Ellsworth Nevada

Ellsworth, located in Nye County, Nevada, is a ghost town with a relatively brief but interesting history. Although there isn’t a wealth of information available on Ellsworth, it is believed to have been established in the early 20th century, around 1906. The town’s origins can be traced to the mining boom in Nevada during that period.

As was the case with many similar towns, Ellsworth was founded when gold and other valuable minerals were discovered in the area. The town was named after its founder, Fred Ellsworth, who was among the first to stake a claim in the region. The mining boom attracted a variety of prospectors, miners, and entrepreneurs, and soon enough, the town began to grow.

At its peak, Ellsworth featured a number of amenities, including a post office, general store, saloons, and even a school. The population of the town is believed to have reached approximately 200 residents. Life in Ellsworth, as in many mining towns, was challenging due to the remote location and harsh living conditions.

The town’s prosperity, however, was short-lived. By the 1910s, the gold and other mineral deposits in the area began to dwindle, and many of the miners and residents started to move on in search of more profitable opportunities. As a result, the town’s population and infrastructure began to decline.

By the 1920s, Ellsworth was all but abandoned, with only a few residents remaining. The post office closed its doors in 1926, marking the official end of the town’s status as a functioning community. Over the years, the remaining structures fell into disrepair, and Ellsworth became a ghost town.

Today, the site of Ellsworth can still be visited, though not much remains of the original structures. The remnants of the town serve as a reminder of the boom-and-bust cycle that characterized many mining communities in the American West during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Ellsworth Nevada Overview

Ellsworth was a mining district in Nye County, Nevada.

Also, known as Marble Falls, Mammoth, Summit City, Upper Weston, Weston, and Paradise Range.

Learn more about Ghost Town in Nevada and Ghost Towns in the Southwest.

Year Established/Founded

1863

Ellsworth Nevada History

From Tingley:

Originally organized as the Mammoth district, it included the camps of Marble Falls and Ellsworth. Lincoln (1923) included Ellsworth in the Lodi district, centered west of Ellsworth. Kral (1951) included Ellsworth in his larger Mammoth district, along with the present Gabbs district and southern parts of the Paradise Range.

From the Nevada Bureau of Mining and Geology Open-File Report 86-14:

Ore was discovered in the Ellsworth district in 1863 and the area was organized as the Mammoth district in 1864. There was only minor activity in the district until 1870 when a 10-stamp mill was constructed (Thompson and West, 1881). The mill operated intermittently up to about 1881 when operations ceased (Kral, 1951). Tailings from the early operations were reworked in the district during the early 1920 1 s and from 1933-45. Tungsten was mined from small deposits during the early 1900s and again in the 1950s. The tungsten mineral, huebnerite, was first described in the United States from occurrences at Ellsworth (Kleinhampl and Ziony, 1984). The date of this discovery is not clear, but the earliest reference to it found was dated 1891.

At the time of our examination (March 1986), there was evidence of mining activity in several parts of the district. A new headframe was in place at the Big Springs Mine north of Ellsworth and underground work has been done within the past year. Road building had been done northwest of the Return Mine and in Marble canyon. Cominco American had staked claims adjacent to the Return Mine in 1982, and a block of claims in the Lime Dyke area had been staked in February 1986 by Placer U.S. Inc.

Timeline

December 1863 – Ore was discovered in the area by James Daley and R.V. Craig
February 1864 – The townsite was organized as the Mammoth mining district but was soon renamed Weston. Afterwards, two other camps, Upper Weston (Summit City) and Ellsworth were established and later all three camps were consolidated into one larger mining district, Ellsworth.
1870 – There was only minor activity in the district until 1870 when a 10-stamp mill was constructed
1870 – 1881 – The mill operated intermittently and then the operations ceased
1920s – Tailings from the early operations were reworked in the district during the early
1933 – 1945 -Tailings from the early operations were reworked in the district during the early

Mines

Gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, iron, and tungsten.

Railroads

Unknown at this time.

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Post Office

March 7, 1866 – December 29, 1884

Nye County, Nevada Postmasters

Daniel Edleman 7 March 1866
K B Hower 20 December 1869
W T Jones 30 August 1870
Fredk M Howk 12 October 1870
James K Evans 9 February 1871
Beletus O Tyler 29 December 1871
Andrew J Howk 1 February 1878
Andrew J Howk 21 February 1878
Grills H Isbell 25 May 1881
Kitchell B Howe 9 January 1883
Isabella Howe 19 February 1883
Helen M Bock 19 March 1884
Moses Peltier 28 February 1884

View the list and history of Nevada Post Offices and Nye County, Nevada Postmasters.

Newspaper

None

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The Population of Ellsworth Nevada

Unknown at this time.

Elevation

7,021′

Location

From Tingley:

The Ellsworth district is located in the northern Paradise Range about 10 miles northeast of the town of Gabbs. The district includes Germany and Marble Falls Canyons on the west side of the range and extends to the east to include the area of Ellsworth and Flagstaff Canyons in the central and eastern parts of the range.

From the Nevada Bureau of Mining and Geology Open-File Report 86-14:

The Ellsworth m1n1ng district is located in the northern Paradise Range about 10 miles northeast of the town of Gabbs. The district includes Germany and Marble Falls canyons on the west side of the Paradise Range and extends to the east to include the area of Ellsworth and Flagstaff canyons in the central and eastern parts of the range. The mines and prospects of the district are within the eastern part of Township 13 North, Range 37 East, and the western part of Township 13 North, Range 38 East, Nye County.

GPS Coordinates

38° 58′ 22.73″ N, 117° 45′ 17.38″ W

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Photos and Videos

None at this time.

References Used

Click here to view our list of History of the Southwest – Books and Online Resources to learn more about our amazing area!

Tingley, Joseph V., Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Report 47 – Mining Districts of Nevada
United States Geological Survey – Ellsworth Nevada