Battle Mountain, Nevada

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Coordinates: 40°38′22″N 116°56′14″W / 40.63944, -116.93722
Battle Mountain, Nevada
Nickname: Armpit of America
Location of Battle Mountain, Nevada
Country	United States
State	Nevada
Government
- Senate	Dean Rhoads (R)
- Assembly	John Marvel (R)
- U.S. Congress	Dean Heller (R)
Elevation	4,511 ft (1,375 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,871
- Density	1,588.3/sq mi (613.2/km²)
Time zone	Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code	89820
Area code(s)	775
FIPS code	32-04900
GNIS feature ID	0838652

BM Hillside

Battle Mountain is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Lander County, Nevada, United States. The population was 2,871 at the 2000 census. Though it has no legal status as a municipality, it still functions as the county seat of Lander County^[1]. Its primary economic base is gold mining and to a lesser extent, legalized gaming.

"The name itself may strike the ignorant as being a place with a mischievous past, yet the land has never once seen the pain brought from warfare. The land that this town rests on has only seen the pain brought from isolation and infertility."-Chava of the Temoke Family. Battle Mountain is perhaps best known as having been designated with the dubious distinction of "armpit of America" in a 2001 Washington Post Magazine article. [1] Battle Mountain has capitalized on this notoriety by staging an annual "Old Spice Armpit Festival", starting in 2002 which has since been done away with.

Among human-powered vehicle enthusiasts, Battle Mountain is famous for hosting annual bike races on a long, straight, flat stretch of Highway 305 just outside of town. Pedaling a streamlined two-wheeler at 81.00 MPH over a 200 meter distance in 2002, Sam Whittingham established himself as "the fastest man alive". This event is known as the 'World Human Powered Speed Challenge'[2]

Also annually held on the same stretch of road is the 'Pony Express'[3], an open road event from Battle Mountain to Austin and back again. This make the longest open road race in the country, averaging a total of 130 miles. This race consists of cars from the 60's era muscle cars to the most modern European sports cars.

Battle Mountain was the temporary home of the Walls family in the autobiography The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. The Owl Motel located in Battle Mountain was used in the 2001 film Joy Ride.

1 Geography
2 Transportation
3 Demographics
4 Notable Residents
5 Famous Events
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Geography

Battle Mountain is located at 40°38′22″N, 116°56′14″W (40.639431, -116.937342)^[2].

Battle Mountain is home to two rivers; The Humboldt River and The Reese River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.7 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Transportation

Battle Mountain is located along Interstate 80. The city sits halfway between Reno, NV and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Battle Mountain is the starting point of Highway 305. Highway 305 runs north-south in the direction of Las Vegas, NV

The Union Pacific Railroad line runs through Battle Mountain.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 2,871 people, 1,053 households, and 731 families residing in the community. The population density was 1,588.3 people per square mile (612.4/km²). There were 1,455 housing units at an average density of 804.9/sq mi (310.4/km²). The racial makeup of the community was 81.30% White, 0.14% African American, 2.54% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 11.81% from other races, and 3.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.58% of the population.

There were 1,053 households out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.28.

The population is spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $42,981, and the median income for a family was $50,995. Males had a median income of $45,313 versus $25,417 for females. The per capita income for the community was $16,975. About 7.8% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Notable Residents

The Dann Sisters Carrie and Mary Dann: (Crescent Valley) Western Shoshone Activists for cultural and spiritual rights and land rights.

John Marvel: (Republican) Nevada Assembly, 1979-2005; Minority Floor Leader, 1993

Jimmy Nelson: Motocross Racer. 2006 MX2 WEST CHAMPION

Keith Andren: (New Indian Colony) Shoshone/Paiute Singer

Teresa Benitez-Thompson: Attended Battle Mountain Middle School. 2002 Miss Nevada and 3rd runner up in the 2002 Miss America Contest

Joe Marvel: 1978 World Saddle Bronc Champion.

James H. Ledlie: Union officer in the Civil War whom Ulysses S. Grant called, "the greatest coward of the war."

[edit] Famous Events

2008: Earthquake of 6.3 magnitude hits North-Eastern Nevada. One of the cities oldest historical buildings (The Lemaire Building) is left condemned.

2007: Battle Mountain is featured on MTV's reality show "Switch"

2003-2006: The Dann Sisters file a request for urgent action with the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The UN orders the US to stop all actions against the Western Shoshone people and uphold their rights.

2004: USAS adds new classes to Pony Express 130(Street Stock class and the Grand Sport 155 mph class).

2001: City dubbed Armpit of America by the Washington Post.

1992: Chiefs Frank Temoke and Frank Brady adamantly refused the government payoff at Battle Mountain, Nevada on December 11, 1992. See Treaty of Ruby Valley 1863

1979: Nevada Supreme Court rules to move the Lander County seat to Battle Mountain.

1975: "Broken Treaty at Battle Mountain" receives the San Francisco International Film Festival Bronze Reel Award and the Nyon International Film Festival 1st Prize Award.

1919: (Nevada's Red Scare) Miners hold a ten-day strike at Battle Mountain Copper Mines.

1917: President Woodrow Wilson established Battle Mountain Indian Colony by executive order (Lander).

1879: Ulysses S. Grant speaks in the town during his triumphal western speaking tour.

1874: Nevada Legislature overrides Governor’s veto and approves railroad from Austin to Battle Mountain.