Washoe City, Nevada

Last updated
Washoe Valley, Nevada
Washoe City, Nevada (circa 1865).jpg
Washoe City, 1860s
USA Nevada location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Washoe Valley
Location within the state of Nevada
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Washoe Valley
Washoe Valley (the United States)
Coordinates: 39°19′13″N119°46′35″W / 39.32028°N 119.77639°W / 39.32028; -119.77639 Coordinates: 39°19′13″N119°46′35″W / 39.32028°N 119.77639°W / 39.32028; -119.77639 [1]
Country United States
State Nevada
County Washoe
Elevation
[1]
5,062 ft (1,543 m)
Population
 (2010)
  Total0
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
GNIS feature ID861904

Washoe City is a ghost town in Washoe County, Nevada, in the United States. [1] Nearby there is a new community called New Washoe City.

Contents

History

Washoe City was founded in 1860 as a lumber camp for Virginia City. With unlimited water available from Washoe Lake, mills were built for reducing ore. Dozens of trips were made daily by mule-driven ore wagons to Virginia City, hauling timber and farm produce. The return trips brought Comstock ore for milling. [2]

Washoe City became the county seat of Washoe County when it was created in 1861. The new county seat attracted lawyers, doctors, and dentists, among others. The streets were lined with restaurants, stores, saloons, livery stables, drugstores, bath houses and shaving emporiums. The Washoe City post office opened in July 1862, closed in October 1888, reopened in November 1888 until December 1894. [3] In October 1862, the Washoe Times printed its first newspaper. Later, a school, churches, a hospital, and a courthouse and jail were built. [2]

By 1865, Washoe City had a fluctuating permanent and transient population that may have reached 6000. Washoe City started to decline after the completion of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad to the Carson River in 1869. Within a few years, the population was reduced to 2,500 residents. [2] In 1871, the county seat of Washoe County was moved to Reno, and in 1880, only 200 people lived in Washoe City. The post office was named Washoe from December 1894 until Jan 1914. [3] By the early 20th century, Washoe City was empty. Nowadays, there are just the remains of many of the original buildings. [4]

In Hell On Wheels season 5, episode 12 ("Any Sum Within Reason"), much of the critical action takes place in and around Washoe City.

Washoe City, Nevada.jpg
Washoe City, 1860s

Related Research Articles

Austin, Nevada Unincorporated town in Nevada, United States

Austin is an unincorporated town in Lander County, Nevada, United States. In 2010, the census-designated place of Austin had a population of 192. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of 6,575 feet (2,004 m). U.S. Route 50 passes through the town.

Hamilton, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Hamilton is an abandoned mining town located in the White Pine Range, in western White Pine County, Nevada, United States.

Delamar, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Delamar, Nevada, nicknamed The Widowmaker, is a ghost town in central eastern Nevada, USA along the east side of the Delamar Valley. During its heyday, primarily between 1895 and 1900, it produced $13.5 million in gold.

Galena, Washoe County, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Galena, Washoe County, Nevada is an abandoned town in Washoe County, Nevada, south of Reno. The portion of Reno just south of Mount Rose Highway and west of Steamboat Springs is also known as Galena.

Star City, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Star City was a silver-mining boom town in Pershing County, Nevada. It was located in the Star Mining District. It is now a ghost town.

Belleville, Nevada Unincorporated community & Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Belleville, Nevada, in Mineral County, Nevada, United States, was a mining town that rose up around the milling of ore shipped in from nearby mines. Today it is a ghost town.

Vernon, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Vernon was a small mining town, now a ghost town, located in Pershing County, Nevada northwest of Lovelock.

Poeville, also known as Peavine until 1863, is the site of a historical mining town, established in 1864. John Poe, a professional promoter from Michigan allegedly related to Edgar Allan Poe, discovered rich gold and silver veins in 1862 on the slopes of Peavine Mountain. After the discovery of ore, Poe announced that the veins comprised the next Comstock Lode; he presented extracted ore at the state fair of 1864 as rich in content. As a result, the former mining camp, called Poe City (Poeville) or Podunk (Poedunk), grew to 200 people by 1864. Ore production in the mining district and population peaked around 1873-1874 with several hundred people living in town, supported by three hotels and a post office. The post office, named "Poeville", operated between September 1, 1874, and March 24, 1878.

Dun Glen, Nevada Ghost Town in Nevada, United States

Dun Glen is a ghost town in Pershing County, Nevada, United States, 9 miles northeast of Mill City. Established in 1862, the mining camp soon became one of the largest towns in northern Nevada. By 1880, mining had declined and the town was abandoned. With a sliver discovery in the area in 1908, the settlement attracted people and was re-named Chafey. Chafey was abandoned when mining operations stopped in 1913.

Palmetto, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Palmetto, Nevada is a ghost town in Esmeralda County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

Sutro, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Sutro, Nevada is a ghost town in Lyon County, Nevada, where the Sutro Tunnel is located.

Como, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Como is a ghost town in Lyon County, Nevada, in the United States.

Lander, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Lander is a ghost town in Lander County in Nevada in the United States.

Pine Grove, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Pine Grove is a ghost town in Lyon County, Nevada, United States.

White Plains, Nevada Ghost Town in Nevada, United States

White Plains is an ghost town in Churchill County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.

Cortez, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Cortez is a ghost town in Lander County, in the U.S. state of Nevada. The GNIS classifies it as a populated place.

Bullionville, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Bullionville is a ghost town in Lincoln County, Nevada, United States, 1/4 mile east of U.S. Route 93, one mile north of Panaca and 10 miles (16 km) south of Pioche. The town prospered between 1870 and 1882, and is now abandoned.

Tempiute, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Tempiute is a ghost town in Lincoln County, Nevada United States.

Mineral Hill, Nevada Ghost town in Nevada, United States

Mineral Hill is a ghost town in Eureka County, Nevada, US.

Pyramid City, Nevada Unincorporated community in Nevada, United States

Pyramid City is a ghost town located south of Sutcliffe, Nevada. This location was also sometimes known as Pyramid and should not be confused with Pyramid, Nevada, located north of Sutcliffe. Pyramid City consisted of two mining camps, Upper Pyramid and Lower Pyramid, also known as Pyramid City.

References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Washoe City
  2. 1 2 3 Paher, Stanley W. (1970). Nevada Ghost towns and Mining camps. Howell North. p. 43.
  3. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Washoe Post Office (historical)
  4. "Washoe City". ghosttowns.com. Retrieved June 18, 2013.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)

See also