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Elko County
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Although "Elko's" origins lie in mystery, we do know that "Elko" was created out of Lander County in 1869. In addition, most Nevadans know Elko County, yet only a few people are KNOW Elko County. Save for outdoors enthusiasts, buckaroos and local ranchers, this northeast corner of Nevada still remains relatively unknown to the typical Nevadan. Elko County residents like it that way, an attitude easily foreseen by their independant mind-sets and proud words rolling off of their tongues. Elko is here to stay!
"The Heart of Nevada"
Elko's legacy began at the east end of the Central Pacific Railroad; Elko's status as a railroad town sparked its first population in 1868. Elko served as an important, temporary terminus for Central Pacific and simultaneously on the first portion of the Transcontinental Railroad between California and Utah. When the railroad crews moved on, Elko remained, surviving as a ranch and outpost, then as a mining and supply post; the next year, a courthouse was built, and the creation of a massive county with the same, mysterious name-- Elko. Today, the railroad has since moved on from Elko, but for some reason, mining became the city's main trade. Nobody knows how or why mining became the primary economy in Elko, but its residents could really care less. Elko is here to stay! The massive Getchell Mine (technically in Eureka County) funds every bit of this old cowboy town; bits of tourism, as well as continuous traffic from the Interstate helps to top off Elko's steady and bustling economy. However, a lingering fear settles over Elko County; many people fear that once "the Mine" is petered out, Elko will soon fall victim to the typical boom and bust cycle of so many other Nevada communities. In a sense, Elko tends to hang by a string on a day to day basis, a string that may or may not prove that the town's heart is greater than gold.
Fortunately, Elko County backs itself on much more than gold. Geographically, Elko County comprises a massive chunk of Nevada, encompassing the entire northeast corner of the state; Elko is the second largest county in size, a county home to at least a dozen mountain ranges and some of the moistest areas in the entire Great Basin; Elko County is so massive, the county is the very birthplace of Nevada's longest waterway: the Humboldt River; hundreds of streams tumble down Elko's ranges, a county covering thousands of acres of untouched wilderness and miles of backcountry emigrant trails. Elko County is quickly earning the title, "Nevada's Escape", a true paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. The Ruby Mountains is the highlight of Elko County, a massive chain of peaks stretching for roughly fifty miles north to south near Elko. The famed "Yosemite of Nevada", AKA, Lamoille Canyon, is considered one of Nevada's most scenic areas; many backpackers return to the Rubies every year, a delightful range with over twenty alpine tarns that await man's exploration-- a true alpine tundra in the middle of the Great Basin. Elko's visitors continually find themselves delighted with the county's other wild ranges, such as the Jarbidge Mountains and Wilderness Area, the East Humboldt Range and Wilderness, the Independence Mountains and Maggie Summit/Bull Run Basin, and the Owyhee River country north to the Idaho border. Certainly, such places are merely a few of Elko's natural wonders. Needless to say, a person could spend his or her entire life exploring the massive backcountry and scenic wildlands of Elko County.
The Markers
In terms of services, there should be little to worry about. Nevadans often describe Elko as, "a sleepy, little city in the middle of nowhere", a town full of proud and rowdy residents who like things just the way things are. Elko comes complete with everything a visitor could possibly need--- from high dollar to hole-in-the-wall casinos, fine dining or a Big Mac with fries, Elko is proud to have it. Most of Elko's services are found along Elko's main drag, Idaho Street. When we conquered the markers of Elko County, we had to stop into Elko only twice on our week-long trip. We covered the eastern portion of the county in two days, including the trip to Jarbidge, working our way back to town along the interstate, then worked the markers in and around Elko in one day. The next few days were spent in the western portion, covering the SR 225 corridor and outward toward Carlin and Palisade. In five days, we spent only $125 in gas at Elko's average price in August of 2008 at $3.89/gallon! However way you plan to tackle this wild piece of Nevada, we wish you the greatest sights and hopefully, loads of great stories to bring home with you. Saddle up cowpokes... Elko County awaits!
Historical Markers of Elko County (19)
Getting right to the point, Elko County is without a doubt the BEST county for conquering! Elko's markers are widely distributed, so don't expect to conquer them in one day. I recommend spending an entire week to capture Elko's markers; see some of the county's grandeur while splitting the county up into parts. A game plan could be valuable too because Elko is no small place. Conquering Elko's markers requires a bit of strategic planning if you wish to maximize your gas mileage, and minimizing back tracking. Fortunately, we found ourselves going back and forth only once the entire trip for Elko's markers. The week long excursion allows plenty of time to capture the two Jarbidge markers, the most difficult to obtain in Elko and quite possibly in Nevada. For example, plan accordingly to conquer two markers located along SR 225, one of them sits ninety one miles from Elko! Other examples like #46, Pilot Peak, is located on the way to Wendover, whereas two other markers make their home in Jackpot, seventy miles in the OPPOSITE direction!
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