Ormsby County was a county in Nevada Territory from 1861 to 1864 and in the State of Nevada from 1864 until 1969. It contained Carson City, the county seat, and later, the state capital, founded two years earlier.

Ormsby County
County of Nevada
1861–1969
Flag of
Flag

1861 map of Nevada Territory, with Ormsby County highlighted
CapitalCarson City
Population 
• 1870
3,668
• 1960
8,063
History 
• Established
25 November 1861
• Merged
1 April 1969
Contained within
 • CountryUnited States
 • TerritoryNevada Territory (1861–1864)
 • StateNevada (1864–1969)
Succeeded by
Carson City

Name

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It was named after Major William Ormsby, one of the original settlers of Carson City, killed along with seventy-five other men in 1860, in an unsuccessful attempt to subdue a perceived uprising of Paiute people near Pyramid Lake, Nevada, which was at the time part of Utah Territory.[1]

History

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Ormsby County Courthouse in Carson City.

Ormsby County was established in 1861 with creation of Nevada Territory. The county's population dwindled significantly after the gold rush days. By the late 1940s, it was little more than Carson City and a few surrounding hamlets to the west. By the 1960 census, all but 2,900 of the county's 8,300 residents lived in Carson City. Discussions began about merging Carson City with Ormsby County after World War II. However, the effort never got beyond the planning stages until 1966, when a statewide referendum formally approved the merger. The required constitutional amendment was passed in 1968. On April 1, 1969, Ormsby County and Carson City officially merged as the Consolidated Municipality of Carson City.[2]

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Ormsby County, Nevada[3]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1968 3,169 56.58% 1,770 31.60% 662 11.82%
1964 1,997 48.40% 2,129 51.60% 0 0.00%
1960 1,946 60.27% 1,283 39.73% 0 0.00%
1956 1,749 68.03% 822 31.97% 0 0.00%
1952 1,653 74.06% 579 25.94% 0 0.00%
1948 1,095 60.80% 681 37.81% 25 1.39%
1944 841 55.84% 665 44.16% 0 0.00%
1940 748 48.79% 785 51.21% 0 0.00%
1936 533 41.71% 745 58.29% 0 0.00%
1932 486 45.63% 579 54.37% 0 0.00%
1928 590 58.07% 426 41.93% 0 0.00%
1924 413 44.31% 415 44.53% 104 11.16%
1920 592 57.81% 413 40.33% 19 1.86%
1916 534 43.52% 610 49.71% 83 6.76%
1912 150 22.22% 294 43.56% 231 34.22%
1908 350 46.60% 343 45.67% 58 7.72%
1904 409 60.15% 218 32.06% 53 7.79%
1900 311 43.80% 399 56.20% 0 0.00%
1896 284 33.41% 550 64.71% 16 1.88%
1892 417 48.38% 31 3.60% 414 48.03%
1888 570 61.69% 354 38.31% 0 0.00%
1884 537 61.58% 335 38.42% 0 0.00%
1880 624 57.99% 452 42.01% 0 0.00%
1876 844 62.52% 506 37.48% 0 0.00%
1872 514 62.38% 310 37.62% 0 0.00%
1868 500 54.35% 420 45.65% 0 0.00%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Carson City Essay—Three Historic Nevada Cities: Carson City, Reno and Virginia City—A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary". National Park Service. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  2. ^ "About Carson City". Carson City. May 29, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  3. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.

39°09′53″N 119°46′35″W / 39.16472°N 119.77639°W / 39.16472; -119.77639