Amargosa Valley, Nevada
{{Short description| Unincorporated community in the state of Nevada, United States}}
{{For|the geographic valley|Amargosa Valley}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Amargosa Valley
|settlement_type = Unincorporated town
|nickname = Valley of Faith
|motto = The Jewel of Nye County
|image_skyline = Amargosa Valley, Nevada (18013268609).jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Aerial view
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|image_map =
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = {{Start date and age|1905}}
|named_for = Amargosa River
|mapsize =
|map_caption =
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|pushpin_map = Nevada#USA
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Nevada
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Nevada
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Nye
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_sq_mi = 98.66
|area_total_km2 = 255.53
|area_land_sq_mi = 98.66
|area_land_km2 = 255.53
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
|area_water_km2 = 0.01
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_urban_km2 =
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 =
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_note =
|population_total = 1064
|population_metro =
|population_urban =
|population_density_km2 = 4.16
|population_density_sq_mi = 10.78
|coordinates = {{Coord|36|38|38|N|116|24|01|W|region:US-NV|display=inline,title}}
|timezone = PST
|utc_offset = −8
|timezone_DST = PDT
|utc_offset_DST = −7
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft = 2664
|website =
|postal_code_type = ZIP codes
|postal_code = 89020
|area_code = 775
|footnotes = Coordinates and elevation from United States Geological Survey
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 32-01000
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = 858057{{GNIS|858057}}
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|population_est =
|population_footnotes =
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}
Amargosa Valley (formerly Lathrop Wells) is an unincorporated town{{cite web|title=Nye County Code - Section 18.04.010: Formation of Town|publisher=Sterling Codifiers|url=http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=648|access-date=January 29, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225080546/http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=648|archive-date=December 25, 2016}} located on U.S. Route 95 in Nye County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.{{cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) | publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = December 12, 1980 | url ={{Gnis3|858057}} | title = Amargosa Valley | access-date = November 7, 2009}}
Description
The community is named after the Amargosa River which flows through the valley from its origination in Nevada to its terminus in Death Valley, California. Like most desert rivers, the {{convert|200|mi|km|adj=on}} long Amargosa flows on the surface only when rare rainfalls flood the desert washes, except for a {{convert|20|mi|km|adj=on}} segment near Shoshone, California, where the river flows perennially. The name Amargosa Valley is used locally with reference to the actual geographic valley, although for the most part, it is coincident with the Amargosa Desert and is noted as such on many maps.
The populated area of the Amargosa Valley is sandwiched between US 95 to the north and the California border to the south. Some of the residential streets in the community cross over into California. Much of the Nevada-California border in this area is contiguous with the boundaries of Death Valley National Park. The national park boundary extends into Nevada near Beatty, approximately {{convert|30|mi|0|abbr=on}} northwest of Amargosa Valley. Amargosa Valley is located approximately {{convert|88|mi|0|abbr=on}} northwest of Las Vegas, {{convert|35|mi|0|abbr=on}} northwest of Pahrump, and {{convert|24|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of Death Valley Junction, California.
History
The Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad ran through the valley from 1906 to 1940, for borax mining operations.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZUQZv6TK24|title=YouTube|website=www.youtube.com|access-date=24 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516140952/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZUQZv6TK24|archive-date=16 May 2016}} Modern development did not begin until the early 1950s. Electric power, other than that produced by private generators, was not available until 1963. Until the early 1990s growth in Amargosa Valley was minimal. More recently, intense growth in Las Vegas has led many new residents to settle in Amargosa Valley and nearby Pahrump.
Geography
Amargosa Valley is located at 36.58001 North, 116.44487 West at an elevation of 2,640 feet (805 m) above sea level. The landscape is typical of lower to moderate elevations in the Mojave Desert, with flat expanses of sandy soil punctuated by rocky mounds and hills. Predominant indigenous vegetation is White Bursage and Creosote Bush, with some Joshua Trees and Cacti at higher elevations. Numerous non-native plant species have also been introduced.
Demographics
{{US Census population
|2020= 1064
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}
}}
Recreation
Alien Cathouse{{cite web|url=http://www.Aliencathouse.com|title=Alien Cathouse offers legalized prostitution near Las Vegas|website=www.aliencathouse.com|access-date=24 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115042545/http://www.aliencathouse.com/|archive-date=15 January 2018}} is one of Nevada's legal brothels. It is located near the corner of U.S. 95 and SR 373. Longstreet Hotel, Casino, and RV Resort is a full-service hotel and casino with restaurants and a RV park. The hotel is located on SR 373, near the Nevada–California border. The hotel is popular with visitors to nearby Death Valley National Park. Big Dunes, popular for weekenders from all over Southern Nevada, is located on the north side of Amargosa Valley. Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge is located in the southern end of Amargosa Valley.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.amargosavalley.com/ Amargosa Valley Home Page] – privately operated commercial site; not maintained by a government entity
- [http://www.amargosalibrary.com/ Amargosa Valley Library]
{{Nye County, Nevada}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1905 establishments in Nevada
Category:Populated places established in 1905
Category:Populated places in the Mojave Desert
Category:Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad