Belmont Nevada
Belmont Nevada Overview
A spring that flows year-round made this area an attractive gathering site for Shoshone Indians and miners.
In 1865, silver ore was discovered and Belmont boomed.
It was the Nye County seat from 1867-1905.
A courthouse survives from this period.
By 1890, Belmont’s population dwindled as most residents left for new discoveries in nearby mining towns.
Timeline
- 1865 – Belmont was established following a silver strike
- 1867 – Belmont became the county seat of Nye County.
- 1867 – The two-story, red-brick courthouse was completed and served as Nye County’s central office until the county seat moved to Tonopah in 1905
- April 1867 – The post office opened
- 1887 – Several of the mines closed
- 1905 – The county seat of Nye County was relocated from Belmont to Tonopah
- May 1911 – The post office closed
- September 1915 – The post office opened
- 1922 – The post office closed
- June 13, 1972 – Added to the National Historical
Mines
The primary mining was silver in the Belmont area but other minerals, such as copper, lead, and antimony, were also mined in addition to the silver.
Post Office
- April 1867 – May 1911
- September 1915 – 1922
GPS Coordinates
38°35′42″N 116°52′34″W
Historical Points of Interest in Battle Mountain Nevada
Nevada Historical Marker – Battle Mountain
- GPS Coordinates: 38.596333, -116.875722
- Categories: Mining and Native American
- Marker type – concrete marker
Transcription of historical marker:
Belmont sits at an elevation of 7,400 feet. A spring flowing year round made this a gathering site of the Shoshone Indians for rabbit drives and celebrations.
In 1865, silver ore discoveries led to the development of an attractive tree-shaded mercantile community. East Belmont became the mining and milling center. A wide range of nationalities worked the mines, operated businesses, and provided services. At its height, Belmont had schools, churches, a post office, and a newspaper, as well as a Chinatown, a red-light district, and a racetrack. The town was the Nye County seat from 1867 to 1905, and a courthouse survives from this period.
Belmont had a reputation as a rowdy town. Incidents of saloon brawls, vigilante actions, shootings, hangings, and feuds made the town notorious. Well known Nevadans such as Jack Longstreet, Tasker Oddie, Jim Butler, and Andrew Maute all participated in local early history.
Silver production totaling four million dollars was from high grade but shallow ore. By 1890, most mines ceased to be profitable and were forced to shut down. Belmont’s population dwindled as most residents left for new discoveries in nearby mining towns.
STATE HISTORIC MARKER No. 138
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
Population of Belmont
At the height of the town, the population was 2,000 residents.
There are references that the height of the population was over 10,000 but the entire county didn’t have that population count until the 1980s.
The 1870 census has 7 pages of residents listed for Belmont, Nevada, the 1880 census has 6 pages of residents listed for Belmont, and the 1900 census had 9 pages of residents listed for Belmont (the 1890 census was part of a fire that wiped out almost all the records).
Elevation
7,424 Feet (2,263 meters)