Pershing County, located in north-central Nevada, is a rural county with a population of approximately 6,192 as of 2025, making it the 11th largest county in the state. Covering 6,067 square miles, it is characterized by vast open spaces, with 6,037 square miles of land and only 0.5% water. The county seat is Lovelock, named after early settler George Lovelock, and the county itself is named for General John J. Pershing, a World War I hero. Established on March 18, 1919, as Nevada’s last county, it was carved from Humboldt County.
The county’s landscape includes the prominent Star Peak, the tallest mountain at 9,840 feet, and part of the Black Rock Desert, famous for hosting the Burning Man festival. Historically, Pershing County was a key stop on the Humboldt Trail, known as Big Meadows, where 19th-century emigrants rested before crossing the Forty Mile Desert. Mining, dating back to the 1850s, and cattle ranching remain economic staples, with modern agriculture focusing on alfalfa and wheat production.
Demographically, the 2020 census reported a racial makeup of 77.69% White, 5.35% Black, 3.42% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 9.38% other races, and 3.30% multiracial, with 19.33% of residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino. The median household income is $72,007, with a per capita income of $42,694 and a poverty rate of 8.05%. Housing is sparse, with 2,389 units at a density of 0.39 per square mile, and most residents own their homes.
Politically, Pershing County leans heavily Republican, with the last Democratic presidential candidate to win it being Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The county has a low incidence of natural disasters compared to the U.S. average, though it experiences significant earthquake activity. Public schools are above average, and the county supports a conservative community lifestyle. Key locations include Lovelock, the largest city, and smaller communities like Imlay and ghost towns such as Seven Troughs, tied to early 20th-century gold mining.
Nevada State Historic Marker 17
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. These roadside markers bring attention to the places, people, and events that make up Nevada’s heritage. They are as diverse as the counties they are located within and range from the typical mining boom and bust town to the largest and most accessible petroglyph sites in Northern Nevada Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost or damaged.
Pershing County 1964
Here was a key point on Nevada’s earliest road, the famed Humboldt Trail that brought 165,000 emigrants west in the 1840’s and 50’s. Travelers named this rich valley The Big Meadows and stopped for water and grass before continuing south to cross the dreaded 40-Mile Desert, the most difficult lap on the trail to California.
Mining, still an important industry, began here in 1850’s. George Lovelock, merchant, rancher and prospector, gave his name to the county seat. The coming of the railroad in 1869 brought new growth to the area. Pershing County, established in 1919, was previously part of Humboldt County.
Nevada Centennial Marker No. 17
Nevada State Historic Marker 17 Map
Nevada State Historic Marker Summary
| Name | Pershing County |
| Location | Pershing County, Nevada |
| Latitude, Longitude | 40.1803, -118.4769 |
| Nevada State Historic Marker | 17 |
