Alamo, Nevada

Alamo is an unincorporated town[1] in Lincoln County, Nevada, United States, about 90 miles (140 km) north of Las Vegas along U.S. Route 93. Its elevation is 3,449 feet (1,051 m). As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,080.[2]

Alamo, Nevada
Unincorporated town
Alamo Show map of Nevada Alamo Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 37°21′54″N 115°09′52″W
Country	United States
State	Nevada
County	Lincoln
Area
• Total	30.3 sq mi (78.4 km^2)
• Land	30.3 sq mi (78.4 km^2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km^2)
Elevation	3,449 ft (1,051 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,080
• Density	36/sq mi (14/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	89001
FIPS code	32-00500
GNIS feature ID	0845339

History

A post office has been in operation at Alamo since 1905.[3] The community was named in commemoration of the Battle of the Alamo.[4] A large share of the first settlers were Mormons.[5]

Geography

Alamo lies in the Pahranagat Valley. Its economy is dependent primarily upon ranching. The closest attraction is the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.[6]

Between Alamo and the town of Rachel is the site of the Devonian Alamo Impact Breccia.[7]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Alamo census-designated place has an area of 30.3 square miles (78.4 km²), all of it land.[2]

Shop near Alamo

Tourism

Alamo attracts tourists and truckers traveling from Las Vegas to northern Nevada and Idaho. Attractions include the nearby warm springs, wildlife refuge, Extraterrestrial Highway and Area 51. Gas stations in Alamo cater to these tourists by offering alien memorabilia. There are two truck stops, the Alamo Sinclair, the Ash Springs Shell, that offer large diesel filling areas to attract passing truckers. There are also four motels in Alamo, the Alamo Inn, Sunset View Inn, Windmill Ridge, and A Cowboy's Dream.

Transportation

• Alamo Landing Field

Education

Public education is provided by the Lincoln County School District, with offices in Panaca, Nevada. There are three schools in the valley.

School	Grades
Pahranagat Valley Elementary School	K–5
Pahranagat Valley Middle School	6-8
Pahranagat Valley High School	9-12

Religion

There are three different religious denominations with churches in Alamo:

• Christian Bible Fellowship Church
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who were early settlers of this area
• Trinity Assembly of God

Services

Alamo has a police force, a volunteer fire department, phone and internet services, a medical clinic, and a public library. Nevada Bank and Trust offers financial services to residents. Alamo's first radio station, KQLN 91.3 FM, went on the air on November 17, 2010, but the station's license was cancelled at licensee's request, effective on July 2, 2013.

Climate

Climate data for Alamo, Nevada (Elevation 3,449ft)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	76 (24)	83 (28)	85 (29)	95 (35)	105 (41)	112 (44)	114 (46)	116 (47)	108 (42)	100 (38)	86 (30)	76 (24)	116 (47)
Average high °F (°C)	51.2 (10.7)	56.3 (13.5)	64.5 (18.1)	74.4 (23.6)	82.9 (28.3)	93.1 (33.9)	100.1 (37.8)	96.5 (35.8)	90.3 (32.4)	77.9 (25.5)	64.2 (17.9)	54.2 (12.3)	75.5 (24.2)
Average low °F (°C)	21.2 (−6.0)	25.4 (−3.7)	29.6 (−1.3)	36.6 (2.6)	42.9 (6.1)	49.8 (9.9)	57.3 (14.1)	55.5 (13.1)	46.3 (7.9)	37.5 (3.1)	28.3 (−2.1)	23.7 (−4.6)	37.9 (3.3)
Record low °F (°C)	−9 (−23)	−6 (−21)	11 (−12)	14 (−10)	20 (−7)	25 (−4)	40 (4)	33 (1)	24 (−4)	11 (−12)	7 (−14)	0 (−18)	−9 (−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.65 (17)	0.64 (16)	0.69 (18)	0.56 (14)	0.49 (12)	0.16 (4.1)	0.57 (14)	0.71 (18)	0.27 (6.9)	0.53 (13)	0.45 (11)	0.55 (14)	6.27 (159)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	3.6 (9.1)	1.2 (3.0)	0.8 (2.0)	0.3 (0.76)	0.1 (0.25)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0.2 (0.51)	1.3 (3.3)	7.4 (19)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center[8]

Alamo, Nevada, with an average annual temperature of 56.7 Fahrenheit, has a cold-desert climate (Koppen BWk). Although it is technically a cold desert, the town lies in the middle of the climatic transition zone between the hotter, lower Mojave desert to the south, and the colder, higher Great Basin desert to the North. It exhibits characteristics of both deserts, such as scorching summers (July afternoon maxima average around 100 F), large diurnal temperature range year round, and snow at least once a year. December and January record highs are within 2 degrees of Las Vegas. Unlike Las Vegas, summer nights are comfortable, even cool, having the ability to dip below 60, even in thermal midsummer. This is due to a lack or urban heat island, location in a valley, dry air, and clear skies typical of a summer day.

December and January are the coldest months, and are climatologically equivalent in terms of temperature records. Beginning in early March, the days begin to warm noticeably along with rapidly increasing day length. Nights remain cold to cool throughout spring. By late April, afternoon highs are warm and comfortable, perhaps a misleading prelude to the scorching hot summers. Because it is located in the Mojave desert, most annual precipitation occurs from the passage of fronts originating from the Pacific. These storms usually arrive by November, and taper off by April or May. The first hot days, with afternoon maxima over 90, typically occur by early May and maxima over 100 by early June. The annual temperature increases most rapidly during April and May. By June, the typical summer pattern dominates. Clear skies, blazing sunshine, and low humidity describe most days. Very hot days are tempered by the low humidity, and almost always the Heat Index is lower than the air temperature. July is the prototypical summer month, exhibiting long, hot days, clear skies, and rapidly plummeting temperatures after sunset. This summer pattern holds at least until late August. The pattern is, however, occasionally interrupted by rain and thunderstorms due to the yearly occurrence of the Arizona monsoon, which usually arrives by early July. The Arizona Monsoon is an annual shift in wind direction, pulling moisture into the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, even as far west as California's Central Valley, and as far north as Salt Lake City. High winds, lightning, flooding, and hail are potential hazards during the summer months. The Arizona Monsoon explains the secondary precipitation maximum.

By September, the climate system suffers a net energy loss due to the decreasing solar zenith angle, the nights become colder than the days heat up; the first signs of fall begin. Most noticeable is the nights transition from comfortable to cool or even cold (<50 F). Moisture associated with the Arizona monsoon usually ends by mid-September. October brings warm days, cool to cold nights, and shorter days. Temperatures climatologically drop the most in October, both temperature averages and extremes. By November, the days are still comfortable, yet cool, and Pacific storms begin to make their annual appearance. Late November into early December winter holds its grip until next February at least, when the cycle repeats itself. Unlike towns further north, such as Ely, winters are mild to cool, and sub-zero temperatures are almost unheard of. This is a testament to Alamo occupying the climatic transition zone between the Mojave and Great Basin Deserts.

References

1. "Lincoln County Code - Section 1-5-2: Alamo". Sterling Codifiers. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
2. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Alamo CDP, Nevada". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Alamo Post Office
4. Federal Writers' Project (1941). Origin of Place Names: Nevada (PDF). W.P.A. p. 43.
5. The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Volumes 9-10. 1918. p. 8.
6. "Lincoln County Website, Alamo". Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
7. A Short History of Rachel, Nevada
8. "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved April 12, 2013.