Lander County

Frederick W. Lander, American explorer, Union Army general, and poet
Frederick W. Lander, American explorer, Union Army general, and poet

Lander County is located in the U.S. state of Nevada and one of the original eleven counties in the state with a population of 5,775 in the 2020 census. The  county is comprised from a total area of 5,519 square miles (14,290 km2) and just 29 square miles (75 km2) (0.5%) of which is is water.

The Bunker Hill Summit located near the border of Nye County is 1,477 ft (3498 m) tall and the highest point in the county.

The county is named for Frederick W. Lander, American explorer, Union Army general, and poet, who was the chief engineer of a federal wagon route through the area in 1857. Founded in 1862, Lander County if started from a mining boom on the Reese River along the old pony express route.

Eventually, the county became knows as the “mouth of counties” with the formation of Elko, White Pine, and Eureka counties which are formed from within its original boundaries. Austin, Jacob’s Spring and Battle Mountain have all held the honor of functioning as the county seat.

Lander County Map

4×4 Trails

Pony Express Riders "Billy" Richardson, Johnny Fry, Charles Cliff, Gus Cliff - Ernest and Elaine Hartnagle (original tintype from the Martin E. Ismert Collection - Kansas City, Missouri) - http://www.historybuff.com/library/refrichardson.html

The Pony Express Trails and Stations In Nevada

The Pony Express operated for a very brief period of time from April 3, 1860, to October 26, 1861. The mail service allowed quick delivery…

Lander County Ghost Towns

Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Austin, Nevada, 1868, albumen silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase from the Charles Isaacs Collection made possible in part by the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment,

Austin Nevada – Lander County Ghost Town

Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Austin, Nevada, 1868, albumen silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase from the Charles Isaacs Collection made possible in part by…
Galena Nevada in the 1960's - Paher

Galena Nevada – Lander County Ghost Town

Galena Nevada was a silver mining from 1869 to 1907 and currently a ghost town located just just a west of highway 305 south of…

Lander County State Historical Markers

Nevada State Historical Markers identify significant places of interest in Nevada’s history. The Nevada State Legislature started the program in 1967 to bring the state’s heritage to the public’s attention with on-site markers. Budget cuts the program became dormant in 2009.
Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Austin, Nevada, 1868, albumen silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase from the Charles Isaacs Collection made possible in part by the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment,

Austin Nevada – Lander County Ghost Town

Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Austin, Nevada, 1868, albumen silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase from the Charles Isaacs Collection made possible in part by…
The Murphy Mine and Shaft House in Ophir Canyon, Nevada

Ophir NSHM Nevada State Historic Marker #64

Ophir NSHM 64 is Nevada State Historical Marker number sixty four and is located in Lander County, Nevada. Ophir Canyon in the mid 1880's Nevada…

References