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Nye County
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Is it really surprising that Nye County is shaped like a mushroom cloud, or a miner's pick axe? Perhaps it was by pure consequence when Nevada carved this giant piece of ground that these two 'ingredients' would have such an extensive role in this county's place of being. Although Nye is Nevada's largest county, very few Nevadans really KNOW Nye County about it. Well, except for the locals. Then again, maybe that's how it should stay.
Created in 1864, Nye was named in honor of James W. Nye, who served as governor of the Nevada Territory and later as a U.S. Senator from the state. It wasn't until the search for precious metals began that really put Nye on the map. The first county seat was Ione, proclaimed seat in 1864 after gold was found at the foot of the Monitor Range. The seat was followed by Belmont in 1867 and sat high on the power chair, until a man named Jim Butler made a fabulous find 30 years later. Silver was the find, and what a find it was! In 1905, the town of Tonopah officially took the seat of Nye, and rightfully so. Some argue that Tonopah was the last great strike in Nevada and the last great hope of prospectors everywhere, some coming to make their own find... others to sucker the gullible. Either way, prosperity lied in Tonopah. Today, 130 years later, Tonopah proudly retains its spot as the seat of Nye County, the ultimate final say and power house of all the 18,159 square miles of ground. Impressive, but there is one issue, however. Although Tonopah is the county seat, it is NOT the largest town in Nye County. In fact, the largest town sits some 180 miles south in Pahrump, a bedroom community to sprawling Las Vegas. Nye locals dub Pahrump as an oddball, a lost cause and as one Tonopah man said, 'Ain't part of us'. He was referring to Pahrump's close relations to Las Vegas and its big city lore in comparison to Tonopah and its old fashioned ways. Many 'Tonopahns' proclaim that Pahrump be removed from the county altogether. "In Tonopah, why lock your car? In Pahrump, lock it or be damned." Thanks for the quote, Ernie. From time to time, depending on who you talk to, there is still popular talk of moving the county seat south to Pahrump, and/or splitting off the southern portion of the county to Clark "where it belongs". Neither of these ideas appears to have sufficient support at the county or state government level. If you need to ask which side I take, maybe you should re-discover this website.
The Markers
Except for Pahrump, today's Nye County hasn't changed much in the past 140 years. Nye County is still a very wild place where its easy to fall in love with its steady habit lifestyle, old mining history, elusive wildlife and beautiful landscapes. Some of the states' most pristine mountains and deserts can be found here. Wild mustangs and herds of antelope still run free without the restrait of a human population. Over 100 miles of streams flow down from some of Nevada's highest mountain ranges. The Toiyabe, Toquima and Monitor Ranges span the central portion of Nye County, like caterpillars crawling across an open plain. Of course, one won't argue with the vast, open deserts of Central Nevada. If you're a true Nevadan, you've driven what should really be claimed as "America's TRUE Loneliest Road", US 6, at least once in your life. US 6 spans 160 deliciously- remote miles from Tonopah to Ely, the only piece of lateral blacktop across Nevada. Set your tires on this road and Nye forces you to re-think about what really matters and how time always doesn't have to fly by. This is why locals never deny where they come from. Why be anywhere else? Even after the dying of the mines over a hundred years ago, old towns like Belmont, Manhattan and Ione hang onto life, refusing to die with clear air, open stories and most of all, solitude.
Nobody realizes just how large Nye County is until you ante up and take on its historic markers! I have, and I can attest that you will NOT conquer this county in one day. In fact, conquer Nye little by little when you focus in on the other adjacent counties. To enjoy Nye's full potential, allow at least a week to explore its old towns and wonderful scenery. For a county of this size, it's surprising, and somewhat of a disappointment, that most of its markers are located along a single blacktop, SR 376, the Big Smoky Valley Highway. The rest of them are widely scattered across its 18,000 square miles from Tonopah, to Beatty, to Tybo and Ione. Your biggest challenge will be deciding where to go first and how to tackle the county effectively! As an example, I took on #159, Ione, by combining the trip with a few of the Churchill markers, then a trip back to Austin via the back road, CR 21. Otherwise, visiting Ione and capturing just this one marker, is a long trip from any direction! Remember, two markers reside around Beatty, another LONG detour from Tonopah. You could combine Esmeralda and Goldfield with the taking of these markers to make a nice few days exploration to see lots of wild scenery and the conquering of both counties. Unfortunately, there is one that is an extreme inconvenience, located well away from the rest of Nye's personality... #171 in Pahrump. Rather than making the 4 hour detour down there for this one, I recommend you conquer this one on your way to Las Vegas and the conquering of Clark County. Other than this, use Tonopah as your base, working in all directions to tackle most of the markers that reside in the northern portion of the county. Tonopah is by far the largest community in all of central Nevada... period! It has everything you need, including a grocery store, hospital, nice lodging including two large casino/hotels, auto repair, Sheriff's office and even a couple of fast food chains. For those of you who like to sleep under the stars, you've come to right place. Tonopah has officially been titled with, 'the best stargazing in America'. To that I say, indeed! The stars are breathtaking, whether back-side in a tent or in the back of a pickup truck. The best part... you don't have to drive very far. Five miles will do. Just don't drive too fast through town. After all, not only will you get a ticket, but you waver your reason for coming down here. Leave the speeding at home... Welcome to the REAL Nevada.
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