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.
Things to do in Nye County Nevada
Nevada Historical Markers
Ghost Towns in Nye County Nevada
Hot Springs in Nye County Nevada
Points of Interest in Nye County Nevada
State Parks in Nye County Nevada
References Used
- Wikipedia – Nye County, Nevada
- Wikipedia – Houses in Nye County, Nevada
- Wikipedia – National Register of Historic Places in Nye County, Nevada