Everything about Pahrump Nevada totally explained
Pahrump is an
unincorporated town and
census-designated place (CDP) in
Nye County,
Nevada,
United States. The population was 24,631 as of the
2000 census, making it, by far, the largest settlement in the county. A
2006 estimate by the Nevada State Demographer's Office placed the population at 36,645. The town's motto is "Heart of the New Old West". Pahrump is also the location of the closest legal
brothels to Las Vegas, including perhaps its most famous, the
Chicken Ranch.
History
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 from 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,
cotton, 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. 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 2000 residents in 1980 to almost 25,000 in 2000. Pahrump is an archetypal example of an
exurb. Almost all significant agriculture has ceased in the valley, and the surface aquifers have been filled up over the years. Pahrump has also attracted a number of interesting people, including
paranormal talk radio host
Art Bell. The Frontsight Firearms Training Academy
(External Link
) and
Spring Mountain Motor Sports Ranch are both located in Pahrump.
Similar to many communities in
Nevada, Pahrump has a "semi-incorporated"
town status, with a limited government that manages land use planning, recreation, and fire, while leaving most services to Nye County.
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.
Geography
Pahrump is located at (36.208669, -116.012071).
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.
Pahrump Valley Wilderness is in
California and isn't part of the
Pahrump Valley in Nevada.
Demographics
As of the
census of 2000, 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/sq mi (15.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.02%
White, 1.30%
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 7.6% 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.
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 also owns
KNYE, the local radio station located in Pahrump.
On the
December 28,
2006 broadcast of
Coast to Coast AM, Bell announced that he's moved back to Pahrump. His weekend show is being broadcast from his local facilities as it was before. In July 2007, Bell again announced his retirement.
In fiction
- 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.
- In the film Mars Attacks! Martians land in Pahrump and announce that they've "come in peace", but after a dove flies overhead they attack and kill the humans gathered there. (The scene was actually shot in Burns, Kansas, as was most of the film.)
- The town has been mentioned on .
- Season 2 of the CBS reality show The Amazing Race featured Pahrump's dry lake bed as its starting point.
- 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 wasn't featured, implying that Pahrump was a much smaller town than it is. The town's name was the butt of a running gag with each member of the cast snickering the first time they heard the name.
- Rush drummer Neil Peart mentions in his book Ghost Rider that he guesses that Pahrump means "soggy bottom", based on his belief that "pah" meant "water".
- Pahrump was also mentioned in the television show Las Vegas when a customer came to the Montecito and wished to go to Pahrump to visit one of the brothels. A second mention occurred in an episode where Danny promises to take a boy to visit there once he turns 18 in exchange for a horse.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Pahrump Nevada'.
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