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Elko, Nevada

12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1955 and the latest in 1986. It stands in the Elko census division. It lies in ZIP code area 89801. It lies near Missouri Flat. The Survey maps it on the Elko West quadrangle. 20,564 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 5,066 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Elko within Elko County

On record in Elko

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 3 records

Surveyed buildings and structures 12 of 25 shown

Every surveyed structure in Elko County

Population over time

2 figures

Elko grew from 18,297 to 20,564 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201018,297
202020,564+2,267 (+12%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 12 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

8 of 61 photographs shown, 1940

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Rounding up of cattle. Elko County, Nevada
Rounding up of cattle. Elko County, Nevada
Rothstein, Arthur, 1940. Library of Congress
Rear of interstate truck. Elko, Nevada
Rear of interstate truck. Elko, Nevada
Rothstein, Arthur, 1940. Library of Congress
Trailer truck at gas station. Elko, Nevada
Trailer truck at gas station. Elko, Nevada
Rothstein, Arthur, 1940. Library of Congress
Highway U.S. 40 through Elko County, Nevada
Highway U.S. 40 through Elko County, Nevada
Rothstein, Arthur, 1940. Library of Congress
Bootmaker, Capriola Saddlery. Elko, Nevada
Bootmaker, Capriola Saddlery. Elko, Nevada
Rothstein, Arthur, 1940. Library of Congress
Cowhand tries on chaps. Capriola Saddlery, Elko, Nevada
Cowhand tries on chaps. Capriola Saddlery, Elko, Nevada
Rothstein, Arthur, 1940. Library of Congress
Horses, cattle ranch. Elko County, Nevada
Horses, cattle ranch. Elko County, Nevada
Rothstein, Arthur, 1940. Library of Congress
Stores on main street. Elko, Nevada
Stores on main street. Elko, Nevada
Rothstein, Arthur, 1940. Library of Congress

Every photograph of Elko County

Fires near this place

130 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 130 fires within 5 miles of Elko between 1992 and 2020, burning about 2,778 acres in total. 26 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined62
Natural26
Equipment and vehicle use11
Power generation/transmission/distribution7
Firearms and explosives use6
Recreation and ceremony5
Fireworks5
Misuse of fire by a minor4
Other causes2
Debris and open burning1
Smoking1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
9 September 2011Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreElko District OfficeSUNDANCE
7 September 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreNevada Division of Forestry - Northern RegionBULLION
7 September 2017Natural279 acresElko District OfficeTHE E
4 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresElko District OfficeCARWIL
4 September 2007Naturalunder an acreElko District OfficeCHIMNEY CREEK
30 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreElko District OfficeOPAL
29 September 2017Equipment and vehicle use17 acresElko District OfficeLAMOILLE SUMMIT
21 September 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreElko County Fire Protection DistrictI-80

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Elko County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 14 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 14 workings within 5 miles of Elko: 8 past producers, 4 unknowns, 1 occurrence, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Geothermal, Zeolites. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Four Mile CanyonZeolitesOccurrence
Hot HoleGeothermalUnknown
Randolph MillBarium-BaritePast Producer
Sandstone QuarryFlagstonePast Producer
Basalt QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenUnknown
Conglomerate QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenUnknown
Boehler Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Churchfield PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Elko City PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Hunter Sand and Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Elko County

Storms near this place

37 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Elko in 37 storm reports between 1993 and 2023: 18 thunderstorm wind, 9 flash flood, 5 hail, 3 tornado. The reports record 4 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 2015Dust DevilElko4 hurt, $1,000A dust devil moved across Warrior Field at Elko High School during the Relay for Life event. Five to seven tents were lifted off the ground. As the tents were lifted off the ground tables inside the tents were turned over resulting in minor injuries to 4 people.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindElko$3,000,000Scaffolding collapsed from gusty outflow winds between 50 to 55 mph. No injuries, but the roadway was blocked. Elko Airport also gusted to 51 mph and NWS Elko gusted to 49 mph. Blowing dust was also observed.
April 2018Thunderstorm WindElko$1,000,000A dry microburst produced a wind gust to 67 MPH at the NWS Elko WFO. Other minor damage in town consisted of displaced shingles and a damaged fence. Blowing dust was also observed, but did not cause any significant impacts.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindElko$10,000Thunderstorms winds uprooted a 1 foot diameter tree which fell on 3 vehicles in a hotel parking lot causing damage.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindElko$5,000Thunderstorm winds blew off the metal roof of a utility building next to the Elko Little League field. With the lack of nearby damage it was felt winds were sub-severe and the roof was probably old and flimsy.
September 2017Thunderstorm WindElko$4,000Thunderstorm winds blew power and telephone lines down. Damages are estimated.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindElko$3,000Thunderstorm winds blew a one foot diameter tree branch onto a house and blew some shingles off the roof of the Senior Center. Damages are estimated.
May 2014Tornado (EF0)Elko$2,000The tornado touched down along Aspen Way near the Post Office. It uprooted a large tree and snapped off multiple branches along Aspen Way. The tornado then moved into the Smith's parking lot where it torn off a five by twenty foot section of shingles from the car wash. It also lifted shopping carts into the air. One shopping car slammed into the back of a vehicle causing some damage.
August 2014HailElko$1,000Several reports were received of 1 to 1.25 inch hail in Elko. Pictures were sent that verified the size of the hail. NWS employee also reported tree damage and dents to vehicles along Mountain City Highway. Damages estimated.
July 2014Flash FloodElko$1,000Street flooding was reported on various streets in and around downtown Elko. Damages are estimated.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindElko$700A large limb estimated 20 feet long and 8 inches in diameter down on the Chamber of Commerce property in Elko. Also, a large tree was downed across a culvert on Cedar Street in Elko.
August 2023Flash FloodElko-Heavy rain from a thunderstorm caused an area of water approximately six to ten inches deep to run over portions of Tenth Street and Silver Street in Elko. The water covered the road and went over adjacent sidewalks.
August 2023Flash FloodElko-Heavy rain from thunderstorms produced localized flooding at the intersections of 5th and Fir Streets. Photos from the public show water 3-6 inches deep over the roadway, with some folks taking to using Kayaks for their amusement.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindElko-Downburst winds occurred at (LKN) National Weather Service Office at Elko, Elevation 5235 feet.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindElko-LMRNV, 3.4 miles SE Elko, Elevation 5786 feet.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindElko-SR-227 Lamoille Summit (EKSNV), Elevation 5786 feet.
May 2018HailElko-The public reported nickel size hail. Photos showed significant hail accumulation impacting SR 225 north of Elko, Nevada.
May 2018Flash FloodElko-Flash flooding covered parking lots in the area.
May 2018Flash FloodElko-Flooding videos and photos show flash flooding on Last Chance Road in Elko, Nevada. Possible minor road damage or erosion.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindElko-Tree damage was reported from thunderstorms winds along Bullion road in Elko.
May 2014Tornado (EF0)Elko-A photo was taken of the tornado. A storm survey was completed and the only evidence of a tornado was some debris stuck in a fence along the path of the tornado.
August 2014HailElko-Photo from social media showed hail covering the ground. Estimated hail size ranged from dimes to nickels.
September 2013Flash FloodElko-Received numerous reports and pictures from the public and NWS employees of flash flooding on many streets within the city of Elko. Estimated 1 to 2 feet of water flowing across many streets. One basement was reported flooded along with several garages. A mud slide was also reported near Adobe Summit along state route 225 north of Elko.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindElko-Thunderstorm winds ripped off the metal roof of an open-front shed near Southside Park in Elko and carried it about 50 yards.
August 2003Flash FloodElko-Flash floods washed mud and debris onto Interstate 80 closing the highway for about 3 hours.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindElko-A dry microburst produced wind gusts to 58 mph at the NWS office in Northeast Elko.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindElko-A severe thunderstorm produced a 60 mph gust at the Elko airport.
August 1993Tornado (F0)Elko-A tornado was reported by several witnesses 40 miles north of Elko.
August 2014HailElko-no account filed
July 2004Thunderstorm WindElko-no account filed
August 2003Flash FloodElko-no account filed
August 1999HailElko-no account filed
August 1999Thunderstorm WindElko-no account filed
June 1996Thunderstorm WindElko-no account filed
June 1996Thunderstorm WindElko-no account filed
July 1996Flash FloodElko-no account filed
July 1996FloodElko-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Elko County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Ballous Addition0.1 miles12
Coin4.3 miles11
Osino8.8 miles11
Hunter9.2 miles12
Ryndon11.7 miles11
Moleen11.7 miles13
Spring Creek11.9 miles10
Coral Hill (historical)13.4 miles10

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on ElkoAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q945084The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 845452. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.