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
Broken Links? Suggestions? Want to get involved? contact Sharon McConnel, Administrator
Happy Researching!
The background tartan in the footer logo is the Nevada State Tartan, adopted in 2001.
The American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP), an unincorporated not-for-profit network of independent sites devoted to History & Genealogy, and covering North American Countries and Territories. For more information about our group, including how you can join us, please see our About page.
Webspace for this site is generously provided by Genealogy Village and Access Genealogy
Copyright © 2014 - Sharon McConnel. All Rights Reserved.