Elko, Nevada

Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada and serves as the county seat. The city's population is over 21,000. Elko is served by Elko Regional Airport with daily air service to Salt Lake City (Delta Air Lines operated by SkyWest), Ely (Scenic Airlines), Reno (Scenic Airlines), and Las Vegas (Scenic Airlines). The median income for a city household is estimated at $48,656, and the median income for a family is around$52,263.

Each January, Elko is host to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. This festival is a week-long celebration of life in the rural West, featuring the contemporary and traditional arts that arise from lives lived close to the land. Poetry, music, stories, gear, film, photography, food – all contribute to the texture of an event that has become an annual ritual for thousands of people who value the people and cultures that live and work in the American West.

Every July, Elko is also host to the National Basque Festival. The Basque people are a rich culture that has roots deep in the Elko community. The "Basco Fiasco" as it is humorously referred to, is a celebration of traditional Basque culture and its ties to the Elko community. The festival includes strong man competitions, a running from the bulls, traditional food and wine, and Basque Dancing.

Elko is also home to the Western Folklife Center, which is regional nonprofit organization that works to expand our understanding of the everyday traditions of people who live and work in the American West. The Western Folklife Center is located Downtown in the old Pioneer hotel. Elko is home to a number of casinos, including Stockmen's, the Commercial, the High Desert Casino, the Red Lion, and the Gold Country Motor Inn.