Smith Valley, Nevada

Smith Valley is located in southwestern Lyon County at 38°49′9″N 119°21′21″W (38.819204, -119.355912),[2] occupying the valley of the same name. The valley is bordered to the west by the Pine Nut Mountains, to the north by the Buckskin Range, to the east by the Singatse Range, to the southwest by the Wellington Hills, and to the southeast by the Pine Grove Hills. The CDP occupies the western and central parts of the valley, with the western border of the CDP following the Douglas County line.

Nevada State Route 208 passes through the valley, leading northeast 23 miles (37 km) to Yerington, the Lyon county seat, and west 15 miles (24 km) to U.S. Route 395 north of Topaz Lake. State Route 338 leads south from Smith Valley 30 miles (48 km) to the California border, where State Route 182 leads an additional 14 miles (23 km) to Bridgeport, California.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Smith Valley CDP has a total area of 122.5 square miles (317.4 km²), of which 120.6 square miles (312.4 km²) are land and 1.9 square miles (5.0 km²), or 1.57%, are water.[3] The central part of the valley is drained by the West Walker River, which exits the valley to the east through Wilson Canyon. The northern part of the valley is an endorheic basin, with Artesia Lake occupying the lowest area.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,422 people, 553 households, and 419 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 11.8 people per square mile (4.6/km²). There were 610 housing units at an average density of 5.1 per square mile (2.05/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.23% White, 0.27% African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 8.01% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.37% of the population.

There were 553 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 17 living with them, 69.2% were married couples living together, 3.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $46,803, and the median income for a family was $46,625. Males had a median income of $31,574 versus $29,038 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,940. About 8.4% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Wovoka, also known as Jack Wilson, a Northern Paiute religious leader who founded the Ghost Dance movement of 1890, was born and raised in Smith Valley.

• Robin L. Titus, Republican member of the Nevada Assembly[5]

• Upper Colony Fire