Athens Nevada

Athens Nevada Overview

Athens was a mining district located in Nye County, Nevada.

I have found references that the mining district was also known as Pactolus and Pactolis but contradicting references state that Pactolus was about 7 miles north of the Warrior Mine, which was part of the Athens Mining District.

Another source states that the Athens District includes the old camps of Athens and Pactolus.

Most sources state that the name of the mining district was Athens and the Pactcolus camp was part of it.

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Year Established/Founded

1903

Athens Nevada History

There is a Pactolus town in Pitt County, North Carolina, named after the ancient river in Asia Minor. I was thinking that the naming could be the same but after a quick search in historical documents, I found that it is also a surname and there were families in Nevada with this surname.

The original discoveries were made at the camp of Pactolus in about 1903 and were active until 1907 intermittently thereafter.

In 1912, discoveries made about 5 miles to the southwest resulted in the development of the camp of Athens.

Both areas are included within the present Athens district, although Pactolus is sometimes considered to be a separate district.

Timeline

July 19, 1902 – The new camp has been christened the “Pactolus” by the owners, which classical appelation has been parodied into “Pack-mule-us” by some of the uncultured later arrivals in the camp. The prospect of the Pactolus group making a great mine is very good, and while it is close to the county line, it is (ar enough within the borders o( Nye county to make it a difficult matter for our Esmeralda county friends to appropriate it. The owners are all deserving citizens of Tonopah and are to be congratulated on their good fortune. [Tonopah Bonanza
Butler, Nevada • 19 Jul 1902, Sat • Page 5]
August 9, 1902 – Pactolus district has been duly organized, with Gurley Jones as recorder. [Tonopah Daily Bonanza · August 9, 1902, Wed · Page 4]
August 23, 1902 – Pactolus. Our latest information from the new-found mineral district of Pactolus comes from P. Blume, who after a visit of inspection says that there is no question about the very favorable appearance of rich ore showing. Mr. Allen has taken charge of company operations there. Mr. Mau has returned to the mines from a business trip to San Francisco, and upon his return to Tonopah, further particulars will be given. [Tonopah Daily Bonanza · August 23, 1902, Wed · Page 5]
September 27, 1902 – Pactolus Investors. Louis K. Mau, one of the original locators of the Pactolus group of’ mines, situated about thirty-five miles from Luning, Esmeralda county, is in Carson He is en route to the mines from San Francisco and is preceding a number of California capitalists, who will shortly go to Luning with a view to purchasing the property. [Tonopah Bonanza – Butler, Nevada -27 Sep 1902, Sat • Page 3]
1912 – The Warrior property was discovered
January 17, 1912 – Harry McNamara left this morning for Athens, where he is developing mining property. [Tonopah Daily Bonanza · 17 Jan 1912, Wed · Page 4]
June 17, 1912 – Harry McNamara – Location notice. Athens mining district. [Tonopah Daily Bonanza · 17 Jun 1912, Wed · Page 4]

Mines

Gold and silver.

Snowball
Warrior Gold Mine

Railroads

Unknown at this time.

Post Office

Pactolus Post Office

August 27, 1904 – December 13, 1904 (Rescinded)

View the list and history of Nevada Post Offices.

Newspaper

Unknown at this time.

The Population of Athens Nevada

Unknown at this time.

Elevation

5,922′

Location

This district is located in the southern Pactolus Hills and extends from the Pactolus Hills south to the Nye-Mineral county line.

In the document Spirit Leveling in Nevada, 1897 to 1916, Inclusive, I found the following references:

Pactolus, 0.4 miles north of, forks at signboard reading ” Sodaville 35 miles,” 30 feet east of junction; iron post stamped “5796 3907 ” 5,788. 990
Pactolus, 5.7 miles southeast of, 25 feet west of road; iron post stamped “5930 1907” 5, 923. 324
The mining claims in the Pactolus project are located on the west slope of the Pactolus Hills, about twenty miles south east of Gabbs, Nye County, Nevada.

GPS Coordinates

38.669147955001996, -117.80233291356227

When I looked it up in the USGS system, it gave the coordinates for Goldyke but they are miles away from each other so used the coordinates that Google provided for now.] I could not find newspaper articles with the name Pactolis but found LOTS with the name Pactolus spelling.

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Photos and Videos

None at this time.

References Used

United States Geological Survey – Pactolus Nevada
Spirit Leveling in Nevada, 1897 to 1916, Inclusive
Gannett, Henry, (1905), The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States (Second Edition)
Lincoln, Francis Church (1964), Outline of Nevada Mining History, Report 7