Tag: Nye County

Nye County, located in the state of Nevada, is known for its vast stretches of desert landscapes and rugged terrain. It is the largest county in Nevada by area, encompassing a diverse range of environments from expansive desert valleys to high mountain ranges. The county is famous for its association with Area 51, a secretive military installation, adding an air of mystery to its reputation. Nye County is sparsely populated, with much of its economy driven by mining, agriculture, and tourism centered around outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, off-roading, and exploring historical sites like ghost towns from the mining era. It offers visitors and residents alike a chance to experience the wild beauty of the American West amidst its stark, untamed scenery.

Wild Burrow ( Equus africanus asinus )

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Scattered across the south west scattered small populations of Wild Burrow ( Equus africanus asinus ) thrive in the harsh landscape. The burrow is also known as a donkey, wild ass. The animal is first first brought to the desert southwest by the spanish explorers in the 1500’s as pack animals. The humble burrow help haul goods and open the west. The burrow populations across the desert are the result of escapes, abandoned animals or stranded by the death of their owners.

Wild Burrow photographed in Beatty, Nevada - Photo by James L Rathbun
Wild Burrow photographed in Beatty, Nevada – Photo by James L Rathbun

This animal, which was originally found in Africa and later domesticated, is well suited to the dry desert landscape. The frame of the animal is short of ruffed, standing about four and half feet tall and weighing about 350 pounds. The long ears and short manes are a well defined feature of this beast of burden.

"Wanderers of the Wastelands" vintage postcard of an unknown prospector and his burros. | Courtesy of Orange County Archives.
“Wanderers of the Wastelands” vintage postcard of an unknown prospector and his burros. | Courtesy of Orange County Archives.

Today, all across the desert, the little burrow can be seen in a variety of locations including, Mountain Pass California, Beatty Nevada, and Oatman Arizona. The great state of Nevada established the Marietta Wild Burro Range. The Marietta Wild Burro Range sets aside 68,000 acres. The range is managed principally, but not exclusively for the population of 100 or so, burrow in the area. The burros freely roam near the ruins of the historic Nevada mining town of Marietta.

It is not uncommon for them to approach people looking for hand outs. It is a common practice to pass laws prohibiting the feeding of burrow.

Classification

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Perissodactyla
Family:Equidae
Genus:Equus
Species:E. africanus
Subspecies:E. a. asinus

References

Beatty Nevada State Historic Marker #173

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Beatty NSHM 173 is Nevada State Historical Marker number one hundred and seventy three five and is located just off of highway 95 in the town of Beatty in Nye County, Nevada. This marker is posted just off the highway on an island. Its orientation is such that when travelling north through town, it is quite visible, but may be difficult to find when travelling south. Beatty, Nevada was an old mining town and served as ta border town for old Nevada. The boomtown was provided passengers, frieght and mail service by three railroads, Tonopah and Tidewater Road, Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad and the Bullfrog and Goldfield.

Nevada State Historic Marker #173 - Beatty
Nevada State Historic Marker #173 – Beatty

In 1867, the Nevada Legislature approved the action of Congress to add that portion of the Territory of Arizona which lay to the south of this line, west of the 114 degree west longitude and the Colorado River, and to the east of the boundary of California. This action, taken on January 18, 1867, gave to the State of Nevada the permanent boundaries as they are today.

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. Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost of damaged.

Nevada State Historic Marker Summary

ID173
NameBeatty
LocationNye County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude 36.5922, -116.7558

Nevada State Historic Marker Map

Nevada State Historic Marker Text

During 1906-’07 three railroads were built in this area. The Las Vegas and Tonopah built from Las Vegas through Beatty and Rhyolite to Goldfield. The Bullfrog Goldfield built south from Goldfield to Beatty and Rhyolite. The Tonopah and Tidewater built north from Ludlow, California to Gold Center and used the BG tracks from Gold Center to Beatty and Rhyolite until 1914.

Rancher M.M. Beatty drove the last spike here on April 18, 1907, marking the completion of the first and only north-south railroad system in the state. Rails were torn up at Beatty beginning on July 18, 1942.

Nevada State Historic Marker #165

References

Manhattan Nevada State Historic Marker #97

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Manhattan Nevada is Nevada State Historical Marker number ninety seven and is located in Nye County, Nevada.

The town is originally founded in 1867 as part of a silver mining boom. The district abandoned in 1871. In 1905 a boom in gold mining activity brought over 4,000 people into the area. The Nye and Ormsby County Bank, the only stone structure to be built in the town, was erected in 1906. In 1906, the San Francisco earthquake literally shocked the region. The depression of 1907 tooked hold over investment capital and Manhattan faltered along with other gold mining towns including Rhyolite, Nevada.

Manhattan Nevada 1906
Manhattan Nevada 1906

The town on Manhattan saw a resurgance in 1909 and the population of 800 to 1000 people and their town matured into great little town. Local mines produced Gold, Silver and Copper, while Frank Garside published a weekly newspapper, the Post. The town continued its mining operations, including a gold dredge.

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. Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost of damaged.

A Manhattan Mining District to the northeast was first organized in 1867, and some tunnel mining was done. The place name persisted in local use and was adopted in 1905 when John Humphrey found gold at the foot of “April Fool Hill,” near the old stage route. A typical boom followed. A post office was started late in 1905, and the camp soon had telegraph, telephone, utilities and businesses. Transport was to Tonopah and the railroad at Sodaville.

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake stopped mining investment. As a result, most of the productive work here was by lessees. The gold strikes were in ore and placer, and by 1909 there were 13 mines and 16 placers. Some of the operations were the Big Four, Litigation Hill Merger, Stray Dog, September Fraction and White Caps. Hydraulic placering started in 1909. In 1938, dredging began, continuing 13 years. Over $10,000,000 was produced.

“Manhattan always was a good camp.”

NEVADA STATE HISTORIC MARKER #97

Manhattan NSHM Map

Manhattan NSHM Summary

Nevada State Historic Marker 97
NameManhattan, Nevada
LocationNye County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude38.5707, -117.1816

References

Tybo NSHM – Nevada State Historical Marker #172

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Tybo NSHM is Nevada State Historical Marker number one hundred seventy two and is located in Nye County, Nevada.

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. Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost of damaged.

Tybo Nevada - 1875
Tybo Nevada – 1875

Nevada State Historic Marker Text

Eight miles northwest of this point lies what was formerly one of the leading lead-producing districts in the nation. Producing erratically from ore discovery in 1866 to the present (the last mill closed in 1937), Tybo has managed to achieve an overall creditable record.

Tybo, in its infancy, was known as a peaceful camp, but later refuted that claim when there occurred racial strife between the Irish, Cornish and Central Europeans; later these groups banded together to drive from the town a company of Chinese woodcutters.

The town was not unique in having three residential sections, each with its ethnic group. However, all children went to the same brick school.

Nevada State Historical Marker #172

Nevada State Historic Marker Summary

ID172
NameTybo Nevada State Historical Marker
LocationNye County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude38.3099,-116.2782

Tybo NSHM Map

References

Ione Nevada

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Ione NSHM is Nevada State Historical Marker number one hundred fifty nine and is located in the Nye County, Nevada.

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. Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost of damaged.

Ione Nevada
Ione Nevada

Ione Valley had a dense and permanent aboriginal population, dating back about 5,000 years. Unusual property arrangements and agricultural methods were practiced later by the Shoshone and Northern Paiute Indians.

Silver was discovered in 1863, and in 1864 Ione City was named first county seat of newly created Nye County. Over 600 people worked in this prosperous town until Belmont wealth attracted most of the miners in 1865, and the county seat in 1867.

Alternately prosperous and poor, yet never completely deserted, Ione suffered mining depressions, milling difficulties and the loss of miners to richer strikes throughout its history.

Nevada State Historical Mark #159

Nevada State Historic Marker Map

Ghost Town Summary

ID159
NameIone Nevada State Historical Marker
LocationNye County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude38.9496, -117.5852

References