"We have a lot of open space here, since the population is so concentrated," he says. The county is run by three elected county commissioners and Selinder, and this year one of the biggest challenges they face is balancing their budget. "Our economy actually mirrors the federal government pretty closely, which is very different than most of Nevada," he says. "We have a pretty stable economy, with the agriculture here (more than 50,000 acres in cultivation), coupled with the military, the Fallon Naval Air Station - those are our two mainstays."

Selinder says Churchill County has the oldest wooden courthouse, built in 1903, still in daily use, and the only countyowned telephone company in the United States, established by the board of county commissioners in 1889.

"We have 15,000 subscribers and broadband, and all the bells and whistles," he says.

Churchill County is widely known as one of the best places in the state to watch birds. Carson Lake, Stillwater Refuge, Soda Lake and Fallon itself, with its picturesque irrigation canals running through town, are all home to thousands of migrating and resident birds, including swans, ibis, heron, egrets, scads of ducks, geese and all the blackbird species.

Selinder himself is a rare bird, he says, having lived in Churchill County for 30 years, and serving as county manager for 28 of those years. While growth is slow just now, he likes the direction the county is headed, trying to invite clean businesses in and also tap one of the area’s unique natural resources.

"We’re sitting on some of the largest known geothermal resource areas here," he says. "It’s also been said that they were the best-kept little secret in Nevada." And speaking of secrets, it shouldn’t be a surprise that in every one of these three historic counties, there are tales of ghosts, hauntings and spirits, both malevolent and friendly, that await your company.