Elko County is a county in the northeastern corner of Nevada, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,702. Its county seat is Elko. The county was established on March 5, 1869, from Lander County. Elko County is the fourth-largest county by area in the contiguous United States, ranking lower when the boroughs of Alaska are included. It is one of only 10 counties in the U.S. with more than 10,000 square miles (25,900 km) of area. Elko County is the second-largest county by area in Nevada, with only Nye County being larger. Elko County is part of the Elko micropolitan statistical area. It contains 49.8 percent of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, set up in the late 19th century for the Shoshone-Paiute peoples; they are a federally recognized tribe. Although slightly more than 50% of the reservation is across the border in Owyhee County, Idaho, the majority of tribal members live on the Nevada side. The reservation's land area is 450.391 square miles (1,166.5 km).

This area was long inhabited by Native American tribes of the Plateau, particularly the Western Shoshone, Northern Paiute, and Bannock peoples. Their traditional ways were disrupted after European-American settlement, as the two cultures competed for resources and had differing conceptions of land use and property.

Elko County was established in 1869 from Lander County; the name was taken from the name of the county seat, Elko.

In 1877 what became known as the Duck Valley Indian Reservation was established by presidential executive order for the Western Shoshone in this area, after they signed treaties with the United States. Later the Paiute became involved in the Bannock War, but after they were allowed to return from exile in Washington State, in 1886 another executive order was used to expand the reservation to accommodate them. The federally recognized tribe of the two peoples together conducts farming and ranching in this high desert territory.

The population of the county increased markedly in the late 20th century as the economy improved.

On March 14, 2014, the Bureau of Land Management of the United States Department of the Interior sold 29 oil and gas leases for $1.27 million to a collection of six companies that included Noble Energy. The transaction was the first such in Nevada.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 17,203 square miles (44,560 km), of which 17,170 square miles (44,500 km) is land and 33 square miles (85 km) (0.2%) is water. Not counting Alaska's boroughs (four of which are also larger), it is the fourth-largest county in area in the United States (behind San Bernardino County, California, Coconino County, Arizona, and Nye County, Nevada). The elevation ranges from about 4,300 feet (1,300 m) at the edge of the salt flats of the Great Salt Lake Desert, to 11,387 feet (3,471 m) on the summit of Ruby Dome in the Ruby Mountains. The most topographically prominent mountain in Elko County is Pilot Peak.

The county has three physiographic sections (70% Great Basin section, 20% Payette, 10% Snake River Plain) and 4 watersheds (45% Humboldt River, 30% Upper Snake River, 20% central Nevada desert, 5% Pilot-Thousand Springs).

• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (part)
• Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Except for West Wendover which is in the Mountain Time Zone, the county is in the Pacific Time Zone, though other communities such as Owyhee, Mountain City, Jarbidge and Jackpot unofficially observe Mountain Time as well due to their proximity to, and economic connections with, neighboring areas of Idaho.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	3,447		—
1880	5,716		65.8%
1890	4,794		−16.1%
1900	5,688		18.6%
1910	8,133		43.0%
1920	8,083		−0.6%
1930	9,960		23.2%
1940	10,912		9.6%
1950	11,654		6.8%
1960	12,011		3.1%
1970	13,958		16.2%
1980	17,269		23.7%
1990	33,530		94.2%
2000	45,291		35.1%
2010	48,818		7.8%
2020	53,702		10.0%
2023 (est.)	54,293		1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018

As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families living in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km). There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39/km). The racial makeup of the county was 82.04% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 5.30% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 8.50% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. 19.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,638 households, out of which 43.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 20.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 32.50% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 5.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,383, and the median income for a family was $52,206. Males had a median income of $41,322 versus $24,653 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,482. About 7.00% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 48,818 people, 17,442 households, and 12,441 families living in the county. The population density was 2.8 inhabitants per square mile (1.1/km). There were 19,566 housing units at an average density of 1.1 per square mile (0.42/km). The racial makeup of the county was 79.4% white, 5.3% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 10.3% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 22.9% of the population in terms of ancestry.

Of the 17,442 households, 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.7% were non-families, and 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.26. The median age was 33.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $67,038 and the median income for a family was $75,171. Males had a median income of $56,528 versus $34,464 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,879. About 5.8% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

United States presidential election results for Elko County, Nevada

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	17,352	77.24%	4,632	20.62%	481	2.14%
2020	16,741	76.21%	4,557	20.74%	669	3.05%
2016	13,551	73.02%	3,401	18.33%	1,607	8.66%
2012	12,014	75.15%	3,511	21.96%	461	2.88%
2008	10,969	68.47%	4,541	28.35%	509	3.18%
2004	11,938	77.98%	3,050	19.92%	321	2.10%
2000	11,025	77.75%	2,542	17.93%	613	4.32%
1996	6,512	54.92%	3,149	26.56%	2,196	18.52%
1992	5,208	43.67%	2,782	23.33%	3,936	33.00%
1988	5,722	68.35%	2,310	27.59%	340	4.06%
1984	5,110	74.48%	1,566	22.82%	185	2.70%
1980	4,393	70.89%	1,296	20.91%	508	8.20%
1976	3,293	60.32%	1,955	35.81%	211	3.87%
1972	3,886	72.59%	1,467	27.41%	0	0.00%
1968	2,687	54.48%	1,686	34.18%	559	11.33%
1964	1,856	39.99%	2,785	60.01%	0	0.00%
1960	2,427	49.31%	2,495	50.69%	0	0.00%
1956	2,981	63.20%	1,736	36.80%	0	0.00%
1952	3,104	63.88%	1,755	36.12%	0	0.00%
1948	1,683	44.63%	2,026	53.73%	62	1.64%
1944	1,642	41.87%	2,280	58.13%	0	0.00%
1940	1,783	37.15%	3,016	62.85%	0	0.00%
1936	1,065	26.94%	2,888	73.06%	0	0.00%
1932	1,325	34.09%	2,562	65.91%	0	0.00%
1928	1,876	56.54%	1,442	43.46%	0	0.00%
1924	1,113	38.81%	604	21.06%	1,151	40.13%
1920	1,369	54.30%	1,029	40.82%	123	4.88%
1916	1,072	32.01%	2,020	60.32%	257	7.67%
1912	398	19.82%	843	41.98%	767	38.20%
1908	737	44.45%	804	48.49%	117	7.06%
1904	718	54.07%	508	38.25%	102	7.68%

Elko is a highly conservative area. In 2011, all eleven of the partisan county officials were Republican. In the 2004 Presidential Election, George W. Bush won 78% of the county's vote, while 20% voted for John F. Kerry. In 2008 voters in Elko County chose John McCain by 69%, with 28% voting for Barack Obama.

Both former President Jimmy Carter and then-President George W. Bush made visits to the city of Elko during the 2006 mid-term election. William McKinley visited in 1901; Herbert Hoover made his final campaign broadcast as president from a railroad car in Elko in 1932; Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke in Carlin in 1938 during his whistle stop tour; and Barack Obama visited while campaigning in 2008. President Donald Trump arrived in Elko on October 20, 2018, to campaign for Senator Dean Heller during the 2018 midterm elections. In addition, many other high-profile political figures have come to Elko, including former Vice President Dick Cheney. In 2016 Donald Trump Jr. campaigned in Elko during the primary campaign.

A number of highways maintained by the Nevada Department of Transportation, some national in prominence, cross Elko County. The county also maintains a network of county routes; however, many of them are unpaved and receive limited, if any, winter maintenance.

Transportation by means other than road vehicle is limited within Elko County. Commercial air service is available only at the Elko Regional Airport in Elko; the only destination currently served is Salt Lake City International Airport. Other public airports in Elko County include Jackpot Airport, Owyhee Airport and Wells Municipal Airport.

Amtrak passenger service is available from the unstaffed Elko station. Service is via the California Zephyr and is either eastbound or westbound, once a day.

• Carlin
• Elko (county seat)
• Wells
• West Wendover

Its school district is the Elko County School District.

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Elko County, Nevada
• Boone Springs Fire

• Official website
• Elko County Economic Diversification Authority
• Elko County Library
• Western Folklife Center
• Northeastern Nevada Museum
• Great Basin College
• Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital
• Elko Daily Free Press

41°08′N 115°21′W / 41.13°N 115.35°W / 41.13; -115.35