Not to be confused with Moapa Valley. For those who appreciate precision, or perhaps just dread ambiguity, it's worth noting that this particular location is distinct from its similarly named counterpart. For other uses, should the name Moapa somehow possess a broader, more captivating appeal, one might consult Moapa (disambiguation).
Census-designated place in Nevada, United States
Ah, Moapa, Nevada. A place that exists. A census-designated place, to be precise, rather than a self-governing municipality, which, one might argue, simplifies matters considerably. The local Moapa US Post Office stands as a solitary beacon of federal presence in this expanse.
One might locate Moapa with surprising accuracy within the arid embrace of Clark County, itself a significant portion of the larger, equally parched landscape of Nevada. Its geographic coordinates are etched into the digital ether: 36°41′31″N 114°36′29″W.
This particular corner of the United States falls squarely within the State of Nevada, nestled in Clark County. Its total land area, according to the meticulous measurements, spans approximately 17.85 square miles (46.24 km²), all of it land, devoid of any distracting bodies of water. The elevation hovers around 1,611 feet (491 m) above sea level, a modest rise in the grand scheme of things.
As of the 2020 enumeration, the population tallied a modest 1,006 souls, yielding a population density of roughly 56.4 inhabitants per square mile (21.76/km²). Not exactly bustling, which, depending on one's temperament, could be either a blessing or a curse. The temporal rhythm of Moapa adheres to the UTC−8 (PST) Time zone, shifting to UTC−7 (PDT) during the curious ritual of Daylight saving time. Communication can be routed via ZIP Code 89025, and the local auditory landscape is governed by Area codes 702 and 725. The FIPS code 32-47840 and GNIS feature ID 1852656 further cement its bureaucratic identity. For those seeking more localized insights, an advisory board homepage exists, presumably to discuss matters of profound local importance.
Moapa, as previously noted, functions as both an unincorporated town and a census-designated place (CDP) within the sprawling expanse of Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population count, as recorded by the 2010 census, stood at 1,025 individuals. A curious detail, perhaps, is its status as the largest town in Clark County by sheer land area. One might wonder what significance such a distinction holds for a place with such a sparse population. Furthermore, Moapa plays host to a pair of Nevada's most vertically ambitious structures: the Moapa Entravision Tower, holding the second-tallest distinction, and the Moapa Kemp Tower, which claims the third spot. These towering metallic sentinels stand in stark contrast to the low-lying desert scrub, perhaps a testament to human ambition, or simply the need for better signal transmission in remote locales.
History
The narrative of human presence in Moapa, like many such places, begins with a seemingly arbitrary date: the first permanent settlement was established in 1865. A relatively recent blip in geological time, but apparently significant enough for documentation.
For a brief, almost cinematic moment, Moapa found itself in the limelight, or rather, the flickering shadows of the silver screen. Two Hal Roach short silent comedies chose this distinctive landscape as their backdrop. Black Cyclone graced the area in 1925, followed by the rather aptly named Flying Elephants, featuring the enduring comedic duo of Laurel and Hardy, in 1927. A fleeting brush with Hollywood, quickly receding into the annals of cinematic trivia, much like the ephemeral nature of fame itself.
More recently, the landscape asserted its own dramatic narrative. Moapa became the unfortunate epicenter of a significant wildfire that ignited on July 1, 2010. This conflagration, a stark reminder of nature's formidable power, consumed at least 680 acres (280 ha) of terrain and left a trail of destruction, incinerating no fewer than 15 buildings. The majority of these losses were concentrated within the Warm Springs Ranch area, a testament to the desert's unforgiving embrace when elements align.
Geography
According to the ubiquitous and ever-diligent United States Census Bureau, the census-designated place of Moapa encompasses a total area of 150.8 square miles (390.5 km²). A rather generous allocation of space, one might observe. Notably, and perhaps predictably for this region, the entirety of this area is designated as land; bodies of water are conspicuously absent, leaving ample room for the kind of quiet contemplation only a vast, arid landscape can inspire.
Demographics
The dance of human statistics, as captured by the various decennial censuses, paints a picture of Moapa's evolving population.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 928 | — | |
| 2010 | 1,025 | 10.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,006 | −1.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | [8] |
As per the 2000 census, a thorough accounting revealed 928 individuals residing within the CDP, distributed among 273 households, which in turn comprised 220 distinct family units. The population density, a rather telling metric, stood at a meager 6.2 inhabitants per square mile (2.4/km²). This suggests a considerable amount of elbow room, or perhaps just a profound lack of neighbors. The housing infrastructure consisted of 310 units, maintaining an average density of 2.1 per square mile (0.81/km²).
The racial composition of the CDP at that time was cataloged with meticulous precision: 62.93% identified as White, a sliver of 0.22% as African American, 1.40% as Native American, 1.83% as Asian, and 0.65% as Pacific Islander. A significant 30.50% fell under the umbrella of other races, with a further 2.48% acknowledging two or more racial ancestries. The Hispanic or Latino demographic, regardless of racial identification, constituted 35.02% of the total population. These numbers, while seemingly objective, are merely snapshots of human categorization, ever-shifting and often inadequate.
Delving deeper into the domestic arrangements, the 273 households presented a tableau of human existence. A substantial 51.3% of these households were enlivened by the presence of children under the age of 18, ensuring a steady, if sometimes chaotic, rhythm of life. The traditional structure of married couples living together accounted for 65.9% of households, while 9.9% were headed by a female householder without a present husband. The remaining 19.4% were classified as "non-families," a rather clinical term for diverse living arrangements. Of the total households, 14.7% consisted of individuals living alone, with 4.4% of these being individuals aged 65 years or older. The average household size was calculated at 3.40 persons, with family units slightly larger at an average of 3.81 individuals.
The age distribution across the CDP population followed a somewhat predictable pattern. A robust 38.8% of residents were under the age of 18, suggesting a community with a youthful demographic. Those aged 18 to 24 comprised 7.7%, while the economically active segment from 25 to 44 years old represented 26.8%. Individuals between 45 and 64 years accounted for 19.5%, and the 65-and-over demographic made up 7.2% of the total. The median age of the population was a relatively youthful 29 years. In terms of gender distribution, for every 100 females, there were 106.7 males, a slight imbalance. When considering only those aged 18 and over, the ratio adjusted slightly to 100 females for every 100.7 males.
Economically, the median income for a household within the CDP was recorded at 49,327. A discernible disparity existed in individual incomes, with males reporting a median of 20,990 for females. The per capita income for the CDP stood at $17,587. Despite these figures, a small but significant portion of the population found themselves below the poverty line: approximately 1.7% of families and 3.1% of the total population. This included 3.2% of those under 18 years of age, though, perhaps thankfully, none of those aged 65 or over were reported in this category.
Education
Even in the most unassuming corners of existence, the pursuit of knowledge, or at least its availability, persists. Moapa maintains a public library, serving as a branch of the more extensive Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. A small beacon in the vastness, offering a quiet refuge for those who still seek information beyond the immediate horizon, or perhaps just a cool place to escape the Nevada sun.
Infrastructure
Beyond the demographic intricacies and historical footnotes, a community's true character is often revealed by its infrastructure—the tangible manifestations of human ingenuity and necessity.
Prominently situated within Moapa's expansive boundaries is the imposing Moapa Entravision Tower, a structure that claims the distinction of being the second tallest in all of Nevada. Reaching a dizzying height of 1,400 feet (430 m), it stands as a veritable monument to modern communication, its precise coordinates marked at 36°36′3.5″ N, 114°35′9.1″ W. It's a sentinel, silently transmitting signals across the desert, a testament to humanity's relentless need for connectivity, or perhaps just for taller things.
The community of Moapa was also, for a significant period, the operational home of the Reid Gardner Generating Station. This substantial coal-fired power plant, once a joint venture between NV Energy and the California Department of Water Resources, was a vital cog in the regional energy supply. However, the tides of energy policy and environmental consciousness eventually shifted. Three of the plant's units ceased operation in 2014, with the final remaining unit following suit in 2017. This marked the end of an era for coal-fired power generation in Moapa. The site, however, did not remain dormant for long. In a rather fitting demonstration of technological evolution, it has since been reimagined and redeveloped into the Reid Gardner Battery Energy Storage System. This modern facility, now wholly owned by NV Energy, represents a significant pivot towards renewable energy integration and storage, replacing the carbon-intensive legacy of its predecessor. It serves as a stark reminder that even the most entrenched systems are subject to change, evolving from burning ancient carbon to meticulously storing electrons—a journey of progress, or perhaps just a very expensive upgrade.