Elko County, Nevada

Elko County Education, Geography, and History

Elko County is a county located in the state of Nevada. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 48,818. Its county seat is Elko. The county was established on March 5, 1869, from Lander County.

Elko County is part of the Elko, NV Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Elko County Name

Several explanations for the derivation of its name have been offered. One explanation is that Elko is an Indian word meaning either "white woman" or "beautiful." Another explanation credits railroad owner Charles Crocker with the naming of a railroad station after elk roaming in the area, and adding an "o" to form "Elko

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Elko County History

Created out of Lander County - March 5, 1869 - the name is said to have originated from the Indians and means white woman. It is said, among the very old Indians, that this is where they first saw a white woman.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 17,203 sq mi (44,555 km²),of which, 17,179 square miles (44,493 km²) of it is land and 24 square miles (62 km²) of it (0.14%) is water.

Not counting Alaska's boroughs (four of which are also larger), it is the fourth largest county in area in the United States, after San Bernardino County in California, Coconino County in Arizona, and Nye County in Nevada. Most of the county lies within the Great Basin, with areas along the northern boundary draining into the Snake River Basin. The elevation ranges from about 4,300 feet (1,300 m) at the edge of the salt flats of the Great Salt Lake Desert, to 11,157 feet (3,401 m) in the Ruby Mountains. The Humboldt River has its source in Elko County and is a major water source for northern Nevada.

The county has 3 physiographic sections (70% Great Basin section, 20% Payette, 10% Snake River Plain) and 4 watersheds (45% Humboldt River, 30% Upper Snake River, 20% central Nevada desert, 5% Pilot-Thousand Springs).

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Humboldt County, Nevada - west
• Lander County, Nevada - southwest
• Eureka County, Nevada - southwest
• White Pine County, Nevada - south
• Tooele County, Utah - east
• Box Elder County, Utah - east
• Cassia County, Idaho - northeast
• Twin Falls County, Idaho - northeast
• Owyhee County, Idaho - north

Education

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