Esmeralda County, Nevada

County in Nevada, United States

County in Nevada

Esmeralda County

County

Esmeralda County Courthouse in Goldfield

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Nevada

Nevada's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 37°47′05″N 117°37′57″W﻿ / ﻿37.7847°N 117.63237°W﻿ / 37.7847; -117.63237
Country|  United States
State|  Nevada
Founded| November 25, 1861
Named after| Emerald
Seat| Goldfield
Largest community| Dyer
Area

• Total

| 3,589 sq mi (9,300 km2)
• Land| 3,582 sq mi (9,280 km2)
• Water| 7.2 sq mi (19 km2)  0.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 729
• Density| 0.20/sq mi (0.078/km2)
Time zone| UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| www.accessesmeralda.com
Southern Nevada Consolidated Telephone-Telegraph Company Building, in the Goldfield Historic District.

Esmeralda County is a county in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2024 estimate, the population was 720,[1] making it the least populous county in Nevada, and the 20th least populous county in the United States. Esmeralda County does not have any incorporated communities. Its county seat is the town of Goldfield.[2]

Its 2000 census population density of 0.2706 inhabitants per square mile (0.1045/km2) was the second-lowest of any county in the contiguous United States (above Loving County, Texas). Its school district does not have a high school, so students in grades 9–12 go to school in Tonopah, in the Nye County School District.

Most residents live in Goldfield or in the town of Dyer in Fish Lake Valley, near the California border. Esmeralda is the only Nevada county in the Los Angeles TV market (or any California market) as defined by The Nielsen Corporation.[3]

## History

[edit]

Esmeralda County is one of the original counties in Nevada, established on November 25, 1861.[4] When it was organized, it comprised the part of the Nevada Territory south of the 39th parallel and east of Mason Valley.[5] Esmeralda is the Spanish and Portuguese word for "emerald". An early California miner from San Jose, James Manning Cory, named the Esmeralda Mining District after Esmeralda the Romani dancer from The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.[6]

Just after the organization of Esmeralda County, the vast majority of the land area had yet to be explored. John C. Frémont was one of the few people who had explored parts of the county. He had crossed Big Smoky Valley in 1845. Also, Aurora and its northern corridor had been encountered. In 1862 and 1863, the area along the Reese River was explored during the Reese River excitement. The event resulted in the establishment of three mining districts in the Toiyabe Range, namely Marysville, Twin River, and Washington, and the establishment of a number of settlements and ranches in Esmeralda County. Explorers pursued south and explored the Shoshone Mountains. The mining district Union was organized after silver was found in 1863 and the settlement of Ione was founded there.[5]

The total area of Esmeralda County more than halved as Nye County was organized on February 16, 1864, entirely out of land that used to be part of Esmeralda County.[5] Esmeralda has had three county seats: Aurora until 1883, Hawthorne from 1883 to 1907 and finally Goldfield. At one point, due to the disputed border with California, Aurora was simultaneously the county seat of both Mono County, California and Esmeralda County. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) wrote about his time as a miner in the Esmeralda District in his book Roughing It.

Esmeralda grew from a gold mining boom in the first years of the 20th century. Goldfield, a town founded in 1902, increased rapidly, and it soon became the largest town in Nevada, with about 20,000 people in 1906,[7] but its population rapidly decreased after the Goldfield, Nevada, labor troubles of 1906–1907. The mines were largely tapped out by the end of the 1910s and the economy and population declined afterwards.

## Geography

[edit]

Aerial view of Fish Lake Valley, Nevada-California Border. View is generally to the northeast, towards the Silver Peak Range.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,589 square miles (9,300 km2), of which 3,582 square miles (9,280 km2) is land and 7.2 square miles (19 km2) (0.2%) is water.[8] It is the fourth-smallest county in Nevada by area. A very small part of Death Valley National Park lies in its southeast corner.

The county is dominated by the Silver Peak and Monte Cristo mountain ranges. Mountains in the county include:

* Boundary Peak, 13,147 feet (4,007 m), the highest natural point in Nevada
* Piper Peak, 9,450 feet (2,880 m), the most prominent peak in Esmeralda County
* Magruder Mountain 9,044 feet (2,757 m)
* Montezuma Peak, 8,373 feet (2,552 m)
* Emigrant Peak, 6,790 feet (2,070 m)

### Highways

[edit]

* Interstate 11 (Future)
* U.S. Route 6
* U.S. Route 95
* State Route 264
* State Route 265
* State Route 266
* State Route 267
* State Route 773
* State Route 774

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

Boundary Peak, the highest point in both Esmeralda County and the state of Nevada, is in the Inyo National Forest

* Mineral County \- northwest
* Nye County \- east
* Inyo County, California \- south
* Mono County, California \- west

### National protected areas

[edit]

* Death Valley National Park (part)
* Inyo National Forest (part)
* Boundary Peak Wilderness

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1870| 1,553| | —
1880| 3,220| | 107.3%
1890| 2,148| | −33.3%
1900| 1,972| | −8.2%
1910| 9,369| | 375.1%
1920| 2,410| | −74.3%
1930| 1,077| | −55.3%
1940| 1,554| | 44.3%
1950| 614| | −60.5%
1960| 619| | 0.8%
1970| 629| | 1.6%
1980| 777| | 23.5%
1990| 1,344| | 73.0%
2000| 971| | −27.8%
2010| 783| | −19.4%
2020| 729| | −6.9%
2024 (est.)| 720| [9]| −1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

### 2000 census

[edit]

At the 2000 census there were 971 people, 455 households, and 259 families living in the county. The population density was 0 people per square mile (0 people/km2). There were 833 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.98% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 5.15% Native American, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 7.62% from other races, and 4.94% from two or more races. 10.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[14] Of the 455 households 21.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.40% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.90% were non-families. 36.00% of households were one person and 13.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.79.

The age distribution was 20.50% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 33.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% 65 or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 123.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.70 males.

The median household income was $33,203 and the median family income was $40,917. Males had a median income of $39,327 versus $25,469 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,971. 15.30% of the population and 7.50% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.70% are under the age of 18 and 11.40% are 65 or older.

### 2010 census

[edit]

At the 2010 census, there were 783 people, 389 households, and 213 families living in the county.[15] The population density was 0.2 inhabitants per square mile (0.077/km2). There were 850 housing units at an average density of 0.2 per square mile (0.077/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 84.4% white, 4.2% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 6.6% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 15.3% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 26.7% were German, 18.6% were English, 14.0% were American, 13.8% were Irish, and 8.7% were Swedish.[17]

Wild Horse in Fish Lake Valley, 2013.

Of the 389 households, 18.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 45.2% were non-families, and 40.6% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.67. The median age was 52.9 years.[15]

The median household income was $39,712 and the median family income was $57,292. Males had a median income of $41,023 versus $27,019 for females. The per capita income for the county was $34,571. About 6.7% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.[18]

## Law and government

[edit]

The county seat of Esmeralda County is Goldfield since May 1, 1907. The courthouse was opened on May 1, 1908, and has been in continuous use since then. Currently, the Offices of the Assessor, Auditor/Recorder, District Attorney, Sheriff/Jail, Justice of the Peace, Treasurer, District Court, and Commissioner are located in the building.

### Politics

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Esmeralda County, Nevada[19] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 376  | 81.56% | 73  | 15.84%  | 12  | 2.60%
2020 | 400  | 82.14% | 74  | 15.20%  | 13  | 2.67%
2016 | 329  | 77.78% | 65  | 15.37%  | 29  | 6.86%
2012 | 317  | 72.87% | 92  | 21.15%  | 26  | 5.98%
2008 | 303  | 69.02% | 104  | 23.69%  | 32  | 7.29%
2004 | 367  | 76.30% | 99  | 20.58%  | 15  | 3.12%
2000 | 333  | 67.82% | 116  | 23.63%  | 42  | 8.55%
1996 | 277  | 50.73% | 140  | 25.64%  | 129  | 23.63%
1992 | 221  | 37.84% | 118  | 20.21%  | 245  | 41.95%
1988 | 380  | 68.84% | 143  | 25.91%  | 29  | 5.25%
1984 | 453  | 70.02% | 158  | 24.42%  | 36  | 5.56%
1980 | 311  | 66.31% | 110  | 23.45%  | 48  | 10.23%
1976 | 181  | 43.51%  | 214  | 51.44% | 21  | 5.05%
1972 | 273  | 68.25% | 127  | 31.75%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 138  | 39.09% | 118  | 33.43%  | 97  | 27.48%
1964 | 131  | 41.19%  | 187  | 58.81% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 156  | 42.05%  | 215  | 57.95% | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 164  | 56.94% | 124  | 43.06%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 174  | 55.59% | 139  | 44.41%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 164  | 44.93%  | 183  | 50.14% | 18  | 4.93%
1944 | 150  | 40.21%  | 223  | 59.79% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 292  | 31.36%  | 639  | 68.64% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 156  | 21.61%  | 566  | 78.39% | 0  | 0.00%
1932 | 147  | 25.65%  | 426  | 74.35% | 0  | 0.00%
1928 | 305  | 47.21%  | 341  | 52.79% | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 241  | 33.20%  | 150  | 20.66%  | 335  | 46.14%
1920 | 466  | 49.57% | 347  | 36.91%  | 127  | 13.51%
1916 | 709  | 31.08%  | 1,135  | 49.76% | 437  | 19.16%
1912 | 252  | 13.81%  | 713  | 39.07% | 860  | 47.12%
1908 | 2,208  | 38.17%  | 2,787  | 48.18% | 789  | 13.64%
1904 | 490  | 42.20% | 380  | 32.73%  | 291  | 25.06%
United States Senate election results for Esmeralda County, Nevada1[20] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 345  | 75.33% | 72  | 15.72%  | 41  | 8.95%

## Education

[edit]

The Esmeralda County School District has three elementary schools that currently serve approximately 90 students.

As of 2022 it sends its high school students to Tonopah High School of Nye County School District.[21]

The county is in the service area of Great Basin College.[22]

## Communities

[edit]

An abandoned building in Palmetto, an Esmeralda County ghost town

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Dyer
* Goldfield (county seat)
* Silver Peak

### Ghost towns

[edit]

* Alkali
* Arlemont
* Blair
* Blair Junction
* Coaldale
* Columbus
* Fish Lake Nevada
* Gilbert
* Gold Point
* Lida
* McLeans
* Millers
* Palmetto

## In popular culture

[edit]

Esmerelda County is mentioned in the song "The Way It Was" by Las Vegas rock band the Killers, off their fourth studio album Battle Born. At the start of the song, the lyric "somewhere outside the lonely Esmerelda County line" can be heard. The lyric is a reference to the fact that Esmerelda County is the least populated county in Nevada, with a population of 783 in the 2010 census.[15]

## See also

[edit]

* Nevada portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Esmeralda County, Nevada
* USS Esmeraldo County (LST-761)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
2. ^ "County Explorer". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Nielsen DMA—Designated Market Area Regions 2018–2019, The Nielsen Company, 2018.
4. ^ "History of Esmeralda County". History of Nevada. Thompson and West. 1881. pp. 401–425.
5. ^ a b c Thompson; West (1881). History of Nevada. Oakland, California: Thompson and West. pp. 512 and 513. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
6. ^ Paul F. Starrs, "Esmeralda County, Nevada: Empty Land? Poor Land? Fair Land? Masters thesis, Geography, University of California, Berkeley, 1984
7. ^ Plaque on the Southern Nevada Consolidated Telephone-Telegraph Company Building, used from 1906 to 1963
8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
9. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
15. ^ a b c d "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
16. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
17. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
18. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
20. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Nevada by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
21. ^ "Education". Esmeralda County, Nevada. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
22. ^ "Data and Information". Great Basin College. Retrieved March 10, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Esmeralda County, Nevada.

* Official website
* Esmeralda County School District
* Aurora, Esmeralda County, Nevada Collection. Western Americana Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Esmeralda County, Nevada

|  | Mineral County |

|
|

|  |
Mono County, California |

Esmeralda County, Nevada

| Nye County
|  |
| Inyo County, California |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States

County seat: Goldfield

CDPs|

* Dyer
* Goldfield
* Silver Peak

Esmeralda County map

Ghost towns|

* Alkali
* Arlemont
* Blair
* Blair Junction
* Coaldale
* Columbus
* Fish Lake Nevada
* Gilbert
* Gold Point
* Lida
* McLeans
* Millers
* Palmetto

* Nevada portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Nevada

Carson City (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Geography
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* Delegations
* History
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Society|

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Regions|

* Black Rock Desert
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Metro areas|

* Las Vegas
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Counties|

* Churchill
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Cities and
communities|

* Alamo
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* Stateline
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* Sun Valley
* Sunrise Manor
* Tonopah
* Virginia City
* West Wendover
* Winnemucca
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Former counties|

* Bullfrog
* Ormsby
* Roop

Nevada portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* FAST

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* NARA

37°47′05″N 117°37′57″W﻿ / ﻿37.7847°N 117.63237°W﻿ / 37.7847; -117.63237
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