Wendover

Wendover is a city on the western edge of Tooele County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,400 at the 2010 census.

## History

During World War II, the nearby Wendover Army Air Field (later known as the Wendover Air Force Base) was a training base for bomber pilots, including the crew of the Enola Gay. The Enola Gay was stationed here until June 1945.

In 2008, the Utah Department of Transportation completed an interchange at Aria Boulevard on Interstate 80. Investment is also underway to restore the Wendover Airport (located at the former Wendover Air Force Base) which is currently managed by Tooele County.

Tooele County School District's Anna Smith Elementary School serves the Wendover area. Wendover and Tooele County also operate a joint complex for municipal and county functions.

Movements to unite Wendover with West Wendover, which is located across the border in Nevada and allows gambling operations, have taken place but require the approval of the U.S. Congress and the Nevada and Utah legislatures. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution permitting Wendover to leave Utah and join Nevada in 2002, but the bill was stalled in the U.S. Senate and did not become law.

## Demographics

Historical population

Census

Pop.

%±

1920

180

—

1930

205

13.9%

1940

272

32.7%

1950

814

199.3%

1960

609

−25.2%

1970

781

28.2%

1980

1,099

40.7%

1990

1,127

2.5%

2000

1,537

36.4%

2010

1,400

−8.9%

2019 (est.)

1,489

6.4%

U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,537 people, 432 households, and 327 families residing in the city. The population density was 238.9 people per square mile (92.3/km2). There were 510 housing units at an average density of 79.3 per square mile (30.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city is 68.64% Hispanic or Latino, 43.98% White, 1.17% African American, 1.76% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 43.59% from other races, and 8.52% from two or more races.

There were 432 households, out of which 54.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. Of all households, 16.7% were made up of individuals, and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.56 and the average family size was 4.10.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 39.9% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 3.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,196, and the median income for a family was $29,722. Males had a median income of $18,417 versus $20,682 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,794. About 24.7% of families and 26.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

Wendover uses a city council with five council members that meet on the first and third Thursday of every month. As of March 2020, the current mayor of Wendover is Mike Crawford.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.7 km2), all land.

The hillside letter W can be seen in the north. (40.7454°N 114.0297°W)

## During the Time of the Rifts

Wendover became a town refuge for the Keepers of the Desert (see page 130 of Rifts New West for details). The countryside around Wendover is home to various monsters and demons. The Bonneville Salt Flats are also a haven for the people of the desert. The deformed people are a common sight, and are found between Wendover and Tooele. The Wendover Air Force Base is nominally abandoned and converted into homes for the Keepers of the Desert.