Douglas County Nevada - info, facts, communities on Key to the City

If you have information about any of these unlinked communities or have a community not listed at all, please send it to us and we will add a page for that community. Some of these places above may only be neighborhoods or local area names and are not listed with the census at all or just included in a larger surrounding designated census area..

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Information & Facts about Douglas County, Nevada

Attractions & other Information - Climate - Economy - Genealogy - Geography -
Government - History - Libraries - Location - Organizations & Groups -
Other Facts & Figures - Population - Schools

Government

Douglas County official website

Douglas County Commissioners
1594 Esmeralda Ave
Minden, NV 89423-4004
Phone: 702-782-9821

Douglas County Clerk
1594 Esmeralda Ave # 105
Minden, NV 89423-4004
Phone: 702-782-9020

Douglas County Information
Gardnerville, NV 89410
Phone: 702-782-9824

the county operates under a commission-manager form of government. There are five commissioners who areelected for a term of four years each.

The towns of Minden (County seat), Gardnerville and Genoa are unincorporated. The County is the determining level of authority.

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Population:

1990 - 27,637
2000 - 41,259
2001 - 43,450
2002 - 44,212
2003 - 45,603
2004 - 46,296
2005 - 50,108 (estimate)

Population Density
2000 - 58 persons per square mile

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Location:

Douglas County is located in the northwestern part of the state of Nevada and contains half of Lake Tahoe.

Bordering areas:
West - El Dorado County, California
Northwest - Placer County, California
Southeast - Mono County, California

East - Lyon County
North - Carson City
South - Alpine County, California

The Carson Valley is accessible via four lane Highway 395; just 15 miles South of Carson City, the State Capital, and a short 15-minute drive from Lake Tahoe.

Here is a map page for the area

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Climate:

The gneral climate is arid with warm summers, moderate winters and cool night temperatures year-round.
The area has over 295 days of sunshine each year.

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Other Facts and Figures:

Per capita income
1990 - $27,288
1998 - $38,263
2002 - $40,997

Median household income
2000 - $51,849

Median family income
2000 - $57,092

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History:

Settlement came to the area starting around 1850 when a number of trading posts were established to aid the numerous small ranches, famrs and communities nearby. Genoa was originally knkown as Mormon Station and is thought to be the oldest of these little communities. It was settled in 1851.

The county was formed on 25 November 1861 as one of the first nine counties created by the Territorial legistlature. The county seat was named as Genoa. When the territory became a state on 31 October 1864, the county was retained. It was named for Stephen A. Douglas who ran for U.S. President in 1860 against Abraham Lincoln. The courthouse in Genoa was severely damaged by fire in 1910. The population of Genoa began to decline around the same time period. The community of Minden also began more growth around the same time. Consequently, the state legislature changed the location of the county seat in 1915 to Minden.

The boundaries of the county have only been re-aligned twice. Once between Douglas and Ormsby County (currently Carson City) in 1965 and also with Lyon County in 1967..

Douglas County Ghost Towns

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Geography:

Total area: 738 square miles
Total land area: 710 square miles
Total water area: 28 square miles

Elevation:
low - 4,625 feet above sea level on the valley floor
high - 9,500 feet at East Peak

Included within the County's boundaries are portions of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, Lake Tahoe, Topaz Lake, and the Carson and Walker Rivers.

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Genealogy:

Douglas County GenWeb page
US GenNet page for Douglas County

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Libraries:

Douglas County Public Library
Minden Library at 775-782-9841 or the
Lake Tahoe Branch Library at 775-588-6411.

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Schools:

Douglas County Schools
1638 Mono Avenue
P.O. Box 1888
Minden, NV 89423
Phone: 775-782-5134
Fax: 775-782-3162

Western Nevada Community College
Information: 775-445-3000

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Economy:

The state of Nevada has no personal state income tax, no unitary tax, no corporate income tax, no inventory tax, no estate and/or gift tax, no franchise tax, no inheritance tax and no special intangible tax.

As of 2006, no county or city business license is required within Douglas County as it operates as a county run government

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Organizations & Groups

Carson Valley Visitors Authority & Chamber of Commerce

Lake Tahoe-Douglas County Chamber

Douglas County Historical Society

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Attractions & Other Information

Douglas County has nine parks and a wide variety of recreational activities to enjoy. Parks include: Kahle Community Park, Zephyr Cove Park, George Brautovich Park, Johnson Lane Park, Lampe Park, Ranchos Aspen Park, Topaz Lake Campground, Topaz Ranch Estates Park and Stodick Park.

The Douglas County Parks and Recreation also operates and maintains the following recreation facilities: Douglas County Fairgrounds, Carson Valley Skate Facility/BMX Track, Model Airplane Complex, Topaz Lake Park and the Douglas County Shooting Facility.

Record Courier Newspaper

Genoa Courthouse Museum
2304 Main Street,
Genoa, NV
Phone: 775-782-4325
Exhibits focus on earliest settlers, Washoe Indians and the original courtroom and jail.

Mormon Station
2295 Main Street,
Genoa, Nevada
Phone: 775-782-2590
A trading post established during the California Gold Rush and first permanent settlement in Nevada. Museum and stockade exhibits.

Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center
1477 Highway 395,
Gardnerville, Nevada
775-782-2555
Housed in an historic 1912 building featuring Carson Valley history, American Indian to present with focus on Washoe, Basques, ranching and daily life.

Douglas County Parks and Recreation Department
Divine Nine Carson Area Golf Courses

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This page was last updated on 13 June 2012 at 8:32 pm

This page was created 27 November 2001

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