Welcome to Churchill County!

The Humboldt Sink, an eleven-mile intermittent dry lake, is on the border between Pershing and Churchill counties. The sink and its surrounding area was a notorious and dreaded portion of overland travel to California during the westward migrations of the mid-1800s, along the California Trail. Today it is protected as part of the Humboldt Wildlife Management Area.1 Fallon was born during the California Gold Rush when exhausted travelers stopped along the Carson River after crossing the 40-Mile Desert, one of the deadliest stretches along the Emigrant Trail. This spot on the river was called "Ragtown" because of the clothes and blankets that were seen drying, hanging from wagons and trees.2

The Pony Express and the Central Pacific Railroad (the first transcontinental railroad) both ran through this county. A portion of the original railroad route has been shifted for a new route south of Wadsworth, in favor of Fernley.1

Churchill County was established in 1861 and named after General Sylvester Churchill, a Mexican-American War hero, who was Inspector General of the U.S. Army in 1861. Churchill County was not organized until 1864, and its county seats were Bucklands (1861–64)which is now in Lyon County, La Plata (1864–68), Stillwater (1868–1904) and Fallon (1904–present).

As of the 2010 census, the population was 24,877 and the county is comprised of 5,023 square miles of land. Fallon and Churchill County are mostly agricultural areas. The largest single employer is the Naval Air Station Fallon, which was originally built in 1942.

Fallon is the only incorporated town in the county. Other places include Cold Springs, Dixie Valley (site), Frenchman (site), Middlegate, Salt Wells (site) and Stillwater.3 Stillwater Wildlife Management area is in this county. A portion of the Walker River Indian Reservation is in the southerly part of the county.


Census links
Towns & Cities, Langley's 1876 Directory
Biography of General Sylvester Churchill
Military Records



Neighbors -
Lyon County    Washoe County    Pershing County    Lander County    Nye County    Mineral County




Sources

1Wikipedia
2ponyexpressnevada.com

Updated November 2023
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