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Most ghost towns in Nevada in the United States are former mining boomtowns that were abandoned when the mines closed. Those that were not set up as mining camps were usually established as locations for mills, or supply points for nearby mining operations.

In Clark County, settlements along the Colorado River have been submerged underneath the reservoirs of Lake Mead or Lake Mohave.

Conditions

Ghost towns can include sites in various states of disrepair and abandonment. Some sites no longer have any trace of buildings or civilization, and have reverted to empty land. Other sites are unpopulated but still have standing buildings. Still others may support full-time residents, though usually far fewer than at their historical peak, while others may now be museums or historical sites.

For ease of reference, the sites listed have been placed into one of the following general categories.

Barren site
  • Site is no longer in existence
  • Site has been destroyed, covered with water, or has reverted to empty land
  • May have at most a few difficult-to-find foundations/footings
Neglected site
  • Little more than rubble remains at the site
  • Dilapidated, often roofless buildings remain at the site
Abandoned site
  • Buildings or houses still standing, but all or almost all are abandoned
  • No population, with the possible exception of a caretaker
  • Site no longer in use, except for one or two buildings
Semi-abandoned site
  • Buildings or houses still standing, but most are abandoned
  • A few residents may remain
Historic site
  • Buildings or houses still standing
  • Site has been converted to a historical site, museum, or tourist attraction
  • Still a busy community, but population is smaller than in its peak years

List of ghost towns in Nevada

Nevada ghost towns
Town Other names Image County Established Disestablished Status Notes
Alturas Clark 1861 In El Dorado Canyon near Techatticup Mine in the Colorado Mining District.
Aurora Mineral 1860 Neglected site According to published time-lines, Aurora's population suffered greatly in 1865. Only two mills were still in operation. In 1866 much of the town was leveled in a Great fire That burned most of the business district. A second fire followed in 1873, and by 1880 the population had dropped down to less than 500 persons.
Austin Lander 1862 Historic site Clifton was still active in 1865 but when the mill closed in 1867, the town was abandoned. While Austin's mining activity was at its peak during the late 1860s ...
Beatty Nye 1905 Historic site Around Indian Springs, Nevada. Beatty is known for two things, as a gateway to Death Valley and the ever-popular road trip stop, the Death Valley Nut and Candy Company.
Belleville Mineral 1872 (1915) 1892 (1918) By the late 1880s pipes delivered water to Candelaria and allowed local mills to begin operation, reducing the need for shipping costs. Belleville could not survive the competition and was deserted by 1892.
Belmont
Nye 1865 1922 Semi-abandoned site Former Nye County courthouse in Belmont is preserved as Belmont Courthouse State Historic Park.[1]
Berlin Nye 1897 1911 Historic site Preserved within Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park[2]
Bermond Station Frenchman Churchill 1920 1926 The site was also known as Frenchman or "Frenchy's and later as Bermond Station from 1920 to 1926.[3]
Blair Esmeralda 1906 1916 Neglected site The site of the largest stamp mill in Nevada (100 stamps), at the time[3]
Bristol Wells Lincoln 1872 1905 Abandoned site By 1893, however, Bristol Well fell out of use. In 1900, a copper leaching plant was built to treat ore from the Bristol Mine, but it only operated for two years. After the railroad was completed through Lincoln County in 1905, Bristol Well wasn't used again.
Broken Hills Mineral 1913 1940 Neglected site Broken Hills is a ghost town in Mineral County, Nevada. It was primarily the site of the mining operation of miners, Joseph Arthur and James Stratford from ...
Bullfrog Nye 1904 1907 Neglected site Founded just south of Rhyolite, had a rivalry with Rhyolite. Rhyolite eventually won out before becoming a ghost town as well.
Bullionville Lincoln 1870 1882 Barren site A reliable water supply supported milling in town until nearby Pioche built waterworks to supply water to Pioche mills. Afterward, Bullioniville was slowly abandoned.[3]
Cactus Springs Nye 1910 1935 Cactus Springs is a ghost town in Nye County, Nevada. It is currently within the boundaries of the Nellis Air Force Range.
Callville Clark 1864 1869 Submerged under Callville Bay of Lake Mead Steamboat landing, County seat of Pah-Ute County, Arizona Territory (1865–67), post office (1867-69)
Candelaria Mineral 1864 1939 Neglected site The Northern Belle mine produced 15 million dollars in silver during production.[4]
Chafey Dun Glen Pershing 1908 1913 Was originally called Dun Glen.[3]
Charleston Elko 1876 1956 Abandoned site Charleston is a ghost town in Elko County, Nevada, United States. ... It lies along the Bruneau River just south of the Mountain City and Jarbidge Ranger ...
Clifton Lander 1862 Semi-abandoned site Just west of Austin.
Coaldale Esmeralda 1894 1993 Neglected site Leaking fuel tanks forced closure of the gas station around 1993, and with no other reason to stop, the place folded. Sometime in the mid 2000's the restaurant mysteriously caught fire. Over the years, a number of people were involved in what would be known in later years as Coaldale.
Cobre Elko By 1937, only about 20 people lived in Cobre, and in November 1948 the Southern Pacific abandoned the station. Ore shipments continued through Cobre until June 20, 1983, when the smelter at McGill closed. Today, not much remains of Cobre and a large cinderblock engine house from the 1960s dominates the site.
Colorado City Clark 1861 Submerged under Lake Mohave Steamboat landing near the mouth of El Dorado Canyon in the Colorado Mining District.
Columbus Esmerelda 1865 1881 Neglected site
Como Lyon 1861 1930s Post office 1879–1881, 1903–1905; mining town occupied intermittently, activity finally ceasing in the 1930s after the closing of a sawmill.[3]
Cortez Lander 1863 1930 George Hearst mined at the area in the 1860s.
Crystal Springs Lincoln
Currant Nye 1865 1871
Daveytown Humboldt 1910 1930
Deeth Elko 1869 1915 A depot and trading center for local ranchers and ranchers from adjacent counties.
Delamar Lincoln 1890 1909 In 1897, Delamar had a population of 3000.[3]
Delano Elko 1872 1927 The town was the site of a small gold-mining district that saw production from the 1870s to the 1960s.
Dixie Valley Churchill 1861
Dun Glen Pershing 1862 1894 Later became Chafey.[3]
Eagleville Mineral 1885 1915 Neglected site
El Dorado City Clark 1863 1880s Barren site Mining camp in El Dorado Canyon in the Colorado Mining District. Site of the El Dorado Mills.
Etna Pershing 1865 1872
Fairview Churchill 1905 1919 At its height, Fairview had 27 saloons.[3]
Fish Lake Valley Esmeralda
Flanigan Washoe 1909 1973
Fort Churchill Lyon Preserved within Fort Churchill State Historic Park[5]
Frenchman Churchill 1906 1920 The site was also known as Frenchy's and later as Bermond Station 1920–26[3]
Genoa Mormon Station Douglas 1851 Historic site Originally called Mormon Station. Now part of Mormon Station State Historic Park
Golconda Humboldt 1869 1908 Semi-abandoned town Golconda's hot springs were a famous landmark for westbound travelers.[3]
Gold Center Nye 1904 1919 Barren site The origin of Gold Center’s name is a mystery, for it was not the center of anything and it had no gold. It was a critical water source for nearby Bullfrog and Rhyolite and at one time had a large brewery and the only distilled water ice plant in Nevada.
Gold Point Esmeralda
Goldfield Esmeralda 1902 Semi-abandoned town
Goodsprings Clark 1900
Grantsville Nye
Hamilton Cave City White Pine 1868 1931 Hamilton was originally called Cave City, because early arrivals set up camp in nearby caves.[3]
Hardin City Humboldt 1858 1866 Neglected
Hiko Lincoln 1865 1882 Semi-abandoned town Hiko was a Native American expression meaning "white man's town".[3]
Ione Nye 1863 1930s At its peak, Ione had 100 houses and a population of 500.[3]
Jacobsville Lander 1859 Late 1870s A Pony Express station and the first seat of Lander County.
Jarbidge Elko 1909
Jessup Churchill 1908
Johnnie Nye 1890 1935 Barren site Water in town was scarce. It was drawn from a spring four miles away, packed in canvas bags, and hauled to town by donkeys.[3]
Johntown Lyon 1853 1860s Barren site Considered to be the first ghost town of Nevada.[6]
Jungo Humboldt 1911 1952 Barren Post office from January 1911 until May 1952[7]
Lahontan City Churchill 1911 1915 Neglected Developed to house workers during the construction of Lahontan Dam[8]
Lander Lander 1880 1921
Logan Lincoln 1865 1930
Louisville Clark 1861 1862 In El Dorado Canyon near the Techatticup Mine in the Colorado Mining District.
Lucky Jim Camp Clark 1862 Barren site In El Dorado Canyon near the Techatticup Mine in the Colorado Mining District.
Marietta Mineral 1867 1894 Neglected site
Mazuma Pershing 1907 1912 Post office: 1907–1912. Site of flash flood that killed at least eight and destroyed most of the town.[3]
Metropolis Elko 1909
Midas Gold Circle Elko 1908 1942 The camp was first called Gold Circle, but when the post office was established in 1907, officials decided that Nevada had too many towns with "gold" in their names, and the town was renamed Midas.[3]
Millers Esmeralda
Miriam Churchill Non-agency station of the SPRR[9]
Mountain City Elko 1870 Semi-abandoned town
Nevada City Churchill 1916 1919 A co-operative colony
Ocala Churchill
Osceola White Pine
Palisade Eureka 1868 1910
Palmetto Esmeralda 1866 1920s Neglected site Miners named the town after local Joshua trees, which they thought were related to the palmetto tree.
Parran Churchill 1910 A telegraph station and post office. Post office closed 1913.[10]
Pine Grove Lyon 1866 1918 Abandoned site Several buildings remain.[4]
Pioneer Nye 1908 1931 Barren site Post office 1909–1931
Poeville Washoe 1864 1880 Post office 1874–1878
Potosi Clark Barren site
Quartz Mountain Nye 1905 1922 Barren site Located inside the Nellis Air Force Base Bombing and Gunnery Range.
Ragtown Churchill 1854 Leeteville may be the same location.
Rawhide Mineral 1907 Barren site Rawhide Mining Co. has destroyed any remains of the town. Now it is just an open pit mine.

Devastating fire in 1908, $1 million in property damage and thousands left homeless.[3]

Rhyolite Nye 1905[11] 1916 Abandoned site Post office closed 1913
Rio Tinto Elko 1932 1948 A few houses and the school remain.
Rioville Junction City Clark 1869 1906 Site is now under Lake Mead. Originally Junction City, Rioville had a post office from 1881 to 1906.
Rochester Pershing 1912 1942
Ruby Hill Eureka 1873 1910
Ruth White Pine
Saint Joseph Clark 1865 1868 Barren Site located west of the north end of Overton Airport and east of the Muddy River. It burned down in 1868. Town name and population moved to what is now Logandale.
St. Thomas Clark Submerged beneath Lake Mead. Ruins became visible when the waters of the lake were lowered.
Salt Wells Churchill 2007 Site of a borax plant, bar, gas station and former brothel
San Juan Clark 1862 The camp was abandoned just weeks after being established.[3]
Scossa Pershing 1931 1937 One of the last important mining camps in Nevada.[3]
Seven Troughs Pershing 1907 1918
Silver Canyon Lincoln
Simonsville Clark 1865 1870s Barren Originally called Mill Point, located west of the south end of Overton Airport and east of the Muddy River.
Spruce Mountain Elko
Star City Pershing
Stillwater Churchill 1862
Sulphur Humboldt Neglected
Tempiute Lincoln 1868 1957 In the 1950s, the Lincoln mine was one of the primary producers of tungsten in the U.S.[3]
Tenabo Lander 1907 1930s
Treasure City White Pine 1869
Tybo Nye
Unionville Pershing Semi-abandoned town
Ute Clark Railroad siding and site of a silica mill in the 1940s.
Vernon Pershing 1905
Vya Washoe
Washoe City Washoe 1860 1910s Neglected site
White Cloud City Churchill Also known as Coppereid
White Plains Churchill 1879 1909 "No vegetation meets the eye when gazing on the vast expanse of dirty white alkali."[12]
Wonder Churchill 1906 Post office closed 1920


References

  1. ^ Belmont Courthouse State Historic Park Archived 2012-02-15 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Historic Park | State Parks". parks.nv.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Paher, Stanley W (1970). Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps. Howell North.
  4. ^ a b "Candelaria". Western mining history. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  5. ^ "Fort Churchill State Historic Park | State Parks". parks.nv.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "Johntown, the first ghost town in Nevada". Sparks Tribune. July 29, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  7. ^ "Jungo Post Office (historical)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. September 1, 1991. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  8. ^ Lahontan City
  9. ^ Carlson, Helen S. (1985). Nevada place names : a geographical dictionary. Reno: University of Nevada Press. p. 169. ISBN 087417094X.
  10. ^ Carlson, Helen S. (1985). Nevada place names : a geographical dictionary. Reno: University of Nevada Press. p. 187. ISBN 087417094X.
  11. ^ "The Most Haunted Ghost Towns". United States Ghost Towns. November 21, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Carlson, Helen S. (1985). Nevada place names : a geographical dictionary. Reno: University of Nevada Press. p. 245. ISBN 087417094X.

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Nevada