Douglas County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 46,997. Its county seat is Minden. Douglas County comprises the Gardnerville Ranchos, NV Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Yuba City, CA–NV Combined Statistical Area.
History
The town of Genoa in Douglas County was the first permanent settlement in Nevada. Genoa was settled in 1851 by Mormon traders selling goods to settlers on their way to California. Named for Stephen A. Douglas, famous for his 1860 Presidential campaign and debates with Abraham Lincoln, Douglas County was one of the first nine counties formed in 1861 by the Nevada territorial legislature.
The county seat is Minden, after having been moved from Genoa in 1915.
Various services run by the county include parks, law enforcement, road maintenance, building inspection, and the Minden–Tahoe Airport.
Fire protection and emergency medical services are provided by the Tahoe-Douglas Fire Protection District at the lake and the East Fork Fire Protection District for the rest of the county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (3.8%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in Nevada by area. The highest point is East Peak at 9,593 ft (2,924 m), while the most topographically prominent mountain is Mount Siegel.
Douglas County is in western Nevada in the western United States. Stretching from Carson Valley and running up into the Sierra Nevada, the county is bordered on the west by California, and contains about 13.2% of Lake Tahoe, which is split across the two states. Carson City, the state capital, lies to the north, and Lyon County to the east.
Major highways
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 395
State Route 28
State Route 88
State Route 206
State Route 207
State Route 208
State Route 756
State Route 757
State Route 759
State Route 760
Adjacent counties and city
Carson City – north
Lyon County – east
Mono County, California – southeast
Alpine County, California – south
El Dorado County, California – west
Placer County, California – northwest
National protected area
Toiyabe National Forest
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 41,259 people, 16,401 households, and 11,890 families living in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22/km2). There were 19,006 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.9% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 1.7% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 7.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 16,401 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $51,849, and the median income for a family was $57,092. Males had a median income of $40,436 versus $28,762 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,288. About 5.8% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 46,997 people, 19,638 households, and 13,519 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 23,671 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 89.6% white, 1.9% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.2% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.7% were German, 17.5% were English, 14.9% were Irish, 8.0% were Italian, and 4.1% were American.
Of the 19,638 households, 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.2% were non-families, and 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age was 47.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $60,721 and the median income for a family was $73,543. Males had a median income of $52,001 versus $39,825 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,239. About 5.4% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Census-designated places
There are no incorporated towns or cities in Douglas County. The following communities are census-designated places, meaning population and demographic data is available from the U.S. Census Bureau for each one:
Carter Springs
Double Spring
East Valley
Fish Springs
Gardnerville
Gardnerville Ranchos
Genoa
Glenbrook
Indian Hills
Johnson Lane
Kingsbury
Lakeridge
Logan Creek
Minden (county seat)
Round Hill Village
Ruhenstroth
Skyland
Stateline
Topaz Lake
Topaz Ranch Estates
Zephyr Cove
Unincorporated communities
Centerville
Dresslerville
Holbrook Junction
Mottsville
Sheridan
Politics
Historically Douglas was the most Republican county in Nevada, a state that tended to lean Democratic between the 1890s and 1950s. The last Democrat to carry the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 during his 48-state landslide over Alf Landon, and even then, he carried Douglas by 15 percent less than his statewide margin. It was the only Nevada county won by Charles Evans Hughes in 1916, and one of only two to vote for Progressive “Bull Moose” ex-President Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. It was also one of only two Nevada counties that voted for incumbent President Benjamin Harrison over insurgent Populist James B. Weaver in 1892 when the latter carried the state by over 40 percentage points. Even when the county did vote Democratic in 1896 and 1900, it was by much smaller margins than the rest of silver-mining Nevada.
The county remains a Republican stronghold, although it now is not quite as heavily Republican as some other rural counties in the state. Apart from FDR's two victories, only two Democrats since 1920 — Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and Barack Obama in 2008 — have won even 40 percent of the county’s vote.
Economy
Major employers
Starbucks roasting plant
Patmont Motor Werks
Bently Nevada, part of Baker Hughes
North Sails
TeslaWatt
Education
Douglas County's education is managed by the Douglas County School District. It serves for all of Douglas County, having two main areas: Lake Tahoe & the Carson Valley. Douglas High School also serves most of the high school age students from Alpine County, California
Lake Tahoe
George Whittell High School
Zephyr Cove Elementary School
Carson Valley
Douglas High School
Aspire Academy High School
Carson Valley Middle School
Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School
Gardnerville Elementary School
Minden Elementary School
Jacks Valley Elementary School
Piñion Hills Elementary School
Gene L. Scarselli Elementary School
C.C. Meneley Elementary School
Private schools
Sierra Lutheran High School
Faith Christian Academy
Grace Christian Academy
Media
Carson Valley Times
The Record-Courier
In popular culture
Smokin Aces
Charley Varrick
The Shootist
Misery
The Motel Life
