Eureka County was established in 1873 and formed fromLander County after silver was discovered more than 100 miles (160 km) east ofAustin. The new mining camp's residents complained Austin was too far to go for county business and a new county was created. It was named for the ancientGreek term,Eureka, meaning, "I have found it."[3] This term was used earlier inCalifornia and other locations. Eureka has always been the county seat.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 4,180 square miles (10,800 km2), of which 4,176 square miles (10,820 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (0.1%) is water.[4]
At the2000 census there were 1,651 people, 666 households, and 440 families living in the county. The population density was 0.39 people per square mile (0.15 people/km2). There were 1,025 housing units at an average density of 0.25 units per square mile (0.097/km2).[11]Of the 666 households 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 5.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 29.10% of households were one person and 9.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.08.
The age distribution was 27.80% under the age of 18, 5.20% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.20 males.
The county's median household income was $41,417, and the median family income was $49,438. Males had a median income of $45,167 versus $25,000 for females. The county's per capita income was $18,629. 12.60% of the population and 8.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the people living in poverty, 11.70% are under the age of 18 and 16.40% are 65 or older.
At the2010 census, there were 1,987 people, 836 households, and 495 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 0.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.19/km2). There were 1,076 housing units at an average density of 0.3 units per square mile (0.12 units/km2).[13] Theracial makeup of the county was 89.3% white, 2.4% American Indian, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 5.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12.0% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 43.3% wereAmerican, 14.8% wereGerman, 11.4% wereIrish, 7.3% wereEnglish, and 6.9% wereItalian.[14]
Of the 836 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.8% were non-families, and 33.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 42.4 years.[12]
The median household income was $61,400 and the median family income was $75,179. Males had a median income of $54,625 versus $42,321 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,306. About 9.9% of families and 16.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.[15]
Eureka County is strongly Republican; the last time they voted for a Democratic candidate was in1964, and the last time a Democratic candidate received a quarter of the county's vote was in1988. The last time a Republican candidate failed to receive a majority of the county's vote was in1992, when the vote was somewhat split when independent candidateRoss Perot recorded approximately a third of the county's vote. In most recent elections Eureka County has shown the strongest Republican leaning out of all Nevada counties.
However, due to the county's low population, its heavy Republican voting does not have a large effect on elections in the state, as a majority of Nevada's population live in Democratic-leaningClark County andWashoe County.
United States presidential election results for Eureka County, Nevada[16]
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