Overview

Introduction to Elko, Nevada

Elko, Nevada, in Elko county, is 191 miles S of Nampa, Idaho (center to center) and 323 miles N of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Elko History

The city of Elko, which is the county seat of Elko County, was first inhabited in 1868. At that time it was located at the eastern end of the tracks constructed by the Central Pacific Railroad. After the railroad crew moved, the community remained a mining freight center as well as a supply center. The area is said to have been named by Charles Crocker (Superintendent, Central Pacific Railroad), who was extremely fond of animal names. He chose the name Elko, by adding an extra 'o' to 'elk'. Elko was designated the county seat in 1869, and was officially incorporated in 1917.

Elko and Nearby Attractions

  • Western Folklife Center
  • Hillside Park
  • Northeastern Nevada Museum
  • Riverview Park
  • Wild Horse State Recreation Area
  • Northeastern Nevada Museum

Things To Do In Elko

Western Shoshone Historic Preservation Society, Wild Horse State Recreation Area, and the Northeastern Nevada Museum are places of interest near Elko. Ruby View Golf Course offers opportunities to play golf. Annual festivals celebrated are the National Basque Festival in June, Elko County Fair in August, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in January, and the Great Humboldt Duck Race in July. Parks including Ruby Mountains Recreational Area, Jarbidge Recreational Area, Wilson Reservoir Recreational Area, South Fork State Recreational Area, and Ruby Valley Hot Springs offer recreational activities like hiking, swimming, camping, and biking.

Elko Transportation

Air transportation is available from Elko Regional Airport.

Elko Higher Education

Great Basin College is the local college. Nearby colleges include College of Southern Idaho, Weber State University, and Boise State University.

Demographics

People

Total Population20,247
Male Share of the Population51.4%
Female Share of the Population48.6%
Senior Citizens9.9%
Employed Population 16+10,186
Age of the Population33

Families

% of people married46%
Average household size3

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher15.9%
Median Earnings25+$45,874
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$24,869
Median Earnings With High School Degree$41,580

Wealth

Median Family Income$84,162
% Above Poverty Level84.9%
% Below Poverty Level15.1%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time29 minutes
% Working from Home1.6%
% Walking and Biking to Work4.3%
% Using Public Transportation15.6%

Housing

People Living Alone24.9%
Median Gross Rent$1,022
Median House Value$228,900

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)34.8%
German14.6%
Irish9.1%
English6.7%
Italian3.6%
Swedish2.1%
Scottish2.1%
Dutch1.7%
Danishn1.7%
Norwegian1.7%
French Except Basque1.6%
Basque1.2%
Polish1.1%
Russian0.9%
Welsh0.6%
Portuguese0.4%
Canadian0.4%
Czech0.3%
Swiss0.2%
Austrian0.2%
Hungarian0.2%
Belgian0.2%
Ukrainian0.1%
Greek0.1%
Finnish0.1%
+ Show More

Elko Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyElko County
Standard Zip Codes89801
P.O. Box Zip Codes89802, 89803
Phone Area Codes775
Time ZoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
Approximate Latitude40.85
Approximate Longitude-115.71

Elko Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationELKO
Distance2 miles
Jan Temp14 to 37 F
Apr Temp30 to 59 F
Jul Temp49 to 90 F
Oct Temp28 to 65 F
Annual Precip9.5 inches
StationCARLIN NEWMONT MINE
Distance29.6 miles
Jan Temp21 to 33 F
Apr Temp33 to 52 F
Jul Temp61 to 83 F
Oct Temp41 to 58 F
Annual Precip12.3 inches
StationDEETH
Distance30.5 miles
Jan Temp9 to 36 F
Apr Temp27 to 59 F
Jul Temp44 to 87 F
Oct Temp24 to 64 F
Annual Precip12.4 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Carlin2,023$82,589

Elko Public Libraries

Elko-lander-eureka County Library System
720 COURT STREET
Elko, Nevada
(775) 738-3066

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More Information for Librarians

Elko Hospitals

Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital
(Proprietary)
2001 Errecart Boulevard
(775) 738-5151

Elko Public Schools

Adobe Middle School
3375 Jennings Way
ZIP: 89801
(775) 738-7236
Middle
Total Enrollment 624
Early Childhood School
850 Elm St.
ZIP: 89801
(775) 538-8646
Primary
Total Enrollment 70
Early Childhood School - Gbc
850 Elm St
ZIP: 89801
(775) 538-8646
Primary
Elko Alt
777 Country Club Drive
ZIP: 89801
(775) 777-1742
Elko Grammar School #2
7th & Fir Street
ZIP: 89801
(775) 738-7161
Primary
Total Enrollment 358
Elko High School
987 College Avenue
ZIP: 89801
(775) 738-7281
High
Total Enrollment 1329
Elko Institute For Academic Achievement
1031 Railroad Street, Suite 107
ZIP: 89801
(775) 738-3422
Primary
Total Enrollment 182
Flagview Intermediate School
777 Country Club Dr
ZIP: 89801
(775) 738-7236
Middle
Total Enrollment 652
Juvenile Detention
665 West Silve Street
ZIP: 89801
(775) 777-1753
Mound Valley Elementary School
Hc 30 Box 348
ZIP: 89801
(775) 744-4382
Primary
Total Enrollment 9
Mountain View Elementary School
3300 Argent Avenue
ZIP: 89801
(775) 738-1844
Primary
Total Enrollment 540
Northeastern Nevada Virtual Academy
850 Elm S
ZIP: 89801
(775) 738-5196
Other
Total Enrollment 118
Northside Elementary School
1645 Sewell Drive
ZIP: 89801
(775) 738-7255
Primary
Total Enrollment 434
Southside Elementary School
501 South 9th Street
ZIP: 89801
(775) 738-3731
Primary
Total Enrollment 649
Independence Hs
100 Youth Center Road
ZIP: 89803
(775) 783-8812
Sources :
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