Lyon County, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lyon County
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| Lyon County | ||
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Lyon County Courthouse in Yerington
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Location within the U.S. state of Nevada
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 Nevada's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Nevada |
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| Founded | 1861 | |
| Named for | Nathaniel Lyon | |
| Seat | Yerington | |
| Largest city | Fernley | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2,024 sq mi (5,240 km2) | |
| • Land | 2,001 sq mi (5,180 km2) | |
| • Water | 23 sq mi (60 km2) 1.1% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 59,235 | |
| • Density | 29.266/sq mi (11.2998/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | |
| Congressional districts | 2nd, 4th | |
Lyon County is a county in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 59,235. Lyon County comprises the Fernley, NV Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Lyon County was one of the nine original counties created in 1861. It was named after Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union General to be killed in the Civil War. Its first county seat was established at Dayton on November 29, 1861, which had just changed its name from Nevada City in 1862, and which had been called Chinatown before that. After the Dayton Court House burned down in 1909, the seat was moved to Yerington in 1911. There were stories that it was named for Captain Robert Lyon, a survivor of the Pyramid Lake War in 1860, but Nevada State Archives staff discovered a county seal with the picture of the Civil War general, settling the conflict.
Railroads
The Central Pacific (the first transcontinental railroad) ran through the county, although a portion of the original route has been shifted for a new route south of Wadsworth in favor of Fernley. The Central Pacific later became the Southern Pacific Railroad which was merged into Union Pacific in 1996.
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad runs through Mound House in western Lyon County, on its way from Carson City to Virginia City.
The narrow-gauge Carson and Colorado Railroad had its terminus in Mound House, where it intersected with the V&T. It traveled east through Dayton, then turned south to the Mason Valley, and east again on its way to Walker Lake. Later a branch line connected the C&C to the Southern Pacific at Hazen.
The Eagle Salt Works Railroad ran for 13.5 miles, primarily on the original Central Pacific grade from Luva (2 miles east of Fernley) to Eagle Salt Works.
The Nevada Copper Belt Railroad ran on the west side of the Mason Valley.
Transportation
Air
There are three public airports in Lyon County:
- Yerington Municipal Airport, with a 5,800-foot-long runway.
- Silver Springs Airport, with a 7,200-foot-long runway capable of accepting 737s (its runway lights are visible when driving down on Fir Street from Ramsey Weeks cut-off to 95A).
- Tiger Field on US 95A about three miles from Fernley, with a gravel runway of 2,750 feet and a paved runway of 5,600 feet.
Railroads
The Central Pacific (the first transcontinental railroad) ran through the county, although a portion of the original route has been shifted for a new route south of Wadsworth in favor of Fernley. The Central Pacific later became the Southern Pacific Railroad which was merged into Union Pacific in 1996.
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad runs through Mound House in western Lyon County, on its way from Carson City to Virginia City.
The narrow-gauge Carson and Colorado Railroad had its terminus in Mound House, where it intersected with the V&T. It traveled east through Dayton, then turned south to the Mason Valley, and east again on its way to Walker Lake. Later a branch line connected the C&C to the Southern Pacific at Hazen. While the line west of Silver Springs was removed, the line from Hazen to Walker Lake (now standard gauge) is still in place, and used several times each week by the Union Pacific to service the NV Energy Fort Churchill Generating Station, near Yerington.
The Eagle Salt Works Railroad ran for 13.5 miles, primarily on the original Central Pacific grade from Luva (two miles east of Fernley) to Eagle Salt Works Railroad.
The Nevada Copper Belt Railroad ran on the west side of the Mason Valley.
Train
Amtrak's California Zephyr passenger train passes through, but does not stop in Lyon County. The nearest Amtrak passenger stations are located in Reno and Winnemucca. The California Zephyr runs from the San Francisco Bay Area to Chicago via Salt Lake City, Denver and Omaha.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,024 square miles (5,240 km2), of which 2,001 square miles (5,180 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (1.1%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in Nevada by area. The highest point is approximately 10,565 feet (3,220 m) on the northeast ridge of Middle Sister, who's peak is in adjacent Mono County, California, while the highest independent mountain completely within Lyon County is the nearby East Sister. The most topographically prominent peak in Lyon County is Bald Mountain.
Part of the Toiyabe National Forest is located within Lyon County.
Major highways
Interstate 11 (Future)
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 Business (Wadsworth–Fernley)
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 Alternate
U.S. Route 95 Alternate
State Route 208
State Route 338
State Route 339
State Route 340
State Route 341
State Route 427
State Route 439 (Future)
State Route 822
State Route 823
State Route 824
State Route 825
State Route 827
State Route 828
State Route 829
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Adjacent counties and city
- Washoe County - north
- Storey County - northwest
- Churchill County - east
- Douglas County - west
- Carson City - west
- Mineral County - southeast
- Mono County, California - southwest
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,837 | — | |
| 1880 | 2,409 | 31.1% | |
| 1890 | 1,987 | −17.5% | |
| 1900 | 2,268 | 14.1% | |
| 1910 | 3,568 | 57.3% | |
| 1920 | 4,078 | 14.3% | |
| 1930 | 3,810 | −6.6% | |
| 1940 | 4,076 | 7.0% | |
| 1950 | 3,679 | −9.7% | |
| 1960 | 6,143 | 67.0% | |
| 1970 | 8,221 | 33.8% | |
| 1980 | 13,594 | 65.4% | |
| 1990 | 20,001 | 47.1% | |
| 2000 | 34,501 | 72.5% | |
| 2010 | 51,980 | 50.7% | |
| 2020 | 59,235 | 14.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018 |
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2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 51,980 people, 19,808 households, and 14,137 families living in the county. The population density was 26.0 inhabitants per square mile (10.0/km2). There were 22,547 housing units at an average density of 11.3 per square mile (4.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.0% white, 2.5% American Indian, 1.4% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.3% Pacific islander, 6.4% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 14.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.0% were German, 18.5% were English, 15.5% were Irish, 5.9% were Italian, and 5.3% were American.
Of the 19,808 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.6% were non-families, and 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 40.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,433 and the median income for a family was $56,106. Males had a median income of $45,319 versus $31,536 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,041. About 8.7% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated places
- Argo
- Artesia
- Bucklands Station
- Cambridge
- Churchhill
- Como
- Davis Station
- Greenville
- Hoye
- Hudson
- Johntown
- Ludwig
- Lux
- Marshland
- Mason
- Mound House
- Nordyke
- Palmyra
- Pine Grove
- Ramsey
- Rapids City
- Rockland
- Simpson
- Stone Cabin
- Sutro
- Sweetwater
- Thompson
- Tippecanoe
- Twin Flat
- Walker River
- Weeks
- Wellington
- Willington Springs
- Wichman
Education
Lyon County has sixteen schools provided by the Lyon County School District.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lyon (Nevada) para niños
