West Wendover, Nevada

West Wendover is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 4,721 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area. West Wendover is located on the eastern border of Nevada and the western edge of the Great Salt Lake Desert, and is contiguous with Wendover, Utah, with which it is sometimes confused. Interstate 80 runs through both cities. Because of its ties with Wendover, Utah, and its economic ties with central Utah, the U.S. Department of Transportation moved West Wendover to the Mountain Time Zone in October 1999, while the rest of Nevada remains in the Pacific Time Zone. (Jackpot, Nevada in northern Elko county only observes Mountain Time on an unofficial basis. ) For years, West Wendover has thrived under a lucrative gambling industry in Nevada, which has generated tax revenue for city services and better schools. Meanwhile, just footsteps away, Wendover, Utah, has decayed with almost no business tax base. Residents in both cities have voted to annex Wendover into Nevada, saying they are one community that has been divided for too long. Both the State of Utah and the State of Nevada have endorsed the idea, however, the politicians of Wendover, Utah placed a permanent halt to the annexation process through a vote on November 15, 2006. The motion made was to halt the annexation process. The vote was a tie with two Council Members voting to halt the process and two Council Members supporting the continuation of the process. The tie vote was broken by the vote of Mayor Brett Shelton who voted to discontinue the annexation process. Previously, West Wendover had decided to halt any further work after Wendover, Utah indicated they were going to discuss and make a decision on proceeding. Any change in state boundaries would have to be approved by Congress. For a more complete history see "Wendover Winds of Change" by Ronald R. Bateman.