Lander County, Nevada

County in Nevada, United States

County in Nevada

Lander County

County

Lander County Courthouse in Battle Mountain

Flag

Location within the U.S. state of Nevada

Nevada's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 39°57′N 117°02′W﻿ / ﻿39.95°N 117.03°W﻿ / 39.95; -117.03
Country|  United States
State|  Nevada
Founded| 1862; 163 years ago (1862)
Named after| Frederick W. Lander
Seat| Battle Mountain
Largest community| Battle Mountain
Area

• Total

| 5,519 sq mi (14,290 km2)
• Land| 5,490 sq mi (14,200 km2)
• Water| 29 sq mi (80 km2)  0.5%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 5,734
• Density| 1.0/sq mi (0.40/km2)
Time zone| UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district| 2nd
Website| landercountynv.org

Lander County is a county in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,734.[1] Its county seat is Battle Mountain.[2]

## History

[edit]

Lander County was created in 1862 as the result of a mining boom on the Reese River along the old pony express line, taking a considerable portion of Churchill and Humboldt counties with it. Named for Frederick W. Lander,[3] chief engineer of a federal wagon route and Special Indian Agent in the area, it was one of the original 11 counties of Nevada when statehood was granted in 1864. Its first county seat was Jacob's Spring in 1862, which was moved to Austin in 1863, and finally Battle Mountain in 1979. Eventually, Lander County would be known as the "mother of counties",[citation needed] since three other counties in Nevada were later formed from it: Elko, White Pine, and Eureka.

## Geography

[edit]

Derelict building off State Route 305 in the Reese River Valley with the Shoshone Range in the distance

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,519 square miles (14,290 km2), of which 5,490 square miles (14,200 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (0.5%) is water.[4]

The 11,477 ft (3,498 m) summit of Bunker Hill, located in the Toiyabe Range near the Nye County border, is the highest point in the county;[5] while the county's most topographically prominent peak is Mount Lewis.

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 80
* Interstate 80 Business (Battle Mountain)
* U.S. Route 50
* State Route 304
* State Route 305
* State Route 306
* State Route 376
* State Route 722
* State Route 806

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Elko County \- north
* Eureka County \- east
* Nye County \- south
* Churchill County \- west
* Pershing County \- west
* Humboldt County \- northwest

### National protected area

[edit]

* Toiyabe National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1870| 2,815| | —
1880| 3,624| | 28.7%
1890| 2,266| | −37.5%
1900| 1,534| | −32.3%
1910| 1,786| | 16.4%
1920| 1,484| | −16.9%
1930| 1,714| | 15.5%
1940| 1,745| | 1.8%
1950| 1,850| | 6.0%
1960| 1,566| | −15.4%
1970| 2,666| | 70.2%
1980| 4,076| | 52.9%
1990| 6,266| | 53.7%
2000| 5,794| | −7.5%
2010| 5,775| | −0.3%
2020| 5,734| | −0.7%
2024 (est.)| 5,785| [6]| 0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

### 2000 census

[edit]

At the 2000 census, there were 5,794 people, 2,093 households, and 1,523 families living in the county. The population density was 1 person per square mile (0.39 person/km2). There were 2,780 housing units at an average density of 0 units per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.41% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 3.99% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 8.66% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. 18.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[11] Of the 2,093 households 39.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 22.30% of households were one person and 5.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.23.

The age distribution was 32.20% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 7.00% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 105.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.50 males.

The median household income was $46,067 and the median family income was $51,538. Males had a median income of $45,375 versus $22,197 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,998. About 8.60% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

[edit]

At the 2010 census, there were 5,775 people, 2,213 households, and 1,545 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 1.1 inhabitants per square mile (0.42/km2). There were 2,575 housing units at an average density of 0.5 per square mile (0.19/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 84.0% white, 4.2% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 8.6% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 21.1% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 19.4% were German, 13.6% were English, 12.2% were Irish, and 12.0% were American.[14]

Of the 2,213 households, 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.2% were non-families, and 25.6% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age was 37.1 years.[12]

The median household income was $66,525 and the median family income was $67,157. Males had a median income of $62,932 versus $33,056 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,287. About 11.7% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.[15]

## Politics

[edit]

Lander County is heavily Republican, having not supported a Democrat since the 1964 election.

United States presidential election results for Lander County, Nevada[16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 2,180  | 80.00% | 482  | 17.69%  | 63  | 2.31%
2020 | 2,198  | 79.49% | 496  | 17.94%  | 71  | 2.57%
2016 | 1,828  | 75.76% | 403  | 16.70%  | 182  | 7.54%
2012 | 1,580  | 72.98% | 534  | 24.67%  | 51  | 2.36%
2008 | 1,466  | 69.74% | 577  | 27.45%  | 59  | 2.81%
2004 | 1,602  | 78.03% | 414  | 20.17%  | 37  | 1.80%
2000 | 1,619  | 76.40% | 395  | 18.64%  | 105  | 4.96%
1996 | 1,107  | 49.98% | 660  | 29.80%  | 448  | 20.23%
1992 | 885  | 44.43% | 423  | 21.23%  | 684  | 34.34%
1988 | 1,214  | 70.83% | 439  | 25.61%  | 61  | 3.56%
1984 | 1,222  | 78.28% | 301  | 19.28%  | 38  | 2.43%
1980 | 935  | 65.61% | 361  | 25.33%  | 129  | 9.05%
1976 | 561  | 49.96% | 518  | 46.13%  | 44  | 3.92%
1972 | 798  | 63.03% | 468  | 36.97%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 461  | 50.72% | 301  | 33.11%  | 147  | 16.17%
1964 | 338  | 46.36%  | 391  | 53.64% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 383  | 49.48%  | 391  | 50.52% | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 540  | 65.61% | 283  | 34.39%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 501  | 67.89% | 237  | 32.11%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 397  | 56.39% | 298  | 42.33%  | 9  | 1.28%
1944 | 425  | 52.60% | 383  | 47.40%  | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 393  | 45.28%  | 475  | 54.72% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 237  | 28.83%  | 585  | 71.17% | 0  | 0.00%
1932 | 272  | 33.66%  | 536  | 66.34% | 0  | 0.00%
1928 | 456  | 59.22% | 314  | 40.78%  | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 254  | 46.61% | 138  | 25.32%  | 153  | 28.07%
1920 | 416  | 58.67% | 254  | 35.83%  | 39  | 5.50%
1916 | 321  | 34.48%  | 473  | 50.81% | 137  | 14.72%
1912 | 68  | 13.13%  | 197  | 38.03%  | 253  | 48.84%
1908 | 257  | 44.77%  | 276  | 48.08% | 41  | 7.14%
1904 | 227  | 61.85% | 93  | 25.34%  | 47  | 12.81%
United States Senate election results for Lander County, Nevada1[17] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,924  | 70.97% | 538  | 19.85%  | 249  | 9.18%

## Communities

[edit]

Lander County has no incorporated communities. The following places are located in Lander County:

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Austin
* Battle Mountain (county seat)
* Kingston

### Unincorporated community

[edit]

* Pittsburg

### Ghost towns

[edit]

* Clifton
* Galena

## See also

[edit]

* Nevada portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Lander County, Nevada

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
2. ^ "County Explorer". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. p. 180. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
5. ^ "Bunker Hill, Nevada". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
6. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
13. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
14. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
15. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
17. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Nevada by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Theodore, T.G. and G.M. Jones. (1992). Geochemistry and geology of gold in jasperoid, Elephant Head area, Lander County, Nevada [U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2009]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Battle Mountain Chamber of Commerce
* Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce
* Austin Branch Library
* Battle Mountain Branch Library
* Nevada Central Narrow Gauge[usurped]

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Lander County, Nevada

| Humboldt County | Elko County |

|
|

|  |
Churchill County and Pershing County |

Lander County, Nevada

| Eureka County
|  |
| Nye County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Lander County, Nevada, United States

County seat: Battle Mountain

Unincorporated towns|

* Austin
* Battle Mountain
* Kingston

Lander County map

Ghost towns|

* Argenta
* Clifton
* Cortez
* Dean
* Galena
* Hilltop
* Jacobsville
* Lander
* Pittsburg
* Telluride
* Tenabo

* Nevada portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Nevada

Carson City (capital)

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Nevada portal

39°57′N 117°02′W﻿ / ﻿39.95°N 117.03°W﻿ / 39.95; -117.03

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