Mesquite, Nevada | |
|---|---|
| City of Mesquite | |
 Main Street in January 2007, near City Hall | |
 Flag  Logo | |
| Motto(s): Escape, Momentarily[1] | |
 Location of Mesquite inClark County,Nevada | |
  Mesquite Location in the United States Show map of Nevada Mesquite Mesquite (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:36°48′9″N114°4′56″W / 36.80250°N 114.08222°W /36.80250; -114.08222 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nevada |
| County | Clark |
| Settled | 1880 |
| Incorporated | 1984[2] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jesse Whipple[3] |
| • Mayor Pro Tem | Pattie Gallo |
| • City Council | Bill Ennis Karen Fielding Paul Wanlass Kevin Parrish |
| • City Manager | Martine Green |
| Area | |
• Total | 32.23 sq mi (83.47 km2) |
| • Land | 31.76 sq mi (82.27 km2) |
| • Water | 0.46 sq mi (1.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,601 ft (488 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 20,471 |
| • Density | 644.5/sq mi (248.84/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes | 89024, 89027, 89034 |
| Area codes | 702 and 725 |
| FIPS code | 32-46000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0842060 |
| Website | www |
Mesquite is acity located in the northeast corner ofClark County,Nevada,United States adjacent to theArizona state line and 80 miles (130 km) northeast ofLas Vegas onInterstate 15. As of the2020 census, the city had a population of 20,471.[5] The city is located in theVirgin River valley adjacent to theVirgin Mountains in the northeastern part of theMojave Desert. It is home to a growing retirement community, as well as several casino resorts and golf courses.
Mesquite was settled byMormon pioneers in 1880, who called itMesquite Flat. The community was finally established on the third attempt after having been flooded out from the waters of the Virgin River. The name was later shortened to Mesquite, and the city was incorporated 1984. The community was named for themesquite timber near the original town site.[6] Mesquite, like nearbyBunkerville, had its origins in farming. The Peppermill Mesquite casino, which opened in the 1970s, drove Mesquite's diversified economy. The city incorporated in 1984 and established a master development plan during the early 1990s.[2] In the mid-1990s, more casinos opened.[7] By 2006, Mesquite was one of the fastest-growing small towns in the United States, though thelate-2000s recession led to the closure of theOasis (formerly the Peppermill) casino.[2]
Mesquite occupies the northeast corner of Clark County.[8][9] The eastern border of the city is theArizona state line. The city is in theVirgin River valley, occupying the northern side of the river. The city lies adjacent to the Virgin Mountains in the northeastern Mojave Desert near the southern mouth of theVirgin River Gorge.
Interstate 15 passes through the city, leading southwest 80 miles (130 km) to downtownLas Vegas and northeast 39 miles (63 km) toSt. George, Utah.Nevada State Route 170 leads south from the center of town, crossing the Virgin River into the unincorporated community of Bunkerville before looping back to I-15 at the western city limits of Mesquite.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Mesquite has a total area of 32.4 square miles (83.8 km2), of which 31.9 square miles (82.6 km2) is land and 0.46 square miles (1.2 km2), or 1.40%, is water.[10]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,871 | — | |
| 2000 | 9,389 | 401.8% | |
| 2010 | 15,276 | 62.7% | |
| 2020 | 20,471 | 34.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] | |||
| Race(NH = Non-Hispanic) | 2020[12] | 2010[13] | 2000[14] | 1990[15] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 71.7% (14,674) | 71.3% (10,896) | 71.5% (6,716) | 86.3% (1,615) |
| Black alone (NH) | 1% (204) | 0.9% (137) | 0.5% (49) | 0.4% (7) |
| American Indian alone (NH) | 0.6% (127) | 0.7% (113) | 0.7% (62) | 0.9% (17) |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1.7% (358) | 1.7% (265) | 1.3% (118) | 0.7% (14) |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0.2% (37) | 0.2% (34) | 0.1% (7) | |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0.4% (75) | 0.1% (17) | 0.1% (12) | 0.2% (3) |
| Multiracial (NH) | 2.9% (585) | 1% (156) | 1.1% (101) | — |
| Hispanic/Latino (any race) | 21.5% (4,411) | 23.9% (3,658) | 24.8% (2,324) | 11.5% (215) |
As of thecensus[16] of 2010, there were 15,276 people, 8,911 houses, 6,378 Houses occupied, and 4,444 families residing in the city. The population density was 613.3 inhabitants per square mile (236.8/km2) in the year 2000. There were 4,442 housing units at an average density of 290.1 per square mile (112.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 80.30%White, 1.27%Asian, 0.98%Native American, 0.65%African American, 0.07%Pacific Islander, 14.56% fromother races, and 2.17% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 24.75% of the population. There were 3,498 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% weremarried couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. Of all households, 20.4% were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $40,392, and the median income for a family was $42,941. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $24,402 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $20,191. About 6.2% of families and 10.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
The city of Mesquite is a part of theClark County School District. There are four public schools in the valley.[17]
| School | Location | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin Valley Elementary | Mesquite | K–5 |
| Joseph L. Bowler Elementary | Bunkerville | K-5 |
| Charles A. Hughes Middle School | Mesquite | 6–8 |
| Virgin Valley High School | Mesquite | 9–12 |
Mesquite has apublic library, a branch of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.[18]
Located within the Mojave Desert, Mesquite experiences adesert climate with a large degree ofdiurnal temperature variation. Roughly 500 ft lower than Las Vegas, Mesquite is typically about 3 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than Las Vegas during the day. Unlike Las Vegas, Mesquite lacks anurban heat island. This makes low temperatures noticeably more comfortable in the summer, but means winter nights are colder.
Like other weather stations in the Mojave and Sonoran desert, the annual temperature cycle is asymmetric, with a seasonal lag of roughly 1 month in summer, and a seasonal lead in winter. The hottest time of the year on average is July 21, with an average high of 106 and low of 72. Conversely, the normal high temp drops to the lowest value of the year, 57 degrees, and low of 28 on December 16, approximately 6 days before the winter solstice. This seasonal lag in summer and seasonal lead in winter can be found in other climate stations in the same region.[19]
| Climate data for Mesquite, NV | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 77 (25) | 84 (29) | 99 (37) | 103 (39) | 115 (46) | 120 (49) | 123 (51) | 118 (48) | 112 (44) | 106 (41) | 90 (32) | 78 (26) | 123 (51) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 62.0 (16.7) | 65.9 (18.8) | 74.1 (23.4) | 82.8 (28.2) | 92.8 (33.8) | 102.1 (38.9) | 107.7 (42.1) | 106.0 (41.1) | 99.7 (37.6) | 86.7 (30.4) | 70.4 (21.3) | 62.4 (16.9) | 84.4 (29.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 29.5 (−1.4) | 34.2 (1.2) | 39.6 (4.2) | 47.2 (8.4) | 55.6 (13.1) | 63.4 (17.4) | 70.3 (21.3) | 69.9 (21.1) | 59.7 (15.4) | 48.7 (9.3) | 36.3 (2.4) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 48.7 (9.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 2 (−17) | 18 (−8) | 20 (−7) | 28 (−2) | 39 (4) | 45 (7) | 52 (11) | 52 (11) | 44 (7) | 33 (1) | 20 (−7) | 12 (−11) | 2 (−17) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.53 (13) | 1.09 (28) | 0.56 (14) | 0.49 (12) | 0.04 (1.0) | 0.10 (2.5) | 0.51 (13) | 0.48 (12) | 0.33 (8.4) | 0.64 (16) | 0.60 (15) | 0.48 (12) | 5.85 (146.9) |
| Source:http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?nv5085 | |||||||||||||
In 1987, theVirgin Valley's first newspaper,The Desert Echo, began distribution out of a local home on Riverside Road.The Desert Valley Times emerged by 1995, andThe Desert Echo merged withThe Desert Valley Times in 1998. Around 2000/2001,St. George–basedThe Spectrum (aGannett newspaper) bought and distributedThe Desert Valley Times. Moapa Valley basedMesa Valley Progress covers Virgin Valley and Moapa Valley news.
Mesquite is home to several casinos, including theVirgin River Casino,CasaBlanca,Eureka, and Stateline Casino and Motel. The city also includesRising Star Sports Ranch, a non-gaming hotel and sports facility.[20] TheVirgin Valley Heritage Museum has exhibits about area pioneers and local history. The museum building, built in 1940, is listed in theNational Register of Historic Places. Mesquite is a stopping point for those traveling alongI-15 betweenSalt Lake City, Las Vegas, andLos Angeles. Mesquite is also a destination for year-roundgolf, with over nine public courses in the warm desert climate, it draws golfers from all over.Mesquite Airport provides facilities for general aviation and skydiving.[7] It previously hosted the annualRE/MAX World Long Drive Championship until 2015.
Places adjacent to Mesquite, Nevada | |
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Municipalities and communities ofClark County, Nevada,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Proposed communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
