Nye County, Nevada was named after James W. Nye and established in 1864. Nye County 4×4 trails offer the explorer the opportunity to explore many remote gold mines and ghost towns. James W. Nye served as the first governor of the Nevada Territory. Nye county is the largest county in Nevada by area and the county seat is currently held in Tonopah. The largest population center within the county is Pahrump, which is about eighty six percent of the population.
Nye county is sparsely populated.
Nye County History
Nye County was established in 1864 during the Civil War. It’s namesake James W. Nye was the first governor of the Nevada Territory, and when Nevada was entered into the Union, served as a U. S. Senator. The cities of Rhyolite and Tonopah hosted gold and silver mine booms in the early 20th century.
After the mining boom subsided around 1910, the population plummeted and the citizens relocated to other areas to increase their opportunities. Today Nye County low population and large distances between towns offer a sense of wonderment and a glimpse of what the country used to be.
Nye County Area Map
Nye County 4×4 Trails
 Bonnie Claire Nevada – A Nye County Ghost TownLocated off highway 267 East of Death Valley National Park Gold, Bonnie Clarie Nevada is a mine site and ghost town that is easy to… |
 Chloride City California – Inyo County Ghost TownChloride City California is located within Death Valley National Park and Inyo County, California. The town arose out of silver discoveries in nearby Chloride Cliff… |
 Titus CanyonTitus Canyon has it all, rugged mountains, colorful rock formations, a small ghost town, mines, petroglyphs, wildlife, rare plants and spectacular canyon narrows as a… |
Nye County Ghost Towns
 Belmont Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownFollowing a silver strike and quartz vein by a Native American in the area, Belmont Nevada was founded in Nye County, Nevada. The silver boom… |
 Berlin Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownBerlin Nevada - 1910 Berlin Nevada is a ghost town located in Nye County, Nevada and found within the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park some 19 miles… |
 Bullfrog Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownOne of the few remaining structures in Bullfrog, Nevada - Photo by James L Rathbun Located at the northern end of Amargosa Desert, Bullfrog is… |
 Carrara Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownCararra, NV as seen from US 95 south to Beatty, NV Carrara Ghost town is a small ghost town and marble mine located about ten… |
Chloride City California – Inyo County Ghost TownChloride City California is located within Death Valley National Park and Inyo County, California. The town arose out of silver discoveries in nearby Chloride Cliff… |
 Grantsville Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownGrantsville Nevada 1886 Named for Ulysses S. Grant, Grantsville Nevada is a ghost town and gold mining camp located in Nye County Nevada. Initial prospecting… |
 Ione Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownIone Nevada is a ghost town, which is located in Nye County, Nevada. In April 1863 a silver stike was made by P. A. Haven… |
 Ione NevadaIone NSHM is Nevada State Historical Marker number one hundred fifty nine and is located in the Nye County, Nevada. Nevada State Historical Markers identify… |
 Manhattan Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownManhattan Nevada 1906 Located about fifty miles north of Tonopah, Manhattan Nevada is ghost town located at the end of Nevada State Route 377 in… |
 Ophir Canyon Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownOphir Canyon is a ghost town from the 1880s and located about 3.5 miles west of State Route 8A north of State Route 92, in… |
 Pioneer Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownBeginning as a mining camp near the Mayflower, Pioneer Nevada is an old mining camp and ghost town in Nye County, Nevada. The Pioneer gold… |
 Rhyolite Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownRhyolite is a ghost town location just outside of the Eastern edge of Death Valley National monument in Nye country, Nevada. Founded in 1904 by… |
 Tonopah NevadaTonopah is a ghost town located in Nye County, Nevada. Tonopah is also designated Nevada State History Marker number fifteen. The rock marker is locate… |
 Troy Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownIn May 1867, prospector Alexander Beatty worked the the Grant Mountain range when he discovered silver and founded the town site of Troy, in Nye… |
 Tybo Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownTybo Nevada - 1875 Tybo Nevada is a ghost town in Nye County located some 8 miles north west of U.S Route 6 and some… |
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.
 Beatty NSHM Nevada State Historic Marker #173Beatty NSHM 173 is Nevada State Historical Marker number one hundred and seventy three five and is located just off of highway 95 in the… |
Belmont Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownFollowing a silver strike and quartz vein by a Native American in the area, Belmont Nevada was founded in Nye County, Nevada. The silver boom… |
 Chief Tecopa – Peacemaker of the PaiutesChief Tecopa - Peacemaker of the Paiutes is Nevada State Historic Marker number 171 and located in Nye County, Nevada. The monument is located at… |
Ione NevadaIone NSHM is Nevada State Historical Marker number one hundred fifty nine and is located in the Nye County, Nevada. Nevada State Historical Markers identify… |
Manhattan – Nevada State Historic Marker #97Manhattan NSHM is Nevada State Historical Marker number ninety seven and is located in Nye County, Nevada. Manhattan Nevada 1906 Nevada State Historical Markers identify… |
 Nevada’s Southern Boundary 1861-1867Old Boundary (Nevada's Southern Boundary 1861-1867) is Nevada State Historical Marker number fifty eight located in the Nye County, Nevada. The marker is located about… |
Ophir Canyon Nevada – Nye County Ghost TownOphir Canyon is a ghost town from the 1880s and located about 3.5 miles west of State Route 8A north of State Route 92, in… |
Tonopah NevadaTonopah is a ghost town located in Nye County, Nevada. Tonopah is also designated Nevada State History Marker number fifteen. The rock marker is locate… |
 Tybo NSHM – Nevada State Historical Marker #172Tybo NSHM is Nevada State Historical Marker number one hundred seventy two and is located in Nye County, Nevada. Nevada State Historical Markers identify significant… |
Nye County Personalities
Chief Tecopa – Peacemaker of the PaiutesChief Tecopa - Peacemaker of the Paiutes is Nevada State Historic Marker number 171 and located in Nye County, Nevada. The monument is located at… |
 Frank “Shorty” HarrisFrank Harris was a prospector, desert rat and perhaps the best known character in western mining history. He looked the part, often travelling the desert… |
 James Crysanthus Phelan – Rhyolite ShopkeeperJames Crysanthus Phelan James Crysanthus Phelan was a business man and early pioneer of the desert southwest, who like many others followed the boom towns… |
 John S CookJohn S Cook overseeing bars of gold bullion. Photo Goldfield Historical Society John S Cook is the founder and builder of the Cook Bank Building… |
 Walter Edward Perry Scott – “Death Valley Scotty”Walter Edward Perry Scott (September 20, 1872 – January 5, 1954), also known as "Death Valley Scotty", was a miner, prospector and conman who operated… |
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