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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 about it, save for a few locals.
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, followed by Belmont in 1867. Belmont sat high on the power chair, until another large silver strike (and some argue the last great strike in Nevada) occured 30 years later in Tonopah. In 1905, Tonopah officially took the seat to where it sits today. Although Tonopah is the seat, power house and center of everything Nye County, it is not the largest town. In fact, the largest town sits some 80 miles south in Pahrump, a bedroom community to the sprawling metropolis of Las Vegas. Nye locals dub this community as an oddball because of its relations to Las Vegas and its big city lore in comparison to Tonopah and its old fashioned ways. Many proclaim it should be removed from the county altogether. From time to time, 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', according to some locals. Neither of these ideas appears to have sufficient support at the county or state government level.
Welcome to the real Nevada.
Historical Markers of Nye County (13)
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 and beautiful landscapes. Some of the states' most pristine mountains and deserts can be found here. Wild mustangs and herds of pronghorn 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 Range 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 Loneliest Road at least once in your life. US 6 spans 160 miles from Tonopah to Ely as the only blacktop across Nye County, forcing you to think about what really matters and how time always doesn't have to fly by. Hence, locals never argue about where they come from. They'd wouldn't 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 and refusing to die.
Nobody realizes 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 rare scenery. Surprisingly, most of its markers are located along a single blacktop, SR 376, the Big Smoky Valley Highway. The rest are widely scattered across its 15,000 square miles from Tonopah, to Beatty, to Tybo and Ione. To take on Marker 159, Ione, combine this trip with a few of the Churchill markers or a trip to Austin. Otherwise, visiting Ione and capturing just this one marker, is a long trip from any direction! 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 the markers down in Pahrump and off the beaten path of US 95. Rather than making the long detour down there for this one, I recommend you conquer this one on your way to Las Vegas and the conquering of the Clark County markers. Outside of these recommendations, use Tonopah as your base and work 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, two large casinos and even a couple of fast food chains. There is even some nice camping just outside of town. 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...
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