Moving to West Wendover, Nevada
West Wendover, Nevada is a small town located on the western edge of the Great Salt Lake Desert in Elko County. It lies just over the state line from Utah, and is home to a population of around 4,700 people. The town was founded in 1903 when the Western Pacific Railroad built a train station there to service the area. The town grew quickly after that, and by 1920 it had become a thriving community with several businesses, including a saloon, hotel and casino.
The town has long been known as an entertainment destination for visitors from Utah, Idaho and Nevada. In recent years it has become increasingly popular with tourists from all over the world who come to enjoy its many attractions and activities. West Wendover is home to several casinos, including the Peppermill Casino Resort and Montego Bay Casino Resort which offer gaming tables, slot machines and live entertainment. There are also many restaurants in town offering everything from Mexican food to steaks and seafood.
For those looking for outdoor activities there are plenty of options available too. The nearby Bonneville Salt Flats offer miles of open space for off-road vehicles while nearby mountains provide great hiking trails with spectacular views of the desert landscape below. There are even hot springs located just outside of town that can be enjoyed by visitors looking for a relaxing soak after a long day exploring the area.
West Wendover is also known for its annual events such as its famous “Taste of West Wendover” festival which features local cuisine as well as live music acts every summer. Other popular events include car shows, air races and art festivals that bring thousands of visitors into town each year.
In addition to its entertainment offerings West Wendover also offers excellent educational opportunities at its public schools which serve students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade as well as at Great Basin College which offers courses in business administration, education, nursing and more.
Overall West Wendover is an interesting place to visit or call home – whether you’re looking for entertainment or educational opportunities this small desert community has something for everyone.
Population: 4,721. Estimated population in July 2024: 4,966 (+5.2% change)
Males: 2,472 (52.4%), Females: 2,249 (47.6%)
Elko County
Zip code: 89883
Demographics
Median resident age: 23.9 years
Median household income: $34,116
Median house value: $131,600
Population by Race
Races in West Wendover:
- Hispanic (56.9%)
- White Non-Hispanic (38.4%)
- Other race (22.7%)
- Two or more races (2.7%)
- American Indian (2.5%)
- Black (0.7%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
Ancestries: English (8.8%), German (8.3%), Irish (7.2%), United States (3.1%), Swedish (2.8%), French (2.3%).
Elevation: 4450 feet
Land area: 7.5 square miles
Population by Education
For population 25 years and over in West Wendover
- High school or higher: 48.3%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.9%
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.5%
- Unemployed: 4.2%
- Mean travel time to work: 9.5 minutes
For population 15 years and over in West Wendover city
- Never married: 30.4%
- Now married: 54.6%
- Separated: 2.6%
- Widowed: 2.0%
- Divorced: 10.3%
31.1% Foreign born (29.5% Latin America).
Population change in the 1990s: +2,671 (+130.3%).
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near West Wendover:
- WILLIAM BEE RIRIE HOSPITAL (about 117 miles; ELY, NV)
- NORTHEASTERN NV REGIONAL HOSPITAL (about 117 miles; ELKO, NV)
- CASSIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 123 miles; BURLEY, ID)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to West Wendover:
- WENDOVER (about 4 miles; WENDOVER, UT; Abbreviation: ENV)
- ELY ARPT /YELLAND FLD/ (about 114 miles; ELY, NV; Abbreviation: ELY)
- ELKO REGIONAL (about 119 miles; ELKO, NV; Abbreviation: EKO)
Other public-use airports nearest to West Wendover:
- WELLS MUNICIPAL/HARRIET FIELD (about 65 miles; WELLS, NV; Abbreviation: LWL)
- MICHAEL AAF (about 88 miles; DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, UT; Abbreviation: DPG)
- JACKPOT/HAYDEN FIELD (about 94 miles; JACKPOT, NV; Abbreviation: 06U)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to West Wendover:
- COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO (about 127 miles; TWIN FALLS, ID; Full-time enrollment: 3,433)
- UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX-UTAH CAMPUS (about 149 miles; SALT LAKE CITY, UT; Full-time enrollment: 2,021)
- SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 150 miles; SALT LAKE CITY, UT; Full-time enrollment: 11,896)
- WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY (about 151 miles; OGDEN, UT; Full-time enrollment: 12,112)
- UNIVERSITY OF UTAH (about 155 miles; SALT LAKE CITY, UT; Full-time enrollment: 19,866)
- UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (about 163 miles; LOGAN, UT; Full-time enrollment: 16,384)
- BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY (about 164 miles; PROVO, UT; Full-time enrollment: 29,977)