Tag: Clark County

Clark County, Nevada, encompasses the vibrant heart of Las Vegas, one of the world’s most renowned entertainment and resort destinations. Stretching beyond the glitz of the Las Vegas Strip, the area boasts diverse landscapes that range from the Mojave Desert’s arid expanses to the towering peaks of the Spring Mountains. Its county seat, Las Vegas, pulsates with a dynamic nightlife, iconic casinos, and a multitude of entertainment options. Beyond the urban sprawl, the county offers natural wonders like Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, showcasing stunning geological formations and outdoor recreational opportunities. Clark County blends the allure of a bustling metropolis with the tranquility of its desert surroundings, making it a unique and multifaceted destination in the American Southwest.

Lucky Jim Camp, Nevada

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Seal of Clark County Nevada
Seal of Clark County Nevada

Lucky Jim Camp, sometimes referred to as Lucky Camp, was a short-lived mining camp and ghost town site in Clark County, Nevada. It is situated in El Dorado Canyon (also known as Eldorado Canyon) within the Colorado Mining District (later called the Eldorado Mining District) in the Eldorado Mountains. The site lies on the north side of the canyon, south of the Techatticup Mine, at an elevation of 2,444 feet (745 m), directly above the mouth of January Wash where it joins El Dorado Canyon.

Geographic coordinates are approximately 35°42′08″N 114°48′12″W. When established, the area was part of New Mexico Territory; it later became part of Nevada Territory and then the state of Nevada. The camp formed in a rugged desert canyon environment along the Colorado River corridor, which offered steamboat access for supplies in the 1860s.

Early History/Founding

Mining activity in El Dorado Canyon began intensifying in the early 1860s following discoveries of mineral deposits after the California Gold Rush waned. Lucky Jim Camp was founded in 1862 amid this boom. The origin of its name remains unknown.

The camp gained prominence during the American Civil War as a gathering place for miners sympathetic to the Confederate (Southern) cause. Roughly one mile up the canyon (above Huse Spring) was the rival Buster Falls camp, where Union (Northern) sympathizers congregated. The miners in the Colorado Mining District divided into these two separate communities based on their political leanings, though tensions remained largely verbal with no major hostilities reported. This split reflected national divisions even in remote desert mining areas. The broader district saw its population swell to around 300–500 workers in the early 1860s (and reportedly up to 1,500 at peak), with some individuals drawn to the lawless frontier to avoid military service elsewhere.

The camp’s location above the canyon floor also served a practical purpose: it acted as a refuge during the destructive Great Flood of 1862 (part of the widespread “Great Flood of 1861–1862” that affected the Western United States and Colorado River Basin). Lower camps near the Techatticup Mine, such as Alturas and Louisville, were destroyed or damaged, while Lucky Jim’s elevated position kept it safe. The name of nearby January Wash may commemorate the January 1862 flooding event.

Economic Activities

Lucky Jim Camp functioned as a transient support settlement for individual or small-party miners rather than a large organized town. The primary economic driver was prospecting and mining of high-grade silver chloride ores in the canyon (with gold becoming more prominent at greater depths). Ore was typically hand-sorted, sacked, and shipped—initially overland or by steamboat to San Francisco for processing—before local stamp mills were built.

No large-scale mills or smelters operated directly at Lucky Jim itself. Instead, it relied on the district’s emerging infrastructure. By late 1863, nearby El Dorado City (also called Eldorado City) was established a short distance down-canyon on the same side, featuring a stamp mill that supported ore processing. The camp’s residents likely worked claims in the surrounding Eldorado Mountains, contributing to the district’s output of silver and associated minerals. Supplies reached the area via the Colorado River, which served as a key transportation route.

Decline/Abandonment

Lucky Jim Camp was inherently temporary and declined rapidly after the Civil War. The establishment of El Dorado City in late 1863—with its stamp mill—likely supplanted the smaller camp, as mining operations consolidated. Following the end of the war, the district experienced a period of idleness and reduced activity. Many early mining camps in the canyon faded as richer surface ores were depleted and miners moved on to new strikes elsewhere in Nevada or the West.

By the mid-to-late 1860s, Lucky Jim had largely been abandoned as a distinct settlement. The Colorado Mining District continued sporadic operations into later decades (with revivals in the early 20th century at nearby Nelson), but the original 1860s camps like Lucky Jim did not persist.

Legacy/Current Status

Today, Lucky Jim Camp exists only as a historical site with no visible ruins or structures. Satellite imagery shows the area as barren, with no remaining traces of buildings, tents, or mining infrastructure. It stands as a reminder of the Civil War’s reach into Nevada’s remote mining frontiers and the boom-and-bust cycles of 1860s silver mining in the Eldorado Canyon region.

The broader Eldorado Canyon area retains historical significance through preserved sites like the Techatticup Mine (now a tourist attraction near the modern ghost town of Nelson) and connections to Colorado River steamboat navigation. Lucky Jim’s story highlights themes common to Clark County’s early mining history: political divisions, flood risks, and the transient nature of desert mining camps. The site is located on public or undeveloped land near modern-day Nelson and is accessible via backroads in the Eldorado Mountains, though it offers little for on-site exploration.

Borax, Nevada – Clark County Ghost Town

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Seal of Clark County Nevada
Seal of Clark County Nevada

Borax, Nevada, is a ghost town and former railroad siding in Clark County, in the southern part of the state along the Union Pacific Railroad east of Interstate 15. It was settled in 1905 and explicitly named for borax (sodium borate) deposits discovered in the surrounding desert region. At its small peak around 1940, the settlement had a population of about 10 residents. Today, it has a recorded population of zero, with no remaining buildings—existing only as a functional railroad siding (elevation approximately 2,707 feet). While Borax itself left a minimal physical legacy, its name and location tie directly into Nevada’s broader and historically significant borax mining industry, which played a foundational role in the development of the U.S. borax trade in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

This report provides context on Nevada’s borax mining history, as the town of Borax cannot be fully understood in isolation from the mineral that inspired its name and the industry that shaped the state’s desert economy.

Early Discoveries and the Birth of Nevada’s Borax Industry (1870s)

Nevada’s involvement with borax began in earnest in 1872 when Francis Marion “Borax” Smith (often called the “Borax King”) discovered high-quality borate deposits at Teel’s Marsh in Mineral County, western Nevada. Smith, originally from Wisconsin, had been supplying firewood to a small borax operation at nearby Columbus Marsh when he spotted the potential at Teel’s Marsh from a distance. He and his partners staked claims, and operations commenced under names such as Smith and Storey Brothers Borax Co. (later Teels Marsh Borax Co.). This discovery is widely credited with launching the commercial borax rush in the American West and forming the roots of what became the Pacific Coast Borax Company.

The Teel’s Marsh area quickly spurred the growth of Marietta, a mining camp established around 1877. Unlike typical Nevada silver or gold boomtowns, Marietta thrived on borax and salt extraction from the evaporated alkali flat of Teel’s Marsh. By the late 1870s and early 1880s, it featured a post office, newspaper, company store (operated in part by Borax Smith and his brother), and over 150 residents. Workers scraped borax and salt from the marsh surface under harsh desert conditions. Salt was particularly valuable for processing silver and gold ore elsewhere in the state (e.g., Virginia City and Bodie). However, the isolated location made the town vulnerable—stagecoaches were robbed frequently, including multiple times in a single day in 1880.

The stone ruins visible today at Marietta (including remnants of Borax Smith’s company store) stand as quiet reminders of this short-lived boom.

Nearby Columbus (established 1865 as a silver milling center) also became a borax hub in the early 1870s. Four companies, including the prominent Pacific Borax Company (which built facilities about five miles south of town in September 1872), extracted borax from the Columbus Salt Marsh. At its height in the mid-1870s, Columbus supported several hundred residents with stores, an adobe school, post office, iron foundry, and its own newspaper, the Borax Miner. Borax production briefly revitalized the declining silver town before larger deposits elsewhere shifted focus.

Expansion, Competition, and Shift to California (1880s–1890s)

Borax Smith consolidated operations and, by 1890, had acquired rival holdings (including those of William T. Coleman) to form the Pacific Coast Borax Company. Nevada’s early borax works supplied domestic needs and helped pioneer refining techniques. However, richer and more accessible colemanite (a borate ore) deposits were discovered in Death Valley, California, beginning in 1881 (e.g., the Harmony Borax Works). These California sites, famously served by the iconic 20-mule teams hauling borax 165 miles across the Mojave Desert, proved more economically viable. Nevada operations at Teel’s Marsh, Columbus, and similar sites (including Rhodes Marsh and Fish Lake Valley) largely declined or closed by the 1890s as production shifted southward.

20th-Century Activity and the Settlement of Borax (1900s–1940s)

Borax prospecting continued into the 20th century, particularly in southern Nevada’s Clark County. Significant colemanite deposits were identified in areas such as White Basin and Callville Wash (near present-day Lake Mead). A major find—the Anniversary Mine—was located in 1921 by prospectors F.M. Lovell and George Hartman and later operated by companies including the West End Chemical Company until around 1928.

The town of Borax itself was established in 1905, directly tied to these regional borax deposits. Its location along the railroad made it a logical siding for potential shipping or support activities related to mining. While never a large settlement, it persisted modestly into the mid-20th century before being fully abandoned. No major long-term mining infrastructure developed at the exact site of Borax, and by the 1940s it was already fading. Today it serves only as a minor railroad marker with ZIP code 89026.

Decline and Legacy

By the early 1900s, Nevada’s borax industry had largely been eclipsed by massive California operations (such as the eventual U.S. Borax mine at Boron, CA). Improved rail transport, cheaper extraction methods, and richer ore bodies in Death Valley and elsewhere ended most Nevada borax production. The state’s early contributions, however, were pivotal: Smith’s 1872 discovery at Teel’s Marsh helped establish the domestic borax market and the Pacific Coast Borax Company, which evolved into a global leader (now part of U.S. Borax / Rio Tinto).

The ghost towns and ruins—such as Marietta’s stone walls and Columbus’s abandoned works—along with place names like Borax, Nevada, preserve this chapter of Western mining history. Borax mining brought infrastructure, labor, and economic activity to Nevada’s remote deserts but also exemplified the boom-and-bust cycle typical of mineral extraction in the American West.

Stone’s Ferry, Nevada

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Seal of Clark County Nevada
Seal of Clark County Nevada

Stone’s Ferry was a former settlement and Colorado River ferry crossing in Clark County, Nevada, established by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church, or Mormons). It served as a vital transportation link between Nevada and Arizona. The site shifted locations over time: initially near the mouth of the Virgin River, then approximately 6 miles downstream, and later 2 miles below the Virgin River mouth opposite Detrital Wash (its primary GNIS-recorded position from an 1875 survey at coordinates approximately 36°7′42″N 114°26′51″W). It lay opposite Detrital Valley, which offered an accessible route south from the Colorado River canyon into Arizona mining districts and north through the Virgin and Muddy Valleys toward Nevada and Utah. The ferry operated as both a commercial crossing and a barge landing in a remote desert-river environment.

Early History/Founding

The crossing originated informally in the late 1860s as Mormon colonists in the Muddy and Virgin River valleys (part of Pah-Ute County, Arizona Territory at the time) used boats left at the Virgin River mouth to cross the Colorado River. This connected their settlements to wagon roads leading south to Arizona mines (such as Chloride, Mineral Park, and Cerbat) and the Hardyville-Prescott Road. Brigham Young visited the area in 1870, but in 1870–1871 the colonists voted to abandon the settlements due to boundary disputes (the area was determined to be in Nevada) and high taxes imposed by Nevada authorities.

One colonist, Daniel Bonelli of St. Thomas, voted against abandonment and remained as the sole holdout. He moved his family to the site, acquired an existing ferry boat, and established a commercial ferry service known as Stone’s Ferry around 1871. The name’s origin is unclear; a 1875 Wheeler survey noted two early operators at the site, including James Thompson (who briefly held ferry rights) and possibly a settler named Stone. The ferry began operations about 6 miles downstream from the Virgin River mouth before being relocated upstream to a more favorable point opposite Detrital Wash.

Economic Activities

Stone’s Ferry functioned primarily as a commercial river crossing for passengers, freight, livestock, and emigrants traveling between Nevada and Arizona. It supported regional mining by providing access to Arizona’s silver districts and served as a landing for barges, such as those operated by Captain L. C. Wilburn. These barges transported salt mined from nearby Virgin River valley deposits downstream to the mills at El Dorado Canyon, where it was essential for processing silver ore.

Under Bonelli’s ownership (after he purchased the rights around 1870–1871), the ferry expanded to haul produce, feed, and salt from his St. Thomas farm and salt mines to mining camps like El Dorado, Chloride, and Cerbat. It also facilitated larger movements, including a band of sheep to Arizona in 1875 and a group of 83 Mormon emigrants in 1877. The operation relied on the river’s flow and manual or animal-assisted boat handling, tying directly into the broader network of Mormon agriculture, salt production, and support for southwestern mining booms.

Decline/Abandonment

The ferry’s original site and operations were short-lived in their initial form. In 1876, Daniel Bonelli relocated the ferry and his family upstream near the old settlement of Junction City (just east of the Virgin River mouth) and renamed it Bonelli’s Ferry. This move centralized operations closer to his St. Thomas holdings and improved access. By the early 1900s, competing railroads and improved overland roads reduced river traffic. Bonelli died of a stroke in 1903; a flood destroyed the ferry in 1904 (though his son later rebuilt and operated it into the 1920s). The associated post office at the renamed site (Rioville) closed in 1906 as irrigation water diminished and economic activity shifted away.

The original Stone’s Ferry site ceased independent operations with the relocation, and the entire area saw full abandonment as a settlement by the early 20th century. All river crossings in the region, including this one, were ultimately inundated by the rising waters of Lake Mead following the construction of Hoover Dam in the 1930s.

Legacy/Current Status

Stone’s Ferry exemplifies the pioneering role of Mormon settlers in developing early transportation infrastructure along the Colorado River in the American Southwest. It bridged isolated agricultural colonies with Arizona’s mining economy, supported salt transport for ore processing, and highlighted the challenges of remote river-based commerce before railroads dominated. The site transitioned into Bonelli’s Ferry (later associated with Rioville/Junction City), which operated longer but shared the same fate. Its history underscores themes of Mormon colonization in southern Nevada, boundary shifts between territories, and the eventual transformation of the Colorado River by large-scale dam projects.

Today, the site of Stone’s Ferry lies submerged beneath the Virgin Basin of Lake Mead. No surface remains are accessible, and it is recognized as one of Clark County’s ghost towns due to its complete inundation and abandonment. It joins other nearby historical sites (such as St. Thomas and Rioville) lost to reservoir waters but preserved in historical records and surveys.

Sources/References

  • Wikipedia: Stone’s Ferry, Nevada (drawing on primary historical accounts and surveys).
  • U.S. National Park Service, Lake Mead history documents (detailing operators, Bonelli’s purchase in 1877, uses, and submersion).
  • James H. McClintock, Mormon Settlement in Arizona: A Record of Peaceful Conquest of the Desert (1921).
  • Richard E. Lingenfelter, Steamboats on the Colorado River, 1852–1916 (University of Arizona Press, 1978).
  • Additional context from George M. Wheeler’s 1875 Topographical Atlas and surveys; Legends of America historical summaries on Colorado River crossings.

This report is based on documented historical records of Mormon settlement, river transportation, and mining support in the lower Colorado River region during the late 19th century. Stone’s Ferry illustrates the brief but essential role of such ferries in opening the desert Southwest before modern infrastructure rendered them obsolete.

Garnet, Nevada – Clark County Ghost Town

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Seal of Clark County Nevada
Seal of Clark County Nevada

Garnet is an extinct town, commonly classified as a ghost town, located in Clark County, Nevada, in the United States. Unlike many well-documented Nevada ghost towns tied to major mining booms, Garnet has left behind almost no physical remnants or detailed historical records. Its significance today stems primarily from its geographic position in a region that has been repurposed for large-scale modern infrastructure, most notably the Apex Regional Landfill. The town’s name likely derives from the garnet minerals abundant in the surrounding desert hills and valleys, a common naming practice in mineral-rich areas of the American West.

Location and Geography

Garnet is situated in the arid desert landscape north of Las Vegas, at coordinates 36°23′19″N 114°52′16″W (approximately 36.38861°N, 114.87111°W) and an elevation of 2,467 feet (752 m). It lies near the junction where Interstate 15 (I-15) meets U.S. Route 93 (US 93). The Garnet Interchange (I-15 exit 64) marks the point where US 93 branches northward toward more remote areas such as Ely.

The broader area, sometimes associated with Garnet Valley, is part of the Apex region. Nearby features include Garnet Hill (a distinct but related site east of Las Vegas, popular for collecting pyrope and almandine garnets in volcanic outcrops). The region’s geology—featuring ancient rock formations and mineral deposits—reflects southern Nevada’s desert environment, with sparse vegetation and rugged terrain shaped by erosion and the Great Unconformity (a significant geologic feature).

Historical Background

Clark County itself has a rich history dating back thousands of years, with evidence of Southern Paiute and other Native American presence, followed by Spanish explorers, Mormon settlers in the mid-19th century, and rapid growth after the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad arrived in the early 1900s. The county was formally created in 1909 from the southern portion of Lincoln County and named after Senator William A. Clark, whose railroad investments spurred development.

Specific details about Garnet’s origins, founding date, or early settlement are virtually nonexistent in public historical sources. It appears in geographic information systems (GNIS feature ID: 845843) as an extinct town but is not featured in major Nevada ghost town guides, mining histories, or local historical society records. There are no accounts of a population boom, notable mines, businesses, or events tied directly to the site. It was likely a very small, short-lived settlement—possibly a minor mining camp, railroad-related stop, or supply point—that never developed beyond a handful of structures. “Not much remains of the former community,” as noted in available descriptions.

The name “Garnet” aligns with the area’s mineral resources, similar to Garnet Hill to the south. It coexisted with other nearby extinct towns like Apex (after which the modern landfill is named). These small outposts reflect the pattern of transient communities in early 20th-century southern Nevada, many of which faded as larger towns like Las Vegas grew and transportation routes shifted. No significant mining production, census data, or newspaper mentions specific to Garnet have been widely preserved.

Modern Significance and Development

In the late 20th and 21st centuries, the Garnet area’s location along major highways made it ideal for industrial use. Its most prominent feature is the Apex Regional Landfill (operated by Republic Services), one of the largest landfills in the world by area and volume. Opened in 1993, the landfill is situated in the Garnet/Apex vicinity and serves as the primary municipal solid waste facility for the Las Vegas metropolitan area. It can accept up to 13,600 tons of waste per day and has capacity for over 250–300 years at current rates. The facility spans thousands of acres, with engineered liners, methane capture systems, and ongoing expansion that involves quarrying surrounding rock.

Although officially named after the nearby extinct town of Apex, the landfill is frequently associated with Garnet in geographic references. The site also supports the broader Apex Industrial Park, one of the largest in southern Nevada, which includes limited additional development such as power infrastructure and other facilities. The Garnet Interchange continues to serve as a critical transportation node.

Conclusion

Garnet, Nevada, stands as a quiet footnote in Clark County’s history—a place that never achieved the fame or longevity of Nevada’s iconic mining towns yet endures in official records and modern geography. Its story mirrors the broader narrative of the American West: fleeting settlements born of opportunity in a harsh desert environment, later overshadowed by urbanization and infrastructure. While the original community has vanished, the area now plays a vital, if unseen, role in sustaining the Las Vegas Valley’s growth by managing its waste for generations to come. Further primary-source research (such as old county maps, railroad records, or unpublished local archives) might uncover additional details, but publicly available information remains limited, underscoring Garnet’s status as one of Clark County’s most obscure ghost towns.

Simonsville, Nevada – Clark County Ghost Town

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Seal of Clark County Nevada
Seal of Clark County Nevada

Simonsville (occasionally referenced with variant spellings such as Simmonsville) was a short-lived Mormon farming settlement and milling site in Clark County, Nevada. It was situated on the east bank of the Muddy River in the Moapa Valley, west of the south end of the Overton Airport. Coordinates are 36°33′46″N 114°26′40″W, with an elevation of 1,325 feet (404 m). The settlement formed part of the broader network of 1860s Mormon colonies along the Muddy River, established to support agriculture in southern Nevada’s desert environment.

Early History/Founding

Simonsville originated as part of the Mormon Cotton Mission initiated by Brigham Young in the early 1860s. Seeking reliable water from the Muddy River and fertile soil for cotton production (to achieve economic independence for Utah Territory and secure southern trade routes), church leaders dispatched approximately 75–85 families to the Moapa Valley in 1865. The first major settlements were St. Thomas and St. Joseph.

The site was initially known as Mill Point after James Leithead constructed the valley’s first grist mill there. By December 1865, enough settlers had arrived for President Erastus Snow to establish a new colony under the leadership of Orrawell Simons (sometimes spelled Orawell). The settlement was renamed Simonsville in his honor. In spring 1866, Orrawell Simons oversaw construction of an additional grist mill, which quickly became operational.

Economic Activities

The economy of Simonsville centered on agriculture and milling, integrated with the larger Moapa Valley Cotton Mission. Settlers grew cotton, wheat, corn, oats, barley, and orchard crops, supported by irrigation canals drawn from the Muddy River. The grist mill at Simonsville (and its predecessor at Mill Point) ground wheat, corn, and salt for local use and regional supply.

A cotton gin, powered by the same mill infrastructure, processed the 1865 cotton crop; valley-wide production exceeded 5,000 pounds of lint that year, with individual acres yielding up to 695 pounds of first-class lint. By 1866–1867, cotton output grew significantly (e.g., 14,600 pounds of lint reported at nearby St. Joseph alone in 1867). The mill also supported defensive efforts, as a guard was maintained at Mill Point to protect the valuable infrastructure during Indian raids in 1866.

Decline/Abandonment

Simonsville’s decline mirrored that of the other Muddy River settlements. Harsh conditions—including remoteness (450 miles from Salt Lake City), desert climate, malaria, sandstorms, and Indian depredations—strained the colonies. A critical issue emerged when a boundary survey revealed the entire Moapa Valley lay in Nevada (specifically Lincoln County at the time), not Utah Territory or Arizona as initially assumed. This triggered disputes over taxation: settlers faced double levies (Nevada state taxes plus tithing to Utah’s Rio Virgin County) without corresponding representation or services.

In 1870–1871, Brigham Young described the area as a “God Forsaken place” and advised abandonment. Most residents, including those at Simonsville, voted to leave. By 1871, over 600 colonists abandoned their homes, farms, and mills, relocating eastward to Long Valley, Utah (founding communities such as Glendale and Mount Carmel). Simonsville was never reoccupied.

Legacy/Current Status

Simonsville exemplifies the ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful Mormon efforts to colonize southern Nevada’s river valleys in the 1860s. It highlights the challenges of territorial boundary ambiguities, taxation conflicts, and environmental hardships that doomed the Cotton Mission. The settlement contributed to early agricultural experimentation (cotton ginning and grain milling) in what became Clark County and paved the way for later, more permanent communities in the Moapa Valley (such as the revived Overton and Logandale).

Today, the physical site of Simonsville (and original Mill Point) is largely lost. It lies beneath or adjacent to modern Clark County flood-control infrastructure and realigned airport roads. No standing structures remain, and the area is not preserved as a public historic site, though it is documented in lists of Clark County ghost towns.

Sources/References

  • “The Settlements on the Muddy 1865–1871: ‘A God Forsaken Place’,” Utah Historical Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 2 (1967), providing primary excerpts from church leaders and detailed colony records.
  • Historical Marker Database (HMDB): “Early Settlements in the Moapa Valley” (marker detailing the 1865–1871 Mormon colonies).
  • Additional context from Nevada ghost town compilations and Moapa Valley historical overviews (e.g., lists confirming Simonsville/Mill Point as a 1865–1870 site).