It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area and located entirely within the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation.

It was given this name by Leland Stanford of the Central Pacific Railroad as a favor to General Irvin McDowell,[3] whom Wadsworth had served under during the Civil War.

[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2), all land.

Circa 2000 Natchez Elementary School in Wadsworth had about 160 students with 94% being Native American.

[11] Holly O'Driscoll of the Nevada Living Magazine described it as "a small, older" facility.

[10] In 2017 Siobhan McAndrew of the Reno Gazette Journal stated that historically Natchez had issues with academic performance but by 2017 had a new principal and newly hired teachers.