Nye County Nevada

Nye County Nevada Overview

Nye is Nevada’s largest county by area and the third-largest county in the contiguous United States, behind Coconino County of Arizona and San Bernardino County of California.

The county has several environmentally sensitive areas, including Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the White River Valley, several Great Basin sky islands, and part of Death Valley National Park.

Year Established/Founded

1864

Nye County Nevada History

Nye County was established during the American Civil War in 1864 and named after James W. Nye (1815 – 1876), the first governor of the Nevada Territory and later a U.S. Senator after it was admitted as a state.

The county’s first boom came in the early 20th century, when Rhyolite and Tonopah, as well as Goldfield in nearby Esmeralda County, had gold and silver mining booms.

Timeline

1864 – The county was established from part of Esmeralda County and the first county seat was Ione
1867 – County seat changed to Belmont
1905 – County seat changed to Tonopah
1910 – The population had plummeted to about 7,500 before sinking to nearly 3,000 in the middle of the century

Towns in Nye County Nevada

Below are the unincorporated towns and communities:

Amargosa Valley
Beatty
Carvers
Crystal
Currant
Duckwater
Gabbs
Hadley
Manhattan
Mercury
Pahrump
Round Mountain
Scotty’s Junction
Sunnyside
Tonopah (county seat)
Tybo
Yomba

Hiking in Nye County Nevada

Amargosa Valley

Crystal Marsh Loop is a 0.9-mile loop trail

Beatty

Bailey’s Hot Springs is a 2-mile loop trail
Beatty Overlook Trail is a 1.1-mile loop trail
Oasis Valley South Meadow is a 1.2-mile loop trail
Rhyolite Ghost Town is a 1.1-mile moderately trafficked out-and-back trail
Thimble Peak Trail is a 3.2-mile lightly trafficked out-and-back trail
Titus Canyon Road is a 26-mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail

Round Mountain

Arc Dome Trail is a 26.1-mile lightly trafficked out-and-back trail
Mount Jefferson Trail is an 18-mile moderately trafficked loop trail
Trail North Twin River Road Trail is a 6.5 mile out and back trail
Pine Creek (Alta Toquima Wilderness) is an 11.6-mile moderately trafficked out-and-back trail
Stewart Creek Trail is a 7.6-mile moderately trafficked loop trail
Toiyabe Crest Trail is a 36.9-mile lightly trafficked point-to-point trail

Historical Points of Interest in Nye County Nevada

Nye County is home to multiple historical places on a state and national level. Below are the ones we are aware of:

National Register of Historic Places

Below are the places that are on the National Register of Historic Places in Nye County, Nevada with the name on the register, the date it was listed, the location, and the town.

National Register of Historic Places in Austin, Nevada

Gatecliff Rockshelter – April 27, 1979 – Southeast of Austin

National Register of Historic Places in Berlin, Nevada

Berlin Historic District – November 5, 1971 – Off State Route 23

National Register of Historic Places in Fish Springs, Nevada

James Wild Horse Trap – November 19, 1974 – About 5 miles east of Fish Springs

National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan, Nevada

Manhattan School – March 8, 2006 – Gold St. between Mineral St. and Dexter Ave.

National Register of Historic Places in Mercury, Nevada

Sedan Crater – March 21, 1994 – Area 10, Nevada Test Site

National Register of Historic Places in Round Mountain, Nevada

William H. Berg House – January 11, 1984 – Mariposa and Davis Sts.

National Register of Historic Places in Tonopah, Nevada

Arthur Raycraft House – May 20, 1982 – Booker – St. Tonopah
Bass Building – May 20, 1982 – 119 St. Patrick – Tonopah
Belmont – June 13, 1972 – 46 miles northeast of Tonopah off State Route 82 – Tonopah
Board and Batten Cottage – May 20, 1982 – Edwards St. – Tonopah
Board and Batten Miners Cabin – May 20, 1982 – Burro Ave. – Tonopah
Brann Boardinghouse – May 20, 1982 – Bryan St. – Tonopah
Brokers Exchange – May 20, 1982 – 209-251 Brougher – Tonopah
Cada C. Boak House – May 20, 1982 – Ellis St. – Tonopah
Cal Shaw Adobe Duplex – May 20, 1982 – 129 Central – Tonopah
Cal Shaw Stone Row House – May 20, 1982 – Central St. – Tonopah
Campbell and Kelly Building – October 13, 1982 – Corona and Main Sts. – Tonopah
Charles Clinton Stone Row House – May 20, 1982 – 151 Central – Tonopah
Combellack Adobe Row House – May 20, 1982 – Central St. – Tonopah
Dr. J.R. Masterson House – May 20, 1982 – Ohio Ave. and 2nd St. – Tonopah
E.E. Burdick House – May 20, 1982 – 248 Prospect St. – Tonopah
E.R. Shields House – May 20, 1982 – 351 St. Patrick – Tonopah
Frame Cottage – May 20, 1982 – 183 Prospect St. – Tonopah
Frank Golden Block – May 20, 1982 – Brougher and Main Sts. – Tonopah
George A. Bartlett House – May 20, 1982 – McQuillan and Booker Sts. – Tonopah
H.A. McKim Building – May 20, 1982 – Main and Oddie Sts. – Tonopah
Hugh H. Brown House – October 13, 1982 – 129 Ellis St. – Tonopah
Irving McDonald House – May 20, 1982 – 191 Booker – Tonopah
Jim Butler Mining Company Stone Row Houses – May 20, 1982 – 314 Everett Ave. – Tonopah
John Gregovich House – May 20, 1982 – 101 Summit – Tonopah
Judge W.A. Sawle House – May 20, 1982 – 155 Central St. – Tonopah
Mizpah Hotel – July 7, 1978 – 100 Main St. – Tonopah
Nevada-California Power Company Substation and Auxiliary Power Building – July 26, 1982 – Corner of Knapp and Cutting Sts. – Tonopah
Nye County Courthouse – May 20, 1982 – McCulloch St. – Tonopah
Nye County Mercantile Company Building – May 20, 1982 – 147 Main St. – Tonopah
Samuel C. Dunham House – May 20, 1982 – Belmont Ave. – Tonopah
St. Marks P.E. Church – May 20, 1982 – 210 University Ave. – Tonopah
State Bank and Trust Company – May 20, 1982 – 102 Brougher – Tonopah
Stone Jail Building and Row House – May 20, 1982 – Water St. – Tonopah
Tonopah Liquor Company Building – May 20, 1982 – Main St. – Tonopah
Tonopah Mining Company Cottage – May 20, 1982 – Queen St. – Tonopah
Tonopah Mining Company House – May 20, 1982 – Queen St. – Tonopah
Tonopah Public Library – May 20, 1982 – 171 Central – Tonopah
Tonopah Volunteer Firehouse and Gymnasium – May 20, 1982 – Brougher and Burro Sts. – Tonopah
Tonopah-Extension Mining Company Power Building – May 20, 1982 – Main St. – Tonopah
Uri B. Curtis House – May 20, 1982 – 169 Booker St. – Tonopah
Uri B. Curtis House/Tasker L. Oddie House – May 20, 1982 – Ellis St. – Tonopah
US Post Office-Tonopah Main – February 28, 1990 – 201 Main St. – Tonopah
Verdi Lumber Company Buildings – May 20, 1982 – Main St. – Tonopah
Water Company of Tonopah Building – May 20, 1982 – Burro and Brougher Aves. – Tonopah
Wieland Brewery Building – May 20, 1982 – Mineral St. – Tonopah
Zeb Kendall House – May 20, 1982 – 159 University Ave. – Tonopah

National Register of Historic Places in Tybo, Nevada

Tybo Charcoal Kilns – November 19, 1974 – About 55 miles northeast of Tonopah off U.S. Route 6 – Tybo

Nevada Historical Markers in Nye County Nevada

Nye County is home to thirteen Nevada Historical Markers.

As we visit each we will link the articles below for you to learn more about the history of the site the marker represents.

#173 Beatty (Center of the Gold Railroads—”Chicago of the West”)
#138 Belmont
#42 Big Smoky Valley
#171 Chief Tecopa (Peacemaker of the Paiutes)
#159 Ione
#97 Manhattan “The Pine Tree Camp”
#165 Nevada Test Site
#58 Old Boundary (Nevada’s Southern Boundary 1861-1867)
#64 Ophir
#96 Round Mountain
#217 Tate’s Stage Station (1886-1901)
#15 Tonopah
#172 Tybo

Protected Areas

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Death Valley National Park (part)
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (part)
Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (part)

Wilderness Areas

Alta Toquima Wilderness Area was created, protecting approximately 38,000 acres in the upper elevations of the Toquima Range in northwestern Nye County.
Arc Dome Wilderness Area was created, protecting approximately 115,000 acres in the upper elevations of the Toiyabe Range in northwestern Nye County.
Far South Egans Wilderness (partly in Nye County, NV)
Grant Range Wilderness Area was created, protecting approximately 50,000 acres in the upper elevations of the Grant Range in northeastern Nye County.
Quinn Canyon Wilderness Area was created, protecting approximately 27,000 acres in the upper elevations of the Quinn Canyon Range in northeastern Nye County.
Red Mountain Wilderness (Humboldt NF) partly in Nye County, NV
South Egan Range Wilderness (partly in White Pine County, NV; Nye County, NV)
Table Mountain Wilderness Area was created, protecting approximately 98,000 acres of the Monitor Range in north-central Nye County.
Weepah Spring Wilderness (partly in Nye County, NV)

Natural Springs in Nye County Nevada

There are a lot of warm and hot springs in Nye County, Nevada. Click here to view all of the hot springs in Nye County and listed below are the more popular hot springs to visit:

Ash Meadows is home to several hot and warm springs
Bailey’s Hot Springs
Big Water Spring
Diana’s Punchbowl
Duckwater Hot Spring
Warm Springs

Ghost Towns and Mines in Nye County, Nevada

Nye County, Nevada has the most ghost towns in Nevada compared to other counties. Below are the mining camps, mining districts, and ghost towns in Nye County, Nevada.

Adaven
Allred
Amargosa
Amargosa Valley
Ames Camp
Ancram
Antelope
Antelope Springs
Archer
Arrowhead
Ash Meadows
Ashton
Athens
Atwood
Barcelona
Barrett
Baxter Spring
Beatty
Bellehelen
Belmont
Berlin
Black Spring
Blake’s Camp
Blue Eagle Spring
Bonita
Bonnie Claire
Bowlerville
Box Springs
Breyfogle
Browne’s Camp
Bullfrog
Butterfield Spring
Cactus Springs
Canyon
Carrara
Cedar Spring
Central
Central City
Centrasville
Chloride
Clarkdale
Clear Creek Mining District
Clifford
Cloverdale
Craig Station
Currant
Danville
Darrough Hot Springs
Death Valley Junction
Deep Well Station
Downeyville
Duckwater
Duluth
East Manhattan
Eden
Ellendale
Ellsworth
Frazier Wells
Gabbs
Georges Canyon
Glen Hamilton
Globe Mining District
Gold Bar
Gold Center
Gold Crater
Gold Flat
Golden
Golden Arrow
Goldyke
Granite
Grant City
Grantsville
Hannapah
Harriman
Hick’s Hot Springs
Hick’s Station
Horseshoe
Hot Creek
Idlewild
Indian Springs
Ione
Jackson Mining District
Jacksonville
Jamestown
Jefferson
Jett
Johnnie
Junction
Juniper (Juniper Springs)
Kawich
Keystone
Knickerbocker
Lauville
Learville
Leeland
Liberty
Lockes – A town in northeastern Nye County on US 6 that was also known as Ostonside.
Lodi – A town, also known as Lodival, near the Mammoth Range in northwest Nye County, near the Churchill County line, in a valley of the same name. A mining district in the region, discovered in 1863.
Logan Station
Longstreet
Lower Town
Manhattan
Manse Ranch
Marysville
Mccann Station
Meikeljon
Mellan
Mexican Camp
Midway
Millett
Milton
Minnimums
Monarch
Moore’s Station
Morey
Mud Spring Station
Mule Lick
North Manhattan
Northumberland – A mining district in the Toquima Range in northern Nye County, organized in 1866 and named for a county in England.
Nyala – A town on the west slope of the Quinn Canyon Range, south of Lockes, and named as a derivative of Nye.
Oak Springs – A mining district located at Oak Spring on the east flank of the Belted Range near its southern end.
Ophir Canyon
Original
Orizaba
Pactolus
Paradise Peak
Park Canyon
Peavine
Penelas
Petersgold
Phonolite
Pine Creek
Pioneer
Potomac
Potts
Pritchard’s Station
Pueblo
Quartz Mountain
Ralston – Named in honor of Judge James E. Ralston, who died in the valley in 1864.
Ray
Reveille
Reveille Mill
Rhyolite – A town 5 miles west of Beatty in the Bullfrog Hills that was settled in 1904. In the Bullfrog Mining District. Named for rhyolite, the predominating rock in the district.
Rose’s Well
Round Mountain – A town in northwest Nye County on the west slope of the Toquima Range and a mining district in the town.
Royston
Rye Patch
San Antonio – A mining district discovered in 1863 and named for the Texas city.
San Carlos
San Juan
Sawmill
Shamrock
Silver Bow
Silver Glance
Silverton
South Bullfrog
Spanish Spring
Springdale
Springfield Mining District
Stargo
Stirling
Stone House
Stonewall
Sulphide
Summit Station
Sumo
Sunnyside – A town in northeast Nye County near the Lincoln County line in the White River Valley. Named for its physical features.
Tate’s Station
Telluride
Tolicha – A mining district on the north slopes of Tolicha Peak and Quartz Mountains. A Yokut tribal name.
Tonogold
Tonopah
Toyah
Transvaal
Trappman’s Camp
Troy
Twin Springs
Tybo – A town on the west slope of the Hot Creek Range 40 miles southeast of Belmont. A mining district adjoining the Hot Creek District to the north was discovered in 1870 and the town was started in 1874. The word is Shoshone, meaning “white.”
Van Ness
Wagner
Wahmonie
Warm Springs
Washington
Wellington
White Caps
White Rock Spring
Willow Creek
Willow Springs
Wilson’s Camp

Adjacent Counties

Churchill County – northwest
Lander County – north
Eureka County – north
White Pine County – northeast
Lincoln County – east
Clark County – east
Esmeralda County – west
Mineral County – west
Inyo County, California – south

Area Size

Land 18,182 square miles
Water 17 square miles
Total 18,199 square miles

Accessibility

Interstate 11 (Future)
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 95
State Route 160
State Route 267
State Route 318
State Route 361
State Route 372
State Route 373
State Route 374
State Route 375
State Route 376
State Route 377
State Route 379
State Route 844

Click here to read about what safety items to pack for your next adventure. Also, check out how to remove cactus spines if you should encounter them.

The Population of Nye County Nevada

In 1906, Goldfield had 30,000 residents, Tonopah nearly 10,000, and Rhyolite peaked at about 10,000. These cities were linked by the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad.

After the boom died, Nye County withered. By 1910, the population had plummeted to about 7,500 before sinking to nearly 3,000 in the middle of the century.

Today, Nye County is home to approximately 52,000 residents as of the 2020 United States Federal Census.