Lincoln County

The Extraterrestrial Highway, Nevada State Route 375 is located in Lincoln County, Nevada
The Extraterrestrial Highway, Nevada State Route 375 is located in Lincoln County, Nevada

Founded in 1866 and named for President Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln County is located on the south eastern edge of the great state of Nevada. The county is the third largest in the state of Nevada and ranks a respectable number seven at the national level. Boasting 10,627 square miles and only 5,345 as of the 2010 national census, Lincoln offers limitless opportunity to get lost and explore.

Abraham Lincoln gave is name to Lincoln County, Nevada
Abraham Lincoln gave is name to Lincoln County, Nevada

Lincoln was originally named Stewart County for the Nevada Senator at the time, however, the name was changed to Lincoln after the assassination or President Abraham Lincoln. The first county seat was Crystal Springs, however this honor was moved to Hiko in 1867 and Pioche in 1871.

William M. Stewart. Photo by Matthew Brady
William M. Stewart. Photo by Matthew Brady

The county originally included a small ranch village and a railroad siding called Las Vegas, Nevada. This future entertainment capital was moved over into the newly found Clark County in July, 1909.

Humans have lived in the areas for thousands of years before the European Settles established themselves. Originally, the Basketmakers and later the Fremont people established live along water sources. They built “Pueblos” and cultivated beans, squash and corn. Starting in 900 A.D. with the Southern Paiute tribes came to the area and traveled seasonally hunting and gathering food supplies such as nuts, speeds, roots and berries. It was not until 1849, when the “Old Spanish Trail” led Mormon settlers into the area.

Today, Lincoln county is considered by many to be the UFO Capital of the World and is a destination of many UFOologists. Rachel, Nevada and the infamous Area 51 are found within its borders and the famed “Extraterrestrial Highway”, Nevada State Route 375 lies within county lines. Wide open spaces make this area a great place to visit for mountain biking, off-roading, geocaching and overall almost any out door activity.

Lincoln County Trail Map

Lincoln County Ghost Towns

The Bristol Mine near Bristol in Lincoln County Nevada

Bristol Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

Also known as  National City, Bristol City and Tempest throughout its history, Bristol Nevada is a ghost town in Lincoln County, Nevada. Bristol is located about 14 miles…
Bullionville, Nevada, Horse-driven slip scrapers retrieve tailings to dump onto a conveyor and then dropped into a freight car. Before 1880

Bullionville Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

Bullionville Nevada began early in 1870 when John H. Ely and W.H. Raymond removed their five-stamp mill at Hiko and placed it at this point.…
Delamar Nevada in the 1890's. Many of the buildings were transported from nearby Pioche on wagons. After the devastating fire in 1909, most of the remaining wooden buildings were transported back to Pioche.

Delamar Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

Delamar Nevada in the 1890's. Many of the buildings were transported from nearby Pioche on wagons. After the devastating fire in 1909, most of the…
Fay Nevada - 1910

Fay Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

Fay Nevada is a ghost town and gold mining camp located in Lincoln County Nevada near the border with western Utah. The townsite is located…
Ruins in Hike, Lincoln County, Nevada

Hiko Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

Hiko Nevada starts to see initial activity in 1853. Silver mines in the area are largely responsible for the people settling the area. Ruins in…
Jackrabbit Nevada - (Theron Fox Photo) Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps

Jackrabbit Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

Jackrabbit Nevada is a ghost town and silver mining camp located in Lincoln County Nevada. Local legend attributes the discovery to the locator picking up…
Water Rhyolites near Logan Springs, Nevada - NARA

Logan City Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

Logan City Nevada, also known as Logan City, Logan Springs and Logans Springs, is a silver mining camp and ghost town located 12 miles north…

Lincoln County 4×4 Trails

Alamo Road and parts beyond

Alamo Road

Alamo Road and parts beyond. Photo by James L Rathbun The Alamo Road is the central route north through the Desert National Wildlife Refuge north…
Water Rhyolites near Logan Springs, Nevada - NARA

Logan City Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

Logan City Nevada, also known as Logan City, Logan Springs and Logans Springs, is a silver mining camp and ghost town located 12 miles north…

Mormon Wells Road

Entering Peek-a-boo Canyon on the Mormon Wells Road. The Mormon Well Road is a long, rough, dirt road that runs across the Desert National Wildlife…

Lincoln County Campgrounds

Upper Lake Campground, Pahranagat Valley in Lincoln County, Nevada

Upper Lake Campground

The Upper Lake Campground is a free camp ground which features lakeside camping along the shore of Upper Lake Pahranagat, in Lincoln County, Nevada. Upper…

Lincoln County Historic 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.
Bullionville, Nevada, Horse-driven slip scrapers retrieve tailings to dump onto a conveyor and then dropped into a freight car. Before 1880

Bullionville Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

Bullionville Nevada began early in 1870 when John H. Ely and W.H. Raymond removed their five-stamp mill at Hiko and placed it at this point.…
Crystal Springs, Nevada State Marker 205 is found just west of the junction between Nevada State Highway 93 and Nevada State Highway 375, also known as "The Extraterrestrial Highway."

Crystal Springs

Crystal Springs, Lincoln County, Nevada is an old watering stop, townsite and Nevada State Historic Marker number 205. The Nevada State Marker is location just…
Caliente Nevada - Early 1900's

Culverwells Ranch

Culverwells Ranch is Nevada State Historical Marker number fifty five located in Lincoln county, Nevada. The meadow area around the junction of Meadow Valley Wash…

Delamar NSHM Nevada State Historic Marker #90

Delamar NSHM is Nevada State Historical Marker number ninety seven and is located in Lincoln County, Nevada. Nicknamed "The Widowmaker", Delamar, Nevada is a ghost…
Ruins in Hike, Lincoln County, Nevada

Hiko Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

Hiko Nevada starts to see initial activity in 1853. Silver mines in the area are largely responsible for the people settling the area. Ruins in…
Jackrabbit Nevada - (Theron Fox Photo) Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps

Jackrabbit Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

Jackrabbit Nevada is a ghost town and silver mining camp located in Lincoln County Nevada. Local legend attributes the discovery to the locator picking up…

Old Boundary (Nevada’s Southern Boundary 1861-1867)

Old Boundary (Nevada's Southern Boundary 1861-1867) is Nevada State Historical Marker number fifty seven located in Lincoln county, Nevada. The marker is located about 6…
The wetlands of Pahranagat Valley

Pahranagat Valley

The beautiful Pahranagat Valley is located in Lincoln County, Nevada and Nevada State Historic Marker number 38. The wetlands of Pahranagat Valley is Nevada State…
Photograph of Main Street, Pioche Nevada

Pioche – Nevada State Historic Marker 5

Pioche, Nevada is a silver mining town and Nevada State Historic Marker 5 located in Lincoln County, Nevada. Pioche was founded in 1864, during the…

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