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Gerlach, Nevada is a census-designated place (CDP) in Washoe County, Nevada,
United States. The population was 206 at the 2010 census. It is part of the
Reno-Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. Prior to 2010, Gerlach was part of the
Gerlach-Empire census-designated place. The town of Empire is now a separate CDP.
The next nearest town, Nixon, is 60 miles to the south on a reservation owned by
the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. The Fly Geyser is located near Gerlach.
he economy of Gerlach focuses on tourism in the nearby Black Rock Desert, and
hunting. Gypsum mining was the historic staple of the local economy until 2011.
Nearby Empire was a company town of the United States Gypsum Corporation (USG) until
the plant closed on January 31, 2011, eliminating 95 jobs.
The other major industries are a Union Pacific switching station in Gerlach and
public services of Washoe County, which includes its roads department and a K-12
public school owned by the Washoe County School District; the future of the Gerlach
K-12 School is unknown, as it is estimated that after the gypsum plant closes only
around a dozen children will remain in Gerlach. Many of the inhabitants of Gerlach
are elderly retirees. Many people in Gerlach also have small private businesses.
Many are Internet-based, due to the town's remote location. Hunters from all over
the west travel to Gerlach to hunt a wide variety of game such as chukar, geese,
deer, antelope, etc. Bruno's restaurant hosts several private parties in a large
room in the back which is available for rent.
Since 1990, Burning Man, a week-long countercultural festival with a population of
68,000 (as of 2013), has been held nearby. Due to the appearance and actions of many
of the participants, local enthusiasm is mixed, but the event is responsible for
around 20% of the sales at the few commercial establishments in the area, which
include the closest permanent fuel and grocery stops to the event site. The Black
Rock Desert is also the site of many other recreational activities, organized and
otherwise, throughout the year.
In 2009, the Space Chair was lofted to near space north of Gerlach.
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