Fallon, Nevada

The community was first populated during the California Gold Rush, because multiple would-be Forty-niners stopped after crossing the Carson River.[7]

The town and post office were established on July 24, 1896 in a little shack belonging to Michael Fallon and Eliza Fallon,[8] who operated a ranch at the site.[9] Shortly afterwards, Jim Richards later operated a store near the post office.[10]

The town was officially incorporated in 1908.[10]

On June 16, 2019, downtown Fallon was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[11]

Fallon is located in western Churchill County at the geographic coordinates 39°28′22″N 118°46′44″W (39.472792, -118.778826).[12] It is in the Lahontan Valley, a former lakebed into which flows the Carson River, which passes north of the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Fallon has a total area of 3.65 square miles (9.45 km²), of which 3.63 square miles (9.41 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km²), or 0.49%, is water.[5]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile (954.0/km²). There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile (422.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.5% White, 2.0% African American, 3.0% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.9% of the population.

There were 3,004 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,935, and the median income for a family was $41,433. Males had a median income of $35,356 versus $22,818 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,919. About 9.5% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

The city is served by the Churchill County School District. Churchill County High School is the main high school and also caters to students in rural areas outside the city. Western Nevada College has a campus in Fallon.

Fallon has a public library, the Churchill County Library.[14]

Fallon experiences a cold desert climate, with hot summers and cold winters. Due to Fallon's elevation and aridity, the diurnal temperature variation is quite substantial, especially in the summer months. Fallon's climate is quite dry, due to its location in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada. Summer days can be hot, but temperatures are cooler than in deserts such as the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts, due to Fallon's altitude and higher latitude north of the equator. In the winter, daytime temperatures are usually above freezing, but nights can be bitterly cold. Fallon can experience heavy fog in winter, known as pogonip.

Climate data below were accessed via the Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC) on 24 June 2020.[15]

Los Alamos National Laboratory, in conjunction with the Department of Defense, conducted an underground nuclear test 28 miles (45 km) southeast of Fallon at 5 p.m. on October 26, 1963. Named Project Shoal, the 12.5-kiloton detonation was part of the Vela Uniform program. The device exploded at a depth of 1,205 feet (367 m) below ground surface.[18] The site is located in Gote Flat in the Sand Springs Range.

Access to the Project Shoal Area is unrestricted.[18] Access to the area is by Highway 50, Nevada Highway 839, then to an improved gravel road to the site.

• The Wizard, starring Fred Savage and Beau Bridges, was shot in and around Fallon.
• The Go-Getter, starring Zooey Deschanel and Jena Malone, mentions Fallon many times and even brings up Fallon's annual Heart 'O Gold Cantaloupe Festival. Malone's character lives in Fallon, and parts of the movie were filmed in and around Fallon.[19]
• Fallon is mentioned in The Stand by Stephen King.

• Fallon Municipal Airport
• Salmon Creek Railroad
• Spirit Cave mummy
• Federal Building and Post Office (Fallon, Nevada)

• Steinmaus, C., M. Lu, R.L. Todd, A.H. Smith. Probability estimates for the unique childhood leukemia cluster in Fallon, Nevada, and risks near other U.S. military aviation facilities. Environmental Health Perspectives. 112(6): 766–771. May 2004.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fallon, Nevada.

• City of Fallon official website
• Fallon Chamber of Commerce
• Fallon business
• Grimes Point Trail (Bureau of Land Management), with pictures of the carvings