% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 10,030 people, 3,707 households, and 2,344 families living in

384-479: The county, within the Snake Range , Egan Range , White Pine Range , Ruby Mountains , and Schell Creek Range . The county also contains Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park and Cave Lake State Park . In the southeastern part of the county within Great Basin National Park lies 13,065 ft (3,982 m) Wheeler Peak , the tallest independent mountain within Nevada and the second-highest point within

408-418: The county. The population density was 1.1 inhabitants per square mile (0.42/km ). There were 4,498 housing units at an average density of 0.5 per square mile (0.19/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 85.5% white, 4.2% American Indian, 3.9% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.8% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 13.2% of

432-675: The east is the even higher Schell Creek Range . U.S. Route 93 passes through much of the northern section of the valley, past the historic mining town of Cherry Creek and the communities of McGill and Ely , before crossing the Schell Creek Range at Connors Pass. Also found in this valley are the Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park , the Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management Area, and Cave Lake State Park . At Egan Canyon and Schellbourne Pass (near Cherry Creek),

456-554: The late 19th century until near the end of the 20th century, the major industry was mining the region's deposits of copper , silver , and gold . The most notable of these operations included a series of open-pit copper mines near the town of Ruth , and a copper smelter in McGill , run by the Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation . The decline of mining has meant the loss of area jobs. The entire county

480-437: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 3,282 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

504-442: The population. In terms of ancestry, 26.9% were American , 11.3% were English , 11.2% were German , 10.4% were Irish , and 5.6% were Italian . Of the 3,707 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.8% were non-families, and 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size

SECTION 20

#1732797805034

528-485: The state (the highest point being Boundary Peak ). It is also the most topographically prominent peak in the county and the second-most prominent peak in Nevada (after Mount Charleston ). White Pine County is home to a number of designated wilderness areas . They were created by Congress on December 20, 2006, by the "White Pine County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2006." About half are integral parts of Humboldt National Forest . The rest are managed by

552-464: Was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 40.8 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 48,545 and the median income for a family was $ 62,946. Males had a median income of $ 51,010 versus $ 31,453 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 21,615. About 11.7% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over. From

576-410: Was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 128.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 138.5 males. The median income for a household in

#33966