Storey County, Nevada

2025-10-19T06:49:16Z

2601:240:4503:A280:5411:76F6:62AC:2414: /* Politics */

{{Short description|County in Nevada, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = Storey County
| state = Nevada
| type = [[County (United States)|County]]
| ex image = A491, Virginia City, Nevada, USA, Storey County Courthouse, 2016.jpg
| ex image cap = Storey County Courthouse in Virginia City
| seal =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1861}}
| named for = [[Edward Farris Storey]]
| seat wl = Virginia City
| largest city wl = Virginia City
| city type = community
| area_total_sq_mi = 264
| area_land_sq_mi = 263
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.7
| area percentage = 0.3
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 4,104
| pop_est_as_of =
| population_est =
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| district = 2nd
| time zone = Pacific
| web = http://storeycounty.org/
|flag=Flag of Storey County, Nevada.png}}
'''Storey County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Nevada]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 4,104,<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32/32029.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 23, 2013|archive-date=October 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023004031/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32/32029.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> making it the third-least populous county, but one of the fastest-growing economies in Nevada. In 2018, over 18,000 people were employed in the county.<ref>{{cite web |title=County Employment and Wages in Nevada – Third Quarter 2018 : Western Information Office : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |url=https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/countyemploymentandwages_nevada.htm |website=www.bls.gov |language=en |access-date=March 5, 2020 |archive-date=November 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122051412/https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/countyemploymentandwages_nevada.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Its area is {{convert|264|mi2|km2|abbr=off|sp=us}}, making it the smallest county in Nevada in terms of area (though the [[Independent city (United States)|independent city]] of [[Carson City, Nevada|Carson City]] is smaller). Its [[county seat]] is [[Virginia City, Nevada|Virginia City]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://explorer.naco.org/|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=County Explorer|publisher=National Association of Counties|archive-date=November 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128014020/http://explorer.naco.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> Storey County is part of the [[Reno-Sparks metropolitan area]].

==History==
[[File:Coat of arms of the Republic of Molossia.svg|thumb|[[Coat of arms]] of the Republic of Molossia]]
Storey County was created in 1861 and named for Captain [[Edward Farris Storey]], who was killed in 1860 in the [[Pyramid Lake War]]. It was the most populous county in Nevada when organized in 1861. [[Virginia City, Nevada|Virginia City]] is the county seat. It was originally to be named McClellan County after [[General]] [[George B. McClellan]], who later ran unsuccessfully against [[Abraham Lincoln]] for president in the [[1864 United States presidential election|1864 election]]. Storey County benefited from the discovery of [[Comstock Lode]] silver.

[[W. Frank Stewart]] was a silver-mining operator who served from 1876 to 1880 as a [[Nevada State Senate|state senator]] for Storey County.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Publications/NVLegislators/NVLegislators.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709115345/http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Publications/NVLegislators/NVLegislators.pdf |archive-date=July 9, 2011 |url-status=live|title=Nevada legislators, 1861–2015|publisher=leg.state.nv.us|access-date=July 15, 2015}}</ref>

The county population collapsed after the Comstock Lode was fully mined and hit a low of 568 in the [[1960 United States census|1960 census]]. Since then, its population has partially recovered because of its relative proximity to [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|264|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|263|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|0.7|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.3%) is covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_32.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 20, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[File:I-80 (NV).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 80 in Nevada|Interstate 80]]
* [[File:Nevada 341.svg|20px]] [[Nevada State Route 341|State Route 341]]
* [[File:Nevada 342.svg|20px]] [[Nevada State Route 342|State Route 342]]
* [[File:Nevada 439.svg|20px]] [[Nevada State Route 439|State Route 439]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties and city===
* [[Washoe County, Nevada|Washoe County]] – north
* [[Lyon County, Nevada|Lyon County]] – southeast
* [[Carson City, Nevada|Carson City]] – southwest

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 11359
|1880= 16115
|1890= 8806
|1900= 3673
|1910= 3045
|1920= 1469
|1930= 667
|1940= 1216
|1950= 671
|1960= 568
|1970= 695
|1980= 1503
|1990= 2526
|2000= 3399
|2010= 4010
|2020= 4104
|estyear=2024
|estimate=4112
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2025|archive-date=March 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318232436/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 20, 2014|archive-date=July 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194652/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=December 20, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=live}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nv190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 20, 2014|archive-date=April 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403233935/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nv190090.txt|url-status=live}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 20, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], 3,399 people, 1,462 households, and 969 families were living in the county. The population density was {{convert|13|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. The 1,596 housing units averaged {{convert|6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 93.0% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 1.4% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. About 5.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Of the 1,462 households, 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 25.6% of households were one person and 6.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32, and the average family size was 2.74.

In the county, the population was distributed as 19.7% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 35.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.

The median income for a household was $45,490 and for a family was $57,095. Males had a median income of $40,123 versus $26,417 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,642; 5.8% of the population and 2.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.2% were under the age of 18 and 4.8% were 65 or older.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], 4,010 people, 1,742 households, and 1,141 families were living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US32029
|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
|access-date=January 21, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011239/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US32029
|archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|15.3|PD/sqmi}}. The 1,990 housing units averaged {{convert|7.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US32029
|access-date=January 21, 2016
|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213190935/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US32029
|archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 92.1% White, 1.6% Asian, 1.6% American Indian, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.7% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 20.9% were [[Germans|German]], 20.1% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.5% were [[English people|English]], 7.2% were [[Italians|Italian]], and 2.6% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US32029
|title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
|access-date=January 21, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031719/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US32029
|archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

Of the 1,742 households, 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.5% were non-families, and 26.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 50.5 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median household income was $61,525 and the median family income was $65,121. Males had a median income of $53,936 versus $34,208 for females. The per capita income for the county was $31,079. About 0.4% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US32029
|title=DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
|access-date=January 21, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033712/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US32029
|archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

==Communities==
No incorporated communities are in Storey County.
{{div col}}
* [[Clark, Nevada|Clark]]
* [[Gold Hill, Nevada|Gold Hill]]
* [[Lockwood, Nevada|Lockwood]]
* [[Virginia City, Nevada|Virginia City]] (county seat; a [[census-designated place]])
* [[Virginia City Highlands, Nevada|Virginia City Highlands]]
{{div col end}}

==Economy==
Technology, manufacturing and logistics are the main sectors.<ref name=ndash/> In 2010, manufacturing jobs were less than 500, increasing to over 11,000 by 2019, many of them making battery storage.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nevada’s Manufacturing Sector |url=https://www.diversifynevada.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/manufacturing-1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901193542/https://www.diversifynevada.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/manufacturing-1.pdf |archive-date=September 1, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Logistics jobs increased from 1,300 to 4,000 in the same period.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nevada’s Logistics and Operations Sector |url=https://www.diversifynevada.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/logistics-operations-1.pdf}}</ref> In 2014, 5,000 people were working in the county,<ref>{{cite web |title=County Employment and Wages in Nevada – Third Quarter 2014 : Western Information Office : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |url=https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/2015/countyemploymentandwages_nevada_20150515.htm |website=www.bls.gov |language=en |access-date=March 5, 2020 |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017161424/https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/2015/countyemploymentandwages_nevada_20150515.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> increasing to over 18,000 by 2018, mostly in the [[Tahoe Reno Industrial Center]].<ref name=ndash>{{cite web |title=Economy Overview |url=https://nevadadashboard.com/pdf/Storey.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328120407/https://nevadadashboard.com/pdf/Storey.pdf |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |url-status=live |date=2020}}</ref> The Tesla [[Gigafactory 1]] had been constructed there.

Storey County has [[Prostitution in Nevada|legal prostitution]], which provided a significant portion of the tax base. The county is also trying to lure high-technology businesses.<ref name="NPR">{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/27/695230044/coming-forward-has-broke-me-metoo-movement-comes-to-rural-nevada|title='Coming Forward Has Broke Me': #MeToo Movement Comes To Rural Nevada|last=Fadel|first=Leila|date=February 27, 2019|work=[[NPR News]]|language=en|access-date=February 28, 2019|archive-date=February 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228012440/https://www.npr.org/2019/02/27/695230044/coming-forward-has-broke-me-metoo-movement-comes-to-rural-nevada|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2018, U.S. Treasury Secretary [[Steven Mnuchin]] had instructed his staff to accept a tract in the county as an [[opportunity zone]] under the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]], though it had not qualified as low-income.<ref name=NYT27oct19>{{cite news |last1=Lipton |first1=Eric |author-link1=Eric Lipton |last2=Drucker |first2=Jesse |title=Symbol of '80s Greed Stands to Profit From Trump Tax Break for Poor Areas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/26/business/michael-milken-trump-opportunity-zones.html |access-date=November 1, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 27, 2019 |page=A1 |archive-date=March 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324203043/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/26/business/michael-milken-trump-opportunity-zones.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Michael Milken]], who had attended multiple events with and given a private flight to Mnuchin leading up to the designation, was already an investor in the tract.<ref name=NYT27oct19/>

==Politics==
Storey County leans towards the Republican Party, with it voting for every Republican since [[1980 United States presidential election|1980]], with the exception being in [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]], when it voted for Independent [[Ross Perot]]. It was the only county in the state to do so.
{{PresHead|place=Storey County, Nevada|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|627|322|71|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|447|402|66|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|166|400|294|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|403|463|14|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|324|272|21|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|283|209|269|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|185|271|0|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|124|247|0|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|139|392|0|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|224|382|0|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|163|173|0|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|187|184|17|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|206|149|0|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|226|150|0|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|203|167|0|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|172|261|0|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|222|172|50|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|508|226|0|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|274|310|52|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|460|222|101|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|570|252|32|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|651|432|72|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1992|Independent (US)|458|488|573|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|705|614|336|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,014|666|118|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,253|871|44|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,247|1,102|69|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,321|920|73|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,616|752|190|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,908|902|67|Nevada}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,108|913|54|Nevada}}
{{PresFoot}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Storey County, Nevada|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Nevada by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/nevada-senate-results}}</ref>}}

{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|1,964|919|175|Nevada}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

==See also==

{{Portal|Nevada}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Storey County, Nevada]]
* [[Republic of Molossia]] – a micronation in southern Storey County
* [[List of brothels in Nevada#Storey County|List of Nevada brothels – Storey County]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://storeycounty.org/}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Storey County, Nevada
|North = [[Washoe County, Nevada|Washoe County]]
|Northeast =
|East = [[Lyon County, Nevada|Lyon County]]
|Southeast =
|South = [[Lyon County, Nevada|Lyon County]]
|Southwest = [[Carson City, Nevada|City of Carson City]]
|West = [[Washoe County, Nevada|Washoe County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Storey County, Nevada}}
{{Nevada}}
{{coord|39.45|-119.53|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NV_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Storey County, Nevada| ]]
[[Category:1861 establishments in Nevada Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1861]]
[[Category:Reno, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area]]

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Storey County, Nevada