Map of Churchill County, Nevada

Churchill County is a county in the western U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,516. Its county seat is Fallon. Named for Mexican–American War hero brevet Brigadier General Sylvester Churchill, the county was formed in 1861. Churchill County comprises the Fallon, NV Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is in northwestern Nevada. Churchill County is noteworthy in that it owns and operates the local telephone carrier, Churchill County Communications.

Churchill County overview:
Name:	Churchill County
FIPS code:	32-001
State:	Nevada
Founded:	1861
Named for:	Sylvester Churchill
Seat:	Fallon
Largest city:	Fallon
Total Area:	5,024 sq mi (13,010 km²)
Land Area:	4,930 sq mi (12,800 km²)
Total Population:	25,516
Population Density:	5.1/sq mi (2.0/km²)
Time zone:	UTC−8 (Pacific)
Summer Time Zone (DST):	UTC−7 (PDT)
Website:	churchillcounty.org

Churchill County location map. Where is Churchill County?

Churchill County location on the U.S. Map. Where is Churchill County. — Location of Churchill County in the the United States.

Churchill County location on the Nevada map. Where is Churchill County. — Location of Churchill County in Nevada.

History

Churchill County was established in 1861, and was named for Fort Churchill (which is now in Lyon County), which was named for General Sylvester Churchill, a Mexican–American War hero who was Inspector General of the U.S. Army in 1861. Churchill County was not organized until 1864, and its first county seat was Bucklands (which is now in Lyon County). In 1864 the county seat was moved to La Plata; in 1868 it was moved to Stillwater; and in 1904 it was settled in its present position, Fallon. In the 19th century there were several attempts to eliminate Churchill County because of its small population, but Assemblyman Lemuel Allen stopped it on all occasions including convincing the Governor to veto an 1875 bill after it had been passed by both houses.

Railroads

The Eagle Salt Works Railroad ran for 13.5 miles (21.7 km), primarily on the original Central Pacific grade from Luva (2 miles (3.2 km) east of Fernley) to Eagle Salt Works.

The Central Pacific portion of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad ran through Churchill County, although a portion of the original route has been shifted for a new route south of Wadsworth in favor of Fernley. The Central Pacific later became the Southern Pacific Railroad which was merged into Union Pacific in 1996.

Churchill County Road Map

Churchill CountyStreet Map. — Street map of Churchill County, Nevada. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)

Churchill CountyMap — Churchill Countypolitical map.

Geography

The terrain of Churchill County consists of rugged mountainous ridges, dotted with lakes and ponds. The county’s east and west sides are higher than the intermediate valley; its highest point around the county periphery is a ridge on the lower east boundary line, at 9,380′ (2859m) ASL. The county has an area of 5,024 square miles (13,010 km), of which 4,930 square miles (12,800 km) is land and 94 square miles (240 km) (1.9%) is water. The county’s highest point is Desatoya Peak at 9,977′ (3041m), while the most topographically prominent peak is Mount Augusta, at 9,970′ (3039m) ASL.

Major highways

Interstate 11 (Future)
Interstate 80
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 Alternate
U.S. Route 95
U.S. Route 95 Alternate
State Route 115
State Route 116
State Route 117
State Route 118
State Route 119
State Route 120
State Route 121
State Route 361
State Route 715
State Route 718
State Route 720
State Route 722
State Route 723
State Route 726
State Route 839

Adjacent counties

Lyon County – west
Washoe County – northwest
Pershing County – north
Lander County – east
Nye County – southeast
Mineral County – south

Protected areas

Fallon National Wildlife Refuge
Humboldt State Wildlife Management Area
Lahontan State Game Refuge
Lahontan State Recreation Area (partial)
Sand Mountain Recreation Area
Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge

Lakes and reservoirs

Big Water
Carson Lake
Cattail Lake
Division Lake
Dog Head Pond
Dry Lake
Dutch Bill Lake
East Alkali Lake Number One
East Alkali Lake Number Two
Foxtail Lake
Goose Lake
Humboldt Lake (partial)
Lahontan Reservoir
Little Soda Lake
North Nutgrass Lake
Pintail Bay
Scheckler Reservoir
Soda Lake
Stillwater Point Reservoir
Swan Check
Swan Lake
Tule Lake
West Nutgrass
Willow Lake