Editing Wells, Nevada

{{short description|City in Nevada, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Wells, Nevada
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = 2012-10-20 View of Wells in Nevada from Angel Lake Road (Nevada State Route 231).jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Wells, Nevada
<!-- Maps -->| image_blank_emblem = WellsNVlogo.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 130px
| image_map          = Elko County Nevada Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Wells Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Elko County in Nevada<br>and location of Wells in Elko County
<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Nevada]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Nevada|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Elko County, Nevada|Elko]]
| pushpin_map        = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the [[United States]]
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 19, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 17.88
| area_land_km2      = 17.88
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 6.90
| area_land_sq_mi    = 6.90
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 1237
| population_density_km2 = 69.18
| population_density_sq_mi = 179.17
<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 5633
| coordinates        = {{coord|41|07|12|N|114|58|02|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 89835
| area_code          = [[Area code 775|775]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 32-83000
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 845730<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|845730}}</ref>
| website            = https://cityofwellsnv.com
| footnotes          = <!-- Registry designation -->
{{designation list|embed=yes|designation1=Nevada Historical Marker|designation1_offname=Humboldt Wells|designation1_number=45}}
}}

'''Wells''' is a small city in [[Elko County, Nevada|Elko County]], in northeast [[Nevada]] in the western United States. The population was 1,292 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]. Wells is located at the junction of [[Interstate 80 in Nevada|Interstate 80]] and [[U.S. Route 93 in Nevada|U.S. Route 93]], approximately {{convert|50|mi|km}} east of [[Elko, Nevada|Elko]] and is part of the [[Elko, Nevada micropolitan area|Elko micropolitan area]].

==History==
The site of Wells began as a place called '''Humboldt Wells''' along the trail to California.<ref>{{cite book | url=http://dwgateway.library.unr.edu/keck/histtopoNV/Origin_of_Place_Names_Files/1941NevadaOriginofNames-pt1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171723/http://dwgateway.library.unr.edu/keck/histtopoNV/Origin_of_Place_Names_Files/1941NevadaOriginofNames-pt1.pdf |archive-date=2018-04-09 |url-status=live | title=Origin of Place Names: Nevada | publisher=W.P.A. | author=Federal Writers' Project | year=1941 | pages=30}}</ref> It was subsequently founded as a railroad town along the original [[First transcontinental railroad|Transcontinental Railroad]], and was once a stopover for passenger trains. The [[Humboldt River]] has its source in springs and a swampy area just west of the city that today is called Humboldt Wells. In 1877, Humboldt Wells was burning down, and in a frantic plea for help, a telegraph was sent that said, "Wells is burning". After this the town was rebuilt and simply referred to as 'Wells'.
[[File:Humboldt River Papa 2.jpg|left|thumb|An encampment of tents and covered wagons on the [[California Trail]] along the [[Humboldt River]], 1859, at a location near present-day Wells, Nevada. Digitally restored.]]

A [[Independence Valley fault system|magnitude 6.0 earthquake]] occurred near Wells at 6:16 A.M. on February 21, 2008. Because of its proximity to the [[epicenter]], Wells experienced significant damage. The earthquake originated {{convert|5.6|mi|km}} below the surface, with its epicenter only {{convert|12|mi|km}} distant from Wells, at 41.077 N, 114.752 W.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2008/us2008nsa9/|title=Wells Quake - USGS |publisher=Earthquake.usgs.gov|access-date=September 12, 2013}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:2012-10-20 View east along Nevada State Route 223 (6th Street) near Wells Avenue in Wells, Nevada.jpg|thumb|Downtown Wells]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|6.9|sqmi}}, all land, at an elevation of {{convert|5630|ft}}.

Wells is located by the intersection of [[Interstate 80 in Nevada|Interstate 80]] and [[U.S. Route 93 in Nevada|U.S. Route 93]].

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Wells, Nevada, 1991–2020 normals, 1895-2020 extremes: {{convert|5700|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high F = 62
|Feb record high F = 67
|Mar record high F = 77
|Apr record high F = 83
|May record high F = 94
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 103
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 86
|Nov record high F = 76
|Dec record high F = 75
|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 49.3
|Feb avg record high F = 53.1
|Mar avg record high F = 66.5
|Apr avg record high F = 75.1
|May avg record high F = 82.8
|Jun avg record high F = 90.4
|Jul avg record high F = 96.1
|Aug avg record high F = 94.0
|Sep avg record high F = 87.9
|Oct avg record high F = 78.5
|Nov avg record high F = 62.9
|Dec avg record high F = 50.1
|year avg record high F = 90.4

|Jan high F = 35.8
|Feb high F = 39.4
|Mar high F = 49.7
|Apr high F = 56.9
|May high F = 66.6
|Jun high F = 77.3
|Jul high F = 87.8
|Aug high F = 85.7
|Sep high F = 75.8
|Oct high F = 61.9
|Nov high F = 47.2
|Dec high F = 37.0
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 23.8
|Feb mean F = 28.2
|Mar mean F = 36.6
|Apr mean F = 42.5
|May mean F = 50.9
|Jun mean F = 59.4
|Jul mean F = 68.8
|Aug mean F = 66.7
|Sep mean F = 57.3
|Oct mean F = 44.9
|Nov mean F = 33.5
|Dec mean F = 24.7
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 11.9
|Feb low F = 17.0
|Mar low F = 23.5
|Apr low F = 28.1
|May low F = 35.3
|Jun low F = 41.5
|Jul low F = 49.9
|Aug low F = 47.7
|Sep low F = 38.8
|Oct low F = 27.8
|Nov low F = 19.8
|Dec low F = 12.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F=  -6.3
|Feb avg record low F=  -4.1
|Mar avg record low F=  6.2
|Apr avg record low F =  13.7
|May avg record low F =  21.3
|Jun avg record low F =  29.1
|Jul avg record low F =  36.7
|Aug avg record low F =  35.7
|Sep avg record low F =  24.0
|Oct avg record low F =  9.8
|Nov avg record low F =  -1.3
|Dec avg record low F =  -6.8
|year avg record low F = -10.6

|Jan record low F = −29
|Feb record low F = −32
|Mar record low F = −19
|Apr record low F = 4
|May record low F = 5
|Jun record low F = 16
|Jul record low F = 28
|Aug record low F = 21
|Sep record low F = 6
|Oct record low F = -1
|Nov record low F = -23
|Dec record low F = −36
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.84
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.70
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.78
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.13
|May precipitation inch = 1.15
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.62
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.38
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.28
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.76
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.65
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.88
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.96
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 6.5
|Feb snow inch = 8.0
|Mar snow inch = 5.5
|Apr snow inch = 2.7
|May snow inch = 0.4
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.1
|Oct snow inch = 0.8
|Nov snow inch = 5.5
|Dec snow inch = 11.9
|year snow inch =

|source 1 = NOAA (1981-2010 snowfall)<ref name = NOAA1>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00268988&format=pdf
|title = Wells, Nevada 1991-2020 Monthly Normals 
|access-date = November 11, 2023
}}
</ref><ref name = NOAA2>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00268988&format=pdf
|title = Wells, Nevada 1981-2010 Monthly Normals 
|access-date = November 11, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = XMACIS2 (records)<ref name = XMACIS2>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS
|access-date = November 11, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 243
|1890= 254
|1900= 440
|1910= 598
|1920= 521
|1930= 655
|1940= 830
|1950= 947
|1960= 1071
|1970= 1081
|1980= 1218
|1990= 1256
|2000= 1346
|2010= 1292
|2020= 1237
|footnote=source:<ref>Moffatt, Riley.  ''Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990''. [[Lanham, Maryland|Lanham]]: Scarecrow, 1996, 159.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2007-32.csv|title=Subcounty population estimates: Nevada 2000-2007|format=[[Comma-separated values|CSV]]|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division|date=March 18, 2009|access-date=May 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331141911/http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2007-32.csv <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-05-14|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,346 people, 525 households, and 352 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|195.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 633 housing units at an average density of {{convert|92.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 80.24% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.76% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.30% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.15% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 9.06% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.49% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 19.47% of the population.

There were 525 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% 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 3.14.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,870, and the median income for a family was $41,827. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,852 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,835. About 8.6% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Public education in Wells is administered by Elko County School District. The district operates one elementary school and [[Wells High School (Wells, Nevada)|Wells High School]].

Wells has a [[public library]], a branch of the Elko-Lander-Eureka County Library System.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://publiclibraries.com/state/nevada/ | title=Nevada Public Libraries | publisher=PublicLibraries.com | access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Mae Caine]], suffragist and women's rights activist, civic leader, and government official<ref>Reno, Mona. “[https://suffrage100nv.org/suffragist-biographies/mae-caine/ Mae Caine],” in “Nevada Women’s History Project.” Reno, Nevada: Nevada Suffrage Centennial, retrieved online June 18, 2021.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.wellsnevada.com/ Wells Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.elkocountynv.net/ Elko County]
* [http://www.elkocountylibrary.org/wellsbranch.htm Wells Branch Library]
* [http://outbacknv.us/howh/HumboldtWells.html Early history and photos]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110412212531/http://www.elko.k12.nv.us/wells/ Wells High School]
{{wikivoyage inline|Wells (Nevada)|Wells}}

{{Elko County, Nevada}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Elko County, Nevada]]
[[Category:Cities in Nevada]]
[[Category:Elko, Nevada micropolitan area]]