Misplaced Pages

#690309

40-465: The Wellington Hills are a mountain range in Nye County , Nevada . This Nye County , Nevada state location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Nye County, Nevada Nye County is a county in the U.S. state of Nevada . As of the 2020 census , the population was 51,591. Its county seat is Tonopah . At 18,159 square miles (47,030 km ), Nye

80-685: A disposal site for radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain, then within Nye County. Alongside Texas with a site in Deaf Smith County and Washington with the Hanford Site , Nevada was one of three states to be considered for such a site, and like the other two fought it bitterly. The federal government agreed to provide grants equal to taxes to Nye County for the site per the Nuclear Waste Policy Act , bypassing

120-458: A Bullfrog County out of southern Nye County in 1909, but Nye County blocked the proposal. Because this new county had no population, any federal payments for placing the nuclear waste site there would go directly to the state treasury. Furthermore, property tax rates in the county were set at 5 percent, the highest allowable by the state constitution and higher than the statutory limit of 3.64 percent. This tax burden, possibly up to $ 25 million

160-400: A special hearing and found Bullfrog County's creation to be unconstitutional. Zenoff found that since Bullfrog County had no residents, it did not have a representative government. He also ruled the provision of the law giving Bryan the power to appoint the commissioners and sheriff ran counter to the democratic process. In compliance, the state legislature abolished Bullfrog County in 1989 and

200-444: A special session of the legislature to repeal the act establishing the county and upon his refusal challenged it in court, claiming it was unconstitutional due to the prohibition on special legislation on counties. In late October 1987, McKay announced that the state would not defend the law in court, since in his view it was likely unconstitutional. On February 11, 1988, retired Supreme Court of Nevada justice David Zenoff conducted

240-471: A year for the state, was meant to deter the waste site's creation by making it prohibitively expensive to use the land for a radioactive waste dump. However, it also guaranteed that the waste site would at least provide a large amount of money for the state government if it were ever built. The bill was passed at 3:45 am on June 18, 1987—near the end of the year's legislative session—and signed into law by Governor Richard Bryan . The law stipulated that if

280-656: Is Nevada's largest county by area and the third-largest county in the contiguous United States , behind San Bernardino County of California and Coconino County of Arizona . Nye County comprises the Pahrump micropolitan statistical area , which is included in the Las Vegas - Henderson combined statistical area . In 2010, Nevada's center of population was in southern Nye County, near Yucca Mountain . The Nevada Test Site and proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository are in southwestern Nye County, and are

320-602: Is in the service area of Great Basin College . Nye County was one of the primary broadcast locations of American veteran radio broadcaster Art Bell , who was famous for creating and hosting Coast to Coast AM , Art Bell's Dark Matter and "Midnight in the Desert", the last of which continued to be broadcast on the Dark Matter Digital Network by Bell's chosen successor, Dave Schrader . Bell lived in

360-467: Is located. Even as the Pahrump area grew thanks to its proximity to Las Vegas, the racial makeup of Nye County was very different from that of Clark County. Non-Hispanic whites now constitute 82.7% of the county population. African-Americans were now 1.7% of the population, which meant actual increase of the number of African Americans residing in the county was over 50%. Native Americans were only 1.8% of

400-596: Is one of 10 Nevada counties where prostitution is legal . The county has no incorporated cities. The seat of government in Tonopah is 160 miles (260 km) from Pahrump, where about 86% of the county's population resides. Nye County was established during the American Civil War in 1864 and named after James W. Nye, the first governor of the Nevada Territory and later a U.S. Senator after it

440-687: Is private land; most of it is public land managed by the federal government. Before the Treaty of Ruby Valley, the whole area was controlled by the Western Shoshone people, who say they never ceded territory here. According to the United States Census Bureau the county's Census Tract 9805, with a land area of 4,225.415 square miles (10,943.77 km ), comprising the Nevada Test Site and Nye County's portion of

SECTION 10

#1732779578691

480-575: The Nevada Test and Training Range , is the country's largest census tract that has no resident population (as of the 2000 census ). Las Vegas , in Clark County , is 100 miles (160 km) southeast of Yucca Mountain. Many Pahrump residents commute 60 miles (97 km) each way to Las Vegas via Nevada State Route 160 , which for much of its length is a four-lane divided highway. In 2018, Nye county launched its own transit service for

520-524: The Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad . After the boom died, Nye County withered. By 1910, the population had plummeted to about 7,500 before sinking to near 3,000 in the middle of the century. With development at the military test site and increasing employment and resources, the population stabilized. After the 1990s, when Pahrump became a bedroom community for Las Vegas, it had high rates of population growth. Periodically, discussions have arisen of moving

560-512: The Centers for Disease Control, the annual suicide rate in Nye County averaged 28.7561 per 100,000 people during 1989–1998, the most recent period for which data is available. This was the third-highest rate among Nevada counties, behind White Pine (34.3058) and Lyon County (30.8917), but ahead of the overall rate of 22.96 for Nevada, which leads the nation. At the 2010 census , there were 43,946 people, 18,032 households, and 11,929 families in

600-552: The Yucca Mountain site. Critics also asserted that the county's existence established a conflict of interest and sent a message that the state would support the dump in exchange for the money. U.S. Senator for Nevada Chic Hecht brought up such concerns on the Senate floor on September 18, claiming that the creation of the county was being misinterpreted as an invitation for the site and insisting that Nevadans still opposed

640-409: The county seat to Pahrump, or splitting off the southern portion of the county, but neither of these ideas appears to have sufficient support in the county or state government. From 1987 to 1989, Bullfrog County, Nevada , was split off from Nye County to form a separate political region. Its population was zero; its creation was an attempt to stop a nuclear waste storage facility from being built in

680-421: The county until his death on April 13, 2018. 38°03′N 116°27′W  /  38.05°N 116.45°W  / 38.05; -116.45 Bullfrog County, Nevada Created in response to a planned nuclear waste site in the area, it was meant to discourage the construction of the site via high property taxes and to direct funds from the site that would have otherwise gone to Nye County directly to

720-447: The county was 90.0% White , 1.18% Black or African American , 1.96% Native American , 0.78% Asian , 0.32% Pacific Islander , 2.98% from other races, and 3.15% from two or more races. 8.35%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2006 there were 42,693 people living in Nye County, representing a growth of 31.3% since 2000. This was slightly faster growth rate than recorded during the same period for Clark County, where Las Vegas

760-455: The county. The population density was 2.4 inhabitants per square mile (0.93 inhabitants/km ). There were 22,350 housing units at an average density of 1.2 units per square mile (0.46 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 85.9% white, 2.0% black or African American, 1.6% American Indian, 1.3% Asian, 0.5% Pacific islander, 5.2% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 13.6% of

800-563: The crime occurred, and before a jury of residents of that county. However, since it was not assigned to a judicial district, it had no judiciary or prosecutors. If a felony or gross misdemeanor was committed in Bullfrog County, it would have been theoretically impossible to empanel a jury, potentially opening the possibility of a perfect crime . Nevada Attorney General Brian McKay insisted that such cases could be taken care of via "the rule of necessity", and officials said that it

840-512: The dump. Supporters of the county argued that it was created to prevent Nye County, many of whose residents wanted the dump due to its economic benefits, from insisting on its placement in Nevada. Despite its history, the name was also subject to some ridicule, and critics suggested that Nevada had become a laughing stock due to the county's creation. Incensed about being sidelined and deprived of its money, Nye County requested that Bryan call

SECTION 20

#1732779578691

880-602: The focus of a great deal of controversy. The federal government manages 92% of the county's land. A 1987 attempt to stop the nuclear waste site resulted in the creation of Bullfrog County, Nevada , which was dissolved two years later. The county has several environmentally sensitive areas, including Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge , the White River Valley , several Great Basin sky islands , and part of Death Valley National Park . Visitors to Death Valley often stay at Beatty or Amargosa Valley . Nye County

920-404: The law creating the county stipulated that those officials were to be appointed by the governor. Each office—sheriff, recorder, auditor, and public administrator—received a $ 1 a year salary, and the same person could be appointed to all offices except commissioner simultaneously. Due to a legislative oversight in getting a bill passed to disburse the tax funds, distribution of the funds

960-543: The only county in the U.S. outside Virginia whose seat was not within its borders. This was a deliberate choice to increase state oversight of the site. The county was the only uninhabited county in the United States. More than three-fourths of its land was closed to the public; half of it was taken up by the Nevada Test Site , and a quarter by the Nellis Air Force Range . The remaining fourth

1000-486: The population now. Asians were a full one percent of the population. Pacific Islanders were 0.5% of the population and Latinos made up 11.0% of the population. Of the 13,309 households 16.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.30% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 25.70% of households were one person and 10.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size

1040-444: The population. In terms of ancestry, 18.6% were German , 15.8% were English , 14.7% were Irish , 10.3% were American , and 6.1% were Italian . Of the 18,032 households, 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 26.8% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size

1080-424: The region. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has an area of 18,199 square miles (47,140 km ), of which 18,182 square miles (47,090 km ) is land and 17 square miles (44 km ) (0.09%) is water. The highest and most topographically prominent mountain in the county is Mount Jefferson at 11,949 feet (3,642 m). Nye County is in south-central Nevada. It is Nevada's largest county and

1120-519: The repository was not built in the county, it would be dissolved and reincorporated into Nye County. The county was the second-shortest lived county in American history (behind Beckham County, Kentucky ), the only enclave county in the United States, and were it still existent, would be the second-youngest county in the United States. Bullfrog County was the only county in Nevada whose county commissioners and sheriff were not elected. Instead,

1160-491: The state capital, Carson City . Beatty and Tonopah both rely heavily on through traffic to sustain their economies. As of 2006, an average of 2,000 cars daily traveled U.S. 95 near Tonopah. At the 2000 census there were 32,485 people, 13,309 households, and 9,063 families in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km ). There were 15,934 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39/km ). The racial makeup of

1200-479: The state government. In response, Nevada Assemblyman Paul May introduced AB 756, a bill declaring a 144-square-mile (370 km ) area around the proposed nuclear waste site to be a new county, Bullfrog County. The name derived from the Bullfrog Mining District in the area, in turn named due to the area's gold ore being colored like a bullfrog . There had been an earlier attempt to create

1240-417: The state government. Its creation produced various legal issues for the state, and critics suggested that its existence prompted a conflict of interest for the state in the site's placement. Upon a lawsuit by Nye County, its creation was ruled in violation of the state constitution in 1988, and it was dissolved back into Nye County the following year. The United States federal government had plans to create

Wellington Hills - Misplaced Pages Continue

1280-572: The third-largest county in the contiguous United States, after San Bernardino County in California and Coconino County in Arizona . Nye County's land area of 11,560,960 acres (46,785.5 km ) is larger than that of Maryland , Hawaii , Vermont , and New Hampshire , and larger than the combined area of Massachusetts , Rhode Island , New Jersey , and Delaware . Of this vast land area, only 822,711 acres (3,329.39 km ), or just over 7%,

1320-400: The town of Pahrump named Pahrump Valley Public Transportation. In 2023, Pahrump Valley Public Transportation launch demand response service to Beatty and Amargosa Valley For Senior Transportation/Paratransit transportation services is directly provided by Nye County Transportation Services department Nye County has a long stretch of U.S. Route 95 , the main road connecting Las Vegas with

1360-405: Was $ 41,642. Males had a median income of $ 37,276 versus $ 22,394 for females. The county's per capita income was $ 17,962. About 7.30% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line , including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over. Like many rural counties of the western United States, Nye County experiences a relatively high suicide rate. According to

1400-410: Was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90. The age distribution was 3.70% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 58.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 105.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.70 males. The county's median household income was $ 36,024, and the median family income

1440-680: Was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 48.4 years. The median household income was $ 41,181 and the median family income was $ 50,218. Males had a median income of $ 51,574 versus $ 32,152 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 22,687. About 14.2% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 27.8% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over. The Nye County School District serves all of Nye County. High school students in Esmeralda County go to Tonopah High School of Nye County School District. The county

1480-432: Was admitted as a state. The first county seat was Ione in 1864, followed by Belmont in 1867, and finally Tonopah in 1905. The county's first boom came in the early 20th century, when Rhyolite and Tonopah , as well as Goldfield in nearby Esmeralda County , had gold- and silver-mining booms. In 1906, Goldfield had 30,000 residents, Tonopah nearly 10,000, and Rhyolite peaked at about 10,000. These cities were linked by

1520-458: Was owned by the Bureau of Land Management , but few people visited there. It contained no paved roads or buildings. The easiest ground access to the county was by way of a dirt road off U.S. Route 95 . The existence of Bullfrog County had the potential to create serious legal problems for the state of Nevada. The Nevada Constitution requires all criminal trials to be tried in the county where

1560-468: Was put in the hands of the commissioners. The commissioners appointed were chairman Mike Melner of Reno and David Powell and Dorothy Eisenberg of Las Vegas. In the legislature's haste to get the bill passed, the county was not assigned to any of the state's nine district courts and thus had no district attorney or judiciary. The county seat was in Carson City, 270 miles (430 km) away, making it

1600-498: Was very unlikely that a crime would be committed in any event. On the other hand, state judge William P. Beko said that anti-nuclear protesters posed "immediate problems" in that respect. The Department of Energy retaliated for the creation of the county by granting nearby Clark County special status and consequent funds. This backfired on the Department, however, as Clark County used that money to fund studies unfavorable to

#690309