Nevada County, California

Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2000 its population was 92,033. The county seat is Nevada City.

History

Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County.

The county was named after the mining town of Nevada City, a name derived from the term "Sierra Nevada." The word nevada in Spanish means "snowy" or "snowcovered."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,524 km² (974 mi²). 2,480 km² (958 mi²) of it is land and 44 km² (17 mi²) of it (1.73%) is water.

The western part of the county is defined by the course of several rivers and the irregular boundaries of adjoining counties. When the county was created, the founders wanted to include access to the transcontinental railroad, so a rectangular section was added that includes the railroad town of Truckee. What is remarkable about this is that the final shape of the county closely resembles the Deringer pocket pistol, a favorite at the time of the more urbane residents of this gold rush county.

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 92,033 people, 36,894 households, and 25,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 37/km² (96/mi²). There were 44,282 housing units at an average density of 18/km² (46/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.39% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.94% from other races, and 2.64% from two or more races. 5.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 36,894 households out of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.10% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 29.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,864, and the median income for a family was $52,697. Males had a median income of $40,742 versus $27,173 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,007. About 5.50% of families and 8.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 4.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Interesting facts

The world's first long-distance telephone call was made from Nevada City, California to Washington, California.

The Pelton wheel, designed to power gold mines, still drives hydro-electric generators today.

Nevada City and Grass Valley were among the first California towns with electric lights.

Lyman Gilmore, a contemporary of the Wright Brothers, developed early powered aircraft and operated the world's first commercial air field in Grass Valley. There is also evidence he may have flown before the Wright brothers.

Charles Litton Sr., a resident and entrepreneur of Nevada County, assisted Raytheon in the development of the magnetron tube.

Atari developed its first home computer video games in Nevada County.

The Olympics, NASA, and virtually every TV broadcast station around the country utilizes video/broadcasting equipment designed and manufactured by The Grass Valley Group, founded in Grass Valley, and still flourishing in Nevada County today.

Electronic medical dosing equipment was first developed and manufactured in Nevada County.

The first commercially viable picture-phone was developed in Nevada City.

Over 50 high tech and applied tech companies, and more than 1,000 hardware and software design and development professionals call Nevada County home. The county is sometimes referred to as the "Silicon Valley of the Sierras".

The county lines are said to have been drawn to resemble a gun pointing at Nevada because early residents were angry with the state of Nevada for copying their county's name.

The Community of Rough and Ready seceded from the Union for a time.

External link

Official Nevada County government website

California counties | Nevada County, California

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