Skip to Content

Pioche Nevada

Pioche Nevada

Pioche Nevada Overview

Due to the remoteness of the area (and a few other factors), it was labeled the most dangerous town in America, Pioche was once overrun with violence, and “guns were the only law” in the years past when supposedly the first 70 deaths were men who died violent deaths before a resident died of natural causes. 

Today, Pioche is a charming small town, which is the county seat for Lincoln County, with a lot to offer visitors from historic buildings to trout fishing to outdoor exploration through some of Nevada’s most scenic state parks. 

It is Nevada Historical Marker #5.

Year Established/Founded

1869

Pioche Nevada History

Named in honor of François Louis Alfred Pioche, a San Francisco mine promoter who invested largely in the mines located in the area.

Silver was discovered in 1864 but the area would not be developed until 1869 when Pioche was founded. Local Native American tribes traded and massacred residents in the area and the area was abandoned until 1868 when the area was recolonized then the Pioche bought the town in 1869. The growth of Pioche grew fast and by the early 1870s, the town had produced 5 million dollars worth of silver ore.

Soon Pioche was known as a ruthless mining town full of outlaws. At one point living in the area was out of control with murders that the Boot Hill Cemetery was established to inter the victims and the murders of the time.

Timeline

  • 1864 – Silver ore was discovered in this range of mountains in 1864, but no important development took place until 1869.
  • 1869 – The mines were opened and the town of Pioche was founded. 
  • 1871 – With the abandonment of the mines in Pahranagat Valley, the county seat was moved to Pioche, where it remains today.
  • 1871 – 1872 – Pioche accounts for 60% of all the homicides reported in Nevada.
  • 1872 – The mines had produced $5 million worth of silver ore.
  • 1900 – Pioche was nearly a ghost town

The population of Pioche Nevada

The population of Pioche is 933 as of the 2020 US Census.

National Register of Historic Places

  1. 1938 Lincoln County Courthouse 
  2. Bristol Wells Town Site 
  3. Brown’s Hall-Thompson Opera House 
  4. Lincoln County Courthouse 
  5. Pioche Firehouse

Historical Points of Interest in Lincoln County

  1. Gem Theater – 648 Main Street Pioche, Nevada 89043 https://gempioche.com/
  2. Lincoln County Historical Museum – 716 Main Street, Pioche, Nevada 89043 (775) 962-5182
  3. Million Dollar Courthouse – Lacour Street, Pioche, Nevada 89043. (775) 962-5182

Area Size

  • Land 6.15 sq mi (15.94 km2)
  • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
  • Total 6.15 sq mi (15.94 km2)

GPS Coordinates

37°56′29″N 114°26′56″W

How to Get to Pioche, Nevada

  • Caliente – 26 miles / 27 miles
  • Ely – 108 miles / 1 hour 40 minutes
  • Las Vegas – 177 miles / 2 hours 47 minutes
  • St. George – 109 miles / 1 hour 53 minutes

Things to Do Nearby Pioche, Nevada

Nevada State Parks

  1. Beaver Dam State Park – 48 miles / 1 hour 12 minutes
  2. Cathedral Gorge State Park – 8 miles / 10 minutes
  3. Cave Lake State Park – 107 miles/ 1 hour 40 minutes
  4. Echo Canyon State Park – 13 miles / 19 minutes
  5. Kershaw-Ryan State Park – 29 miles / 34 minutes
  6. Spring Valley State Park – 22 miles / 33 minutes

Adjacent Counties

  1. Beaver County, Utah – east/Mountain Time Border
  2. Clark County, Nevada – south
  3. Iron County, Utah – east/Mountain Time Border
  4. Millard County, Utah – northeast/Mountain Time Border
  5. Mohave County, Arizona – southeast/Mountain Time Border
  6. Nye County, Nevada – west
  7. Washington County, Utah – east/Mountain Time Border
  8. White Pine County, Nevada – north

Places to Stay

  • Eagle Valley Resort – 12555 Resort Road, Pioche, Nevada 89043 – (775) 962-5293
  • Echo Canyon State Park – State Route 322, Pioche, Nevada 89043 – (775) 962-5103
  • Hutchings Motel – 411 LaCour Street, Pioche, Nevada 89043 – (775) 962-2583
  • Motherlode Motel – 378 LaCour Street, Pioche, Nevada 89043 – (775) 962-5159
  • Mount Wilson Ranch – 8302 Mount Wilson Ranch Rd, Pioche 89043 – (775) 724-3112
  • Overland Hotel and Saloon – 662 Main Street, Pioche, Nevada 89043 – (775) 962-5895
  • Pioche RV Park – 462 Bush Street, Pioche, Nevada 89043 – (775) 962-3772
  • Roll-In RV Park – 387 Main Street, Pioche, Nevada 89043 – (775) 962-5735
  • Spring Valley State Park – State Route 322, Pioche, Nevada 89043 – (775) 962-5102
  • Tillie’s Mini Mart/ Wright Cabins 704 Main Street, Pioche, Nevada 89043 – (775) 962-5205
  • Vista Grande – Pioche, Nevada 89043 – (702) 277-4566

Places to Eat

  • The Alamo Club – 723 Main Street – Pioche, NV 89043 – Phone: 775-962-5116
  • Eagle Valley Resort Bar, Billiards, and Video Poker with entertainment on weekends – HC74 BOX 262-2 – Pioche, NV 89043 – Phone: 775-962-5293 – eaglevalleynv.com
  • Ghost Town Art & Coffee Company – 597 Main Street – Pioche, NV 89043 – 775-962-5229
  • Gunslingers – 597 Main Street – Pioche, NV 89043 – Phone: (775) 962-5020
  • Historic Silver Cafe – 673 Main Street – Pioche, NV 
  • Nevada Club – 738 Main Street – Pioche, NV 89043 – Phone: 775-962-5170 – OverlandHotelNV.com
  • Silver Cafe & Bakery 673 S Main Street Pioche, NV 89043-2566 – (888) 344-6922

Lincoln County, Nevada Exploration Guide

State Parks in Lincoln County, Nevada

Exploring Lincoln County, Nevada

Wildlife in Lincoln County Nevada

References Used

Pioche Nevada