Lyon County

Lyon County is named for Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, commander of the Federal forces at Wilson's Creek.
Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, commander of the Federal forces at Wilson’s Creek.

Lyon County Nevada is named for Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, commander of the Federal forces at Wilson’s Creek during the civil war. General Nathaniel Lyon was the first Union General killed in the civil war after being shot three times on August 10th, 1861.

The county is one of the original nine counties that were in place on November 11th, 1871. The original county seat was located in Dayton, however now this honor belongs to Yerington.

The first mineral discoveries in Nevada occurred in Gold Canyon north of Dayton in the spring of 1850. Johntown was founded at the site and the states first mining camp.

Lyon County was the place to be in terms of mining operations when the Comstock boom started.

Lyon County Map

Lyon County 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…

Lyon County Ghost Towns

Articles published by Destination 4x4 which are tagged as ghost towns and are found Lyon County in the state of Nevada.

Placer mining, 1880s, in Gold Canyon. The original site of Johntown mining settlement , south of Silver, City Nevada - Stanley W. Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, Howell North, 1970, p 70. courtesy of Nevada Historical Society

Johntown Nevada

Located in Gold Canyon between Silver City and Dayton, Johntown Nevada is the first ghost town in Lyon county. None of the buildings are currently…
Pine Grove, Nevada - 1880s

Pine Grove Nevada

One of the lesser known yet longest running gold mining camps is Pine Grove, Nevada.  Located in Lyon County, Nevada just East of the 338…

Lyon County Points of Interest

Buckland Station early 1900s

Buckland’s Station

Buckland Station is a pony express station, stage stop, boarding house and supplier near Fort Churchill in Lyon County, Nevada. Buckland Station early 1900s In…
A lithograph drawing of Fort Chuchill, Nevada Territory created by Grafton Tyler Brown in 1862

Fort Churchill Nevada

Fort Churchill is a Civil War era United States Army Fort, Pony Express Station and overland stage stop located in Lyon County, Nevada just West…
Placer mining, 1880s, in Gold Canyon. The original site of Johntown mining settlement , south of Silver, City Nevada - Stanley W. Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, Howell North, 1970, p 70. courtesy of Nevada Historical Society

Johntown Nevada

Located in Gold Canyon between Silver City and Dayton, Johntown Nevada is the first ghost town in Lyon county. None of the buildings are currently…
Pine Grove, Nevada - 1880s

Pine Grove Nevada

One of the lesser known yet longest running gold mining camps is Pine Grove, Nevada.  Located in Lyon County, Nevada just East of the 338…
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…

References