Coordinates: 40°39′6″N 119°21′19″W / 40.65167°N 119.35528°W / 40.65167; -119.35528

Gerlach, Nevada

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Gerlach, Nevada
Census-designated place
Location of Gerlach, Nevada
Location of Gerlach, Nevada
Gerlach is located in Nevada
Gerlach
Gerlach
Gerlach is located in the United States
Gerlach
Gerlach
Coordinates: 40°39′6″N 119°21′19″W / 40.65167°N 119.35528°W / 40.65167; -119.35528[1]
CountryUnited States
StateNevada
Area
[2]
 • Total3.13 sq mi (8.09 km2)
 • Land3.13 sq mi (8.09 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[1]
3,944 ft (1,202 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total130
 • Density41.60/sq mi (16.06/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code
89412
Area code775
FIPS code32-27300
GNIS feature ID845471[1]
Website
Reference no.152

Gerlach, Nevada is a census-designated place (CDP) in Washoe County, Nevada, United States.[1] The population was 130 at the 2020 census.[3] It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. Prior to 2010, Gerlach was part of the Gerlach–Empire census-designated place. The town of Empire is now a separate CDP. The next nearest town, Nixon, is 60 miles (100 km) to the south on a reservation owned by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. The Fly Geyser is located near Gerlach.

History

Gerlach was founded in 1906[4] during the construction[5] of the Western Pacific Railroad Feather River Route.

Gerlach was named for the Gerlach Land and Cattle Company,[6] owned by Louis Gerlach.[7]

In 1997, the town and its homes and bars were used by the British team of the Thrust SSC supersonic car, as they pursued their goal of being the first to go faster than the speed of sound, which was achieved on October 15, 1997. The record still stands today. The Black Rock Saloon in the town kept track of the progress, given at the same time, Craig Breedlove attempted his own pursuit of the sound barrier. In 2017, several members of the former Thrust team revisited Gerlach for a reunion to mark the 20th anniversary.[8]

In 2009, the Space Chair was lofted to near space north of Gerlach.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Gerlach CDP has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2), all land.[9] Its elevation is 3,944 ft (1,202 m).[1] Gerlach is approximately 100 miles (160 km) north of Reno, Nevada.[10]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2010206—
2020130−36.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

Climate

Gerlach has a steppe climate (Bsk).

Climate data for Gerlach, Nevada, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–2019
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 67
(19) 		70
(21) 		83
(28) 		91
(33) 		99
(37) 		104
(40) 		112
(44) 		106
(41) 		106
(41) 		98
(37) 		76
(24) 		64
(18) 		112
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 56.4
(13.6) 		62.0
(16.7) 		71.8
(22.1) 		80.7
(27.1) 		89.7
(32.1) 		97.4
(36.3) 		102.0
(38.9) 		100.3
(37.9) 		94.7
(34.8) 		84.9
(29.4) 		68.2
(20.1) 		56.5
(13.6) 		101.9
(38.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 43.6
(6.4) 		50.1
(10.1) 		58.5
(14.7) 		65.6
(18.7) 		74.8
(23.8) 		85.0
(29.4) 		94.8
(34.9) 		93.0
(33.9) 		83.9
(28.8) 		69.5
(20.8) 		53.8
(12.1) 		42.7
(5.9) 		67.9
(20.0)
Daily mean °F (°C) 33.8
(1.0) 		38.9
(3.8) 		45.7
(7.6) 		51.4
(10.8) 		60.4
(15.8) 		69.5
(20.8) 		78.2
(25.7) 		75.9
(24.4) 		66.6
(19.2) 		53.8
(12.1) 		41.1
(5.1) 		32.2
(0.1) 		54.0
(12.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 24.1
(−4.4) 		27.7
(−2.4) 		32.8
(0.4) 		37.3
(2.9) 		45.9
(7.7) 		54.1
(12.3) 		61.6
(16.4) 		58.9
(14.9) 		49.3
(9.6) 		38.1
(3.4) 		28.4
(−2.0) 		21.8
(−5.7) 		40.0
(4.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 6.8
(−14.0) 		12.4
(−10.9) 		18.4
(−7.6) 		23.6
(−4.7) 		31.7
(−0.2) 		39.4
(4.1) 		49.1
(9.5) 		46.7
(8.2) 		35.6
(2.0) 		23.4
(−4.8) 		14.5
(−9.7) 		5.3
(−14.8) 		0.5
(−17.5)
Record low °F (°C) −22
(−30) 		−13
(−25) 		2
(−17) 		14
(−10) 		24
(−4) 		32
(0) 		37
(3) 		32
(0) 		25
(−4) 		13
(−11) 		−2
(−19) 		−30
(−34) 		−30
(−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.07
(27) 		0.73
(19) 		0.85
(22) 		0.61
(15) 		1.01
(26) 		0.60
(15) 		0.29
(7.4) 		0.14
(3.6) 		0.27
(6.9) 		0.54
(14) 		0.69
(18) 		0.99
(25) 		7.79
(198.9)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 3.3
(8.4) 		1.4
(3.6) 		1.4
(3.6) 		0.5
(1.3) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		1.5
(3.8) 		4.9
(12) 		13.0
(33)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 7.3 6.4 6.1 5.1 5.3 3.6 1.8 1.4 2.0 3.9 5.1 6.4 54.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 1.9 1.2 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.9 1.9 7.2
Source 1: NOAA[12]
Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima and minima 1948–2019)[13]

Economy

The economy of Gerlach focuses on tourism in the nearby Black Rock Desert, and hunting. Gypsum mining was the historic staple of the local economy. Nearby Empire was a company town of the United States Gypsum Corporation (USG) until the plant closed on January 31, 2011, eliminating 95 jobs.[14][15] In 2016, the town of Empire was purchased by the Empire Mining Company, who have re-opened gypsum mining operations, and have begun to rehabilitate the houses in town.[16]

The other major industries are a Union Pacific switching station in Gerlach and public services of Washoe County, which includes its roads department and a K–12 public school owned by the Washoe County School District; the future of the Gerlach K–12 School is uncertain, as it is estimated after the gypsum plant closed in 2011, only around a dozen children remained in Gerlach.[14] Many of the inhabitants of Gerlach are elderly retirees. Many people in Gerlach also have small private businesses. Many businesses are Internet-based, due to the town's remote Nevada location. Hunters from all over the west travel to Gerlach to hunt a wide variety of game such as chukar, geese, deer, antelope, etc.

Since 1990, Burning Man, a week-long countercultural festival attended by 68,000[17] (as of 2013), has been held nearby. The event is responsible for around 25% of the yearly sales at the few commercial establishments in the area, which include the closest permanent fuel and grocery stops to the Burning Man event site. As of 2023, the Burning Man Project owned about half the commercial property in Gerlach.[18] The Black Rock Desert is also the site of many other recreational activities throughout the year.[19]

Government

Gerlach previously had a volunteer fire department, but in 2015 the entire department resigned. The county had plans to establish fire services.[20]

Transportation

Primary highway access to Gerlach is provided by State Route 447. It can also be accessed via three former state highways: State Route 34, State Route 48, and State Route 49 (also known as Jungo Road).

Gerlach has an airfield, simply a graded dirt strip, which is no longer usable. It should not be used unless under emergency.

The California Zephyr inter-city rail service was routed through Gerlach from its inception in 1949 until the end of its pre-Amtrak incarnation in 1970, providing direct service from Oakland, California to Chicago.

The Gerlach Water Tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Gerlach was one of the film locations for the film Far From Home (1989). Gerlach was also the site for Gary Cooper's first (credited) film, The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926).[21]

Media

Gerlach has two non-profit community-based radio stations. KFBR 91.5 [22] was run by Friends of Black Rock/High Rock,.[22] In 2022, KFBR was sold to the Burning Man Project for $6000.[23] KLAP[24] 89.5 is run by Open Sky Radio Corp and broadcast from a studio located at 395 Main Street in the old Gerlach Gas Station and Garage Building Office.[25]

Education

Washoe County School District operates Gerlach K-12 School.[26]

Ernest M. Johnson School, initially an elementary school in Empire, moved to the Gerlach High School site in Gerlach in 2001.[27] By 2000 the school's address was already in Gerlach.[28] Johnson became a K-12 school in 2011.[29]

Gerlach High, a grade 6-12 school,[30] opened in 1931, and got a new building in 1955 as the original building was destroyed by a fire.[31] The fire occurred in January 1955.[32]

Gerlach has a public library, a branch of the Washoe County Library System, on the school property.[33]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Gerlach, Nevada
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  3. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  4. ^ Carlson, Helen S. (January 1, 1974). Nevada Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary. University of Nevada Press. p. 119. ISBN 9780874170948. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  5. ^ "Gerlach". Nevada State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved April 12, 2020. State Historical Marker No. 152.
  6. ^ Origin of Place Names: Nevada (PDF) (Report). The Nevada State Writers' Project, Division of Community Service Programs, Work Projects Administration. 1941. p. 70. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Carlson, Helen Swisher (1959). Nevada Place Names: Origin and Meaning (Thesis). University of New Mexico ProQuest Dissertations Publisher. p. 177. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Kane, Jenny Kane and Jenny. "Brits that broke land speed record return to Black Rock Desert". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  9. ^ "Census - Geography Profile". Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  10. ^ Oliver Roeder (February 8, 2017). "The Darkest Town In America". FiveThirtyEight.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  11. ^ "Explore Census Data (Gerlach CDP, Nevada)". Census.gov. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  13. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Huffington Post: "Empire, Nevada Completely Wiped Out By Recession", June 22, 2011.
  15. ^ Bruder, Jessica (June 11, 2011). "Slump in construction industry creates a Sheetrock ghost town". The Christian Science Monitor. Yahoo! News. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  16. ^ "SOLD: $11.38M quasi-ghost town in Burning Man's backyard". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  17. ^ "Burning Man event in the Nevada desert at the Black Rock dry lake bed tops 61,000 attendees". Associated Press. August 31, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  18. ^ Solis, Jeniffer (April 13, 2023). "Washoe County puts Gerlach geothermal project on ice". Nevada Current. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  19. ^ Fulbright, Leslie (August 28, 2005), "A warmer welcome, Residents of small Nevada town profit from annual countercultural festival", San Francisco Chronicle
  20. ^ Kane, Jenny (December 29, 2015). "Gerlach's entire volunteer fire department resigns". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  21. ^ "The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926) - IMDb". IMDb.
  22. ^ a b "Home". Friends of Black Rock High Rock. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  23. ^ Jacobson, Adam (December 9, 2022). "A Burning Desire for an FM Is Fulfilled". rbr.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  24. ^ "KLAP". www.klap.fm. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  25. ^ Glionna, John M. (September 24, 2019). "He was 'goofy and innocent and often annoying,' but he inspired a tough town to celebrate eccentricities". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  26. ^ "Gerlach K-12 School". Washoe County School District. Retrieved March 20, 2021. Welcome to the Gerlach K-12 School! [...] serving the communities of Gerlach and Empire.
  27. ^ "A History of Schools" (PDF). Washoe County School District. p. 81. Retrieved March 19, 2021. - Despite the statement about the Gerlach campus opening in 2003, it states the addition was built in 2001 and the Johnson School address changed to Gerlach, NV by 2001
  28. ^ "Elementary Schools". Washoe County School District. August 23, 2000. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  29. ^ "A History of Schools" (PDF). Washoe County School District. p. 237. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  30. ^ "High Schools". Washoe County School District. April 24, 2001. Archived from the original on April 24, 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  31. ^ "A History of Schools" (PDF). Washoe County School District. p. 195. Retrieved March 19, 2021. - The document states the fire occurred in 1954 but this is contradicted by the newspaper article.
  32. ^ "Gerlach's Only School Building is Destroyed by Early Morning Fire". Nevada State Journal. January 12, 1955. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  33. ^ "Gerlach Community Library". Washoe County Library System. Retrieved March 21, 2021.

Media related to Gerlach, Nevada at Wikimedia Commons

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