Pahrump, Nevada: Difference between revisions
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|official_name = Town of Pahrump |
|official_name = Town of Pahrump |
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|motto = Your |
|motto = Your Base Camp to Adventure [TM]<ref>{{http://www.pahrumpnv.org}}</ref> |
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|settlement_type = [[Unincorporated Town]] |
|settlement_type = [[Unincorporated Town]] |
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Revision as of 18:44, 5 January 2012
Town of Pahrump | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Seal | |
| Motto: Your Base Camp to Adventure [TM][1] | |
 Location of Pahrump, NV Nye County, Nevada | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nevada |
| County | Nye |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Board-Manager |
| • Town Board | Mike Darby Vicky Parker Carolene Endersby Harley Kulkin Tom Waters[2] |
| • Town Manager | Bill Kohbarger |
| Area | |
| • Total | 364 sq mi (771.5 km2) |
| • Land | 364 sq mi (771.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,697 ft (822 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 36,441 |
| • Density | 100/sq mi (47/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes | 89041, 89048, 89060, 89061 |
| Area code | 775 |
| FIPS code | 32-53800 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0845593 |
Pahrump is a census-designated place (CDP) and an Unincorporated Town in Nye County, Nevada, United States. According to the 2000 census the population was 24,631, it hit 36,441 in the 2010 Census, making it by far the largest settlement in the county. The town's motto is "Your Base Camp to Adventure".
History
Pahrump was originally inhabited by the Shoshone. It was discovered and slowly inhabited by American settlers in the late 19th century. They reportedly chose the name for the valley which Pahrump is named after the original indigenous name Pah-Rimpi, or "Water Rock," so named because of the abundant artesian wells in the valley. Because of these artesian wells, the new inhabitants of Pahrump Valley began a number of large ranch-style holdings, mostly over 1000 acres (4 km²) in size. On these ranches, alfalfa and cotton were grown, and livestock were raised.
Until the 1960s, Pahrump had no telephone service and there were no paved roads in or out of the Pahrump Valley. However, as Las Vegas grew, real estate speculation became more popular in the area, which led to increased interest in Pahrump.[citation needed] This led to the introduction of telephone service and the construction of a paved highway, from Las Vegas to Pahrump, during the late 1960s. Later, this road was extended from Pahrump northward to US 95, near Amargosa Valley. A second paved road was introduced that went from Pahrump to neighboring Shoshone, California, which provided a link to the Death Valley area, as well as a shorter route to those wishing to travel to Los Angeles or other areas in California. In 1974, Pahrump's first high school was constructed.
Since the late 1970s, Pahrump has grown almost exponentially, increasing from about 2,000 residents in 1980 to almost 38,000 in 2000. Pahrump is an archetypal example of an exurb. Almost all significant agriculture has ceased in the valley [2004] and the surface aquifers have been filled up over the years.[USGS] Pahrump has also attracted a number of notable residents, including paranormal talk radio host Art Bell, and Michael Jackson, who purchased a home in the area in 2008, where he briefly had a home studio and home schooled his three children.[3] Notable businesses in the area include Front Sight Firearms Training Institute and Spring Mountain Motor Sports Ranch, in addition to several legal brothels such as the Chicken Ranch and Sheri's Ranch, and wineries including Sander's Family Winery and Pahrump Valley Winery.
Similar to many communities in Nevada, Pahrump has an unincorporated town status, with a limited government that manages land use planning, recreation, and fire, while leaving most services to Nye County. As of May 2009, The Pahrump town board has set up an advisory board to incorporate Pahrump as a town or even city of its own.
On November 15, 2006, the Pahrump town board voted for an ordinance declaring English the official language of business, forbidding the display of foreign flags and denying any benefits to illegal aliens. A measure in the ordinance requires an American flag to be displayed above any other flag, regardless of what organization, nation or government it represents. This law was repealed on February 13, 2007.[4]
Geography and Climate
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 297.9 square miles (771.5 km²), all of which is land.
| Climate data for Pahrump | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 58 (14) |
62 (17) |
69 (21) |
76 (24) |
85 (29) |
95 (35) |
101 (38) |
99 (37) |
93 (34) |
81 (27) |
67 (19) |
58 (14) |
78.7 (25.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 30 (−1) |
34 (1) |
40 (4) |
46 (8) |
55 (13) |
63 (17) |
69 (21) |
67 (19) |
59 (15) |
47 (8) |
36 (2) |
29 (−2) |
47.9 (8.8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.70 (18) |
0.90 (23) |
0.63 (16) |
0.30 (7.6) |
0.17 (4.3) |
0.08 (2.0) |
0.40 (10) |
0.44 (11) |
0.32 (8.1) |
0.26 (6.6) |
0.37 (9.4) |
0.57 (14) |
5.14 (131) |
| Source: The Weather Channel[5] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
As of the census of 2000,Template:GR there were 24,631 people, 10,153 households, and 7,127 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 82.7 people per square mile (31.9/km²). There were 11,651 housing units at an average density of 39.1 per square mile (15.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.02% White, 10.30% African American, 1.29% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.37% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races, and 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.6% of the population.
There were 10,153 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,860, and the median income for a family was $39,812. Males had a median income of $35,862 versus $21,586 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,708. About 7.3% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Transport
Pahrump is served by the Calvada Meadows Airport, a private airport. Aircraft must request permission before landing at the airport.
Art Bell
Pahrump is author and radio personality Art Bell's hometown, although he briefly took up residence in the Philippines in 2006. He is the founder of the Coast to Coast AM radio talk show, which is mainly about paranormal matters. He still hosts it on some weekends, and formerly owned KNYE, the local radio station located in Pahrump.
On the December 28, 2006 broadcast of Coast to Coast AM, Bell announced that he had moved back to Pahrump, but he later returned to the Philippines, where he resided until 2011, when he returned to Pahrump.[6] He has always hosted his broadcasts from wherever he has lived.
Ted Binion
A wealthy Las Vegas casino owner, Ted Binion, buried a large treasure of silver in a secret underground vault in Pahrump. In 1998 Binion died under suspicious circumstances and one of the parties accused of murdering Binion was apprehended while digging up the vault in Pahrump. See Ted Binion article for further details. A book about the Binion murder trial (and Las Vegas poker) is Positively Fifth Street by James McManus.
Ronald Wayne
Pahrump is the home of the third co-founder of Apple Computer, Ronald Wayne. Wayne now lives a quiet lifestyle in Pahrump selling stamps and rare coins.[7]
Film history
- In the movie Rain Man the diner scene and exterior where "Rain Man" himself counts the cards was filmed at a Pahrump bar known for rough fights.[citation needed]
- In the film Mars Attacks! Martians land in Pahrump and announce that they have "come in peace", but after a dove flies overhead they attack and kill the humans gathered there. (The scene was actually shot at Red Lake, Arizona, a dry lake bed some 20 miles outside of Kingman.)
- Season 2 of the CBS reality show The Amazing Race featured Pahrump's dry lake bed as its starting point.[citation needed]
- Pahrump was featured in the Aaron Sorkin television drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip in a two-part episode titled "Nevada Day". Part One aired November 6, 2006, and Part Two was aired a week later on November 13. The scenes, however, were set only in the town jail and a small diner across the street, and the town itself was not featured, implying that Pahrump was a much smaller town than it is.
- Pahrump was the site of the episode Motorhead of Criss Angel: MindFreak. Filmed at Spring Mountain Motor Sports Ranch, the magician made his custom designed Lamborghini disappear.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Template:Http://www.pahrumpnv.org
- ^ Town of Pahrump, NV : Town Board Members
- ^ Smith, Ethan (2008-06-13). "Michael Jackson: The Next Elvis?". The Wall Street Journal. p. W1. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
Recently the singer had been living in Pahrump, Nev., an unincorporated town 60 miles west of Las Vegas, where he had been writing new songs in a home studio and having his three children (ages 11, 10 and 6) home-schooled.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Pahrump Valley Times - Nye County's Largest Newspaper Circulation
- ^ "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Bell
- ^ "Pahrump Nevada Man Could Have Been Apple Billionaire". June 25, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
See also
- Carpenter Canyon, Carpenter Canyon road leads from Pahrump to Carpenter Canyon and Carpenter Canyon Creek
External links
36°12′31″N 116°0′43″W / 36.20861°N 116.01194°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function
Municipalities and communities of Nye County, Nevada, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated towns |  | |
| Other unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
