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Tempiute Nevada

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Ghost Towns in Lincoln County Nevada » Tempiute Nevada

Tempiute Nevada

Tempiute Nevada Overview

Located in Lincoln County, Nevada, Tempiute is an old mining town that is sometimes confused with the Old Tempiute, which produced silver in the 1860s.

From the Mining Districts of Nevada: The Tem Piute district is located on Tempiute Mountain, a north-trending spur range on the west end of the Timpahute Range. Known as the Sheridan district in 1867-68, the area was organized as the Tem-Piute district in 1869. Wheeler’s map (1872) showed a “Timpahute” district to be contiguous with the Groom district, to the southwest, including the area of the present Don Dale district.

Also know as Sheridan, Temp Piute, Tem-Piute, Tem-Pah-Ute, Tim- Pah-Ute, Tempiute, Timpahute, Tempe Ute, and Don Dale

Year Established/Founded

Silver ore was discovered in 1865 and the district was organized in 1868.

Tempiute Nevada History

Silver was first discovered in the area in 1865. In 1868, additional silver lodes were found near the settlement. A mining district was established, but mining was difficult due to insufficient water supplies. Water had to be transported by mules from springs 12 miles away.

When the stamp mill in nearby Crescent was shut down in 1871, mining in Tempiute was abandoned.

Tungsten ore was discovered nearby in 1916, but large-scale mining did not begin for another twenty years.

The Lincoln Mines Company initiated mining operations in Tempiute in 1940 after building a mill. The mines were productive until the end of World War II but declined in the next five years.

After the price of tungsten rose in 1950, the mining camp was reestablished when the Wah Chang Trading Company, a New York-based tungsten importer and trading company, incorporated the entire mining district as the Black Rock Mining Company.

During its most productive years, the Lincoln mine was one of the nation’s primary producers of tungsten. When the price of tungsten declined in 1957, the mill was closed and the town was soon abandoned.

Timeline

  • Winter 1865 – Silver was first discovered in the area.
  • December 1868 – Additional silver lodes were found near the settlement.
  • 1870 – The settlement had a population of fifty miners
  • 1871 – The stamp mill in nearby Crescent was shut down and the mining in Tempiute was abandoned.
  • February 1879  – January 1881 – The post office was named Tem Piute.
  • June 1882 – January 1883 – The post office was named Tem Piute.
  • 1916 – Tungsten ore was discovered nearby but large-scale mining did not begin for another twenty years.
  • 1940 – The Lincoln Mines Company initiated mining operations in Tempiute after building a mill.
  • 1950—1956 – Tempiute had a population of 700 and a school.
  • February 1953 – The Post Office was opened as Tempiute
  • 1957 – When the price of tungsten declined in 1957, the mill was closed and the town was soon abandoned.
  • October 1957 – The Post Office closed.
Tempiute Nevada

The Pioche Record • Pioche, Nevada • 23 Mar 1878, Sat • Page 3

Transcription of the newspaper article:

Tem-Piute. David Service, of Quin Canyon, and T. S. Robinson, late of Chicago, now of Tem-Piute District, arrived in Pioobe on Sunday last. We learn from them that work has been commenced in real earnest in that district about twenty men being scattered around there at work under the charge of Colonel Baker. The principal work is being done on the Liberal and Bond mines, which are showing well. Ore taken from these are filled with copper, silver and glance and assay as high as $1,400 and $1,600. As soon as the patents to the property are obtained work will be carried on on all of the mines belonging to the Tem Pabute Land, Mining and Improvement Company.

Mines

Tungsten, silver, copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, and arsenic.

Post Office

The post office was named Tem Piute from February 1879 until January 1881 and then again from June 1882 until January 1883.

The post office was open from February 1953 through October 1957 as Tempiute.

The population of Tempiute Nevada

In 1870, the population consisted of 50 miners, and during the early 1950’s it was at 700 before the town was abandoned.

We did a quick census search and easily found these but for the missing years, we will need to dig more since we don’t know which census the town was part of for the other years.

  • 34 residents on the 1880 United States Federal Census, District 029, Tempe Ute, Lincoln County, Nevada.
  • 3 residents on the 1910 United States Federal Census, District 0046, Tem Puite, Lincoln County, Nevada.

Elevation

6,112′

How to Get to Tempiute Nevada

  1. Crystal Springs – 39 miles via NV-375 N
  2. Rachel – 8 miles via Tempiute Mine Road
  3. Tonopah – 117 miles via US-6 and NV-375 S

GPS Coordinates

  • Rachel – N 37° 38.801′ W115° 44.760′
  • Tempiute Turnoff – (LN 13.6) N37° 36.552′ W115° 41.619′
  • Old Tempiute Foundations – N37° 36.510′ W115° 39.140′
  • Gate – N37° 36.321′ W115° 38.978′
  • Mine – N37° 36.221′ W115° 38.463′

References Used

Tempiute Nevada