Amargosa Valley Medical Center

Amargosa Valley

"Champagne Air & Million Dollar Sunsets"
 

Our clinic, the Amargosa Valley Medical Clinic, is located on Farm Road near the junction of highways 95 and 373, close to the California border. Across the street from the clinic, the town is building a Flight For Life helicopter landing pad to facilitate more rapid response to emergencies.

Nevada Health Centers operates 21 medical and dental sites including a Health Care for the Homeless Program, a School Based Health Program and an OB/GYN Center.  In addition we operate three Miles for Smiles Buses, the Mammovan, two WIC sites and a Community Health Pharmacy.

Amargosa Valley Medical Clinic opened its doors to serve the community with quality health care in 1985. Amargosa Valley is primarily comprised of large residential parcels. Area industry is mostly agricultural with one large dairy. The area is well situated on the Nevada Science and Technology Corridor. The Nevada Science and Technology Museum and Industrial Center (with incubator) is planned for construction at the intersection of highways 95 and 373 in the south-eastern area, which is close to NTS and Yucca Mountain access.

History

In the heart of the Amargosa Desert, the town of Amargosa Valley is located in southern Nye County, just east of Death Valley. It is not known when the first humans settled in the valley. Ancient campsites have been found that date back at least 10,000 years, at the end of the last Ice Age. Recent examination of archaeological remains in the valley implies more extensive use by aborigines than had been previously estimated. Pottery and other artifacts have been found that date back from around A.D. 1000 to earlier times. During the nineteenth century, two groups of Native Americans occupied the Amargosa Valley: the Southern Paiute and the Western Shoshone. Both were extremely adept at extracting a living from their marginal environment, subsisting on wild plant foods, supplemented by wild game.

The first documented entry into the valley by whites came in 1849 when forty-niners, who became lost  trying to find a shortcut to southern California, crossed the valley before wandering into Death Valley.

The first community was founded after 1905, when Ralph Jacobus "Dad" Fairbanks established his freighting and mercantile business at the Ash Meadows spring that bears his name. The railroad tracks did not cross the Amargosa Valley until 1906 and from the entry of the first whites until the late 1930's, it is said that the Nye County Sheriff was hesitant to enter Ash Meadows because of its lawless reputation. This was still the Wild West.

Modern development did not begin until the early 1950s. Electric power, other than that produced by home generators, was not available until 1963. Nye County, perhaps more than any other region of the West, remains close to the American frontier. In a real sense, a significant part of the frontier can be found there. It exists in the attitudes, values, lifestyles and memories of the area residents. The frontier-like character of the area also is visible in the relatively undisturbed condition of the natural environment, most of it untouched by humans.

(Source: The Modern Pioneers of the Amargosa Valley by Robert D. McCracken; 1992; Nye County Press)

What's In Town?

Located a short 85 miles Northwest of Las Vegas, this rural town covers an area of just 545 square miles, at an elevation of 2,640 feet above sea level. Most of the valley is primarily comprised of large residential parcels. Its primary industry is agricultural, including one large dairy. A bottling plant and third dairy barn are under construction. (Sept., 2002)  According to an August, 2002 census report, the population is 1,615.

Amargosa Valley has three gaming establishments, the Stateline Saloon, the Longstreet Inn and Fort Amargosa. Six restaurants, including a new pizza restaurant, offer a variety of tastes to tickle your palate.

Target Population— Amargosa’s population is approximately 1,800 people.

Services Provided— Family Medicine, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, D.O.T. Physicals, Occupational Health, STD/HIV Education & Screening, Family Planning, Urgent Care & 24 Hour Emergency Care, Lab, X-Ray, Prescription Dispensary, Periodic Screenings for Kids & Adults, Well-Child Care and Immunizations, Prenatal and Newborn Care, Chronic Illness Management, Health Education.

Staffing:
Amargosa is staffed with one MD.  There are two back office and one front office support staff.

Federal Designation— HPSA, MUP

Patient Profile – Ethnic groups served (top 3): Caucasian (65%), Hispanic (33%), Native American (1%)

 Funding —