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 townsTownOther namesImageCountyEstablishedDisestablishedStatusNotesAlturas Clark1861 In El Dorado Canyon near Techatticup Mine in the Colorado Mining District. Aurora Mineral1860 Neglected siteAccording 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 Lander1862 Historic siteClifton 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 Nye1905 Historic siteAround 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 Mineral1872 (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 Nye18651922Semi-abandoned site Former Nye County courthouse in Belmont is preserved as Belmont Courthouse State Historic Park.Belmont Courthouse State Historic Park Berlin Nye18971911Historic site Preserved within Berlin–Ichthyosaur State ParkBermond StationFrenchman Churchill19201926 The site was also known as Frenchman or "Frenchy's and later as Bermond Station from 1920 to 1926.Blair Esmeralda1906 1916 Neglected siteThe site of the largest stamp mill in Nevada (100 stamps), at the timeBristol Wells Lincoln18721905Abandoned siteBy 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 Mineral19131940Neglected siteBroken 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 Nye19041907Neglected siteFounded just south of Rhyolite, had a rivalry with Rhyolite. Rhyolite eventually won out before becoming a ghost town as well. Bullionville Lincoln18701882 Barren siteA reliable water supply supported milling in town until nearby Pioche built waterworks to supply water to Pioche mills. Afterward, Bullioniville was slowly abandoned.Cactus Springs Nye19101935 Cactus Springs is a ghost town in Nye County, Nevada. It is currently within the boundaries of the Nellis Air Force Range.Callville Clark18641869Submerged under Callville Bay of Lake MeadSteamboat landing, County seat of Pah-Ute County, Arizona Territory (1865–67), post office (1867–69) Candelaria Mineral1864 1939Neglected siteThe Northern Belle mine produced 15 million dollars in silver during production.ChafeyDun Glen Pershing19081913 Was originally called Dun Glen.Charleston Elko18761956Abandoned siteCharleston 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 Lander1862 Semi-abandoned siteJust west of Austin.Coaldale Esmeralda18941993Neglected siteLeaking fuel tanks forced closure of the gas station around 1993, and with no other reason to stop, the place folded. Sometime in the mid-2000s 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 Clark1861 Submerged under Lake Mohave Steamboat landing near the mouth of El Dorado Canyon in the Colorado Mining District. Columbus Esmerelda18651881Neglected siteComo Lyon18611930s Post office 1879–1881, 1903–1905; mining town occupied intermittently, activity finally ceasing in the 1930s after the closing of a sawmill.Cortez Lander18631930 George Hearst mined at the area in the 1860s. Crystal Springs Lincoln Currant Nye18651871 Daveytown Humboldt19101930 Deeth Elko18691915 A depot and trading center for local ranchers and ranchers from adjacent counties.Delamar Lincoln18901909 In 1897, Delamar had a population of 3,000.Delano Elko18721927 The town was the site of a small gold-mining district that saw production from the 1870s to the 1960s.Dixie Valley Churchill1861 Dun Glen Pershing18621894 Later became Chafey.Eagleville Mineral18851915Neglected siteEl Dorado City Clark18631880sBarren siteMining camp in El Dorado Canyon in the Colorado Mining District. Site of the El Dorado Mills. Etna Pershing18651872 Fairview Churchill19051919 At its height, Fairview had 27 saloons.Fish Lake Valley Esmeralda Flanigan Washoe19091973 Fort Churchill Lyon Preserved within Fort Churchill State Historic ParkFrenchman Churchill1906 1920 The site was also known as Frenchy's and later as Bermond Station 1920–26GenoaMormon Station Douglas1851 Historic siteOriginally called Mormon Station. Now part of Mormon Station State Historic ParkGolconda Humboldt18691908Semi-abandoned townGolconda's hot springs were a famous landmark for westbound travelers.Gold Center Nye19041919Barren siteThe 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 Esmeralda1902 Semi-abandoned townGoodsprings Clark1900 Grantsville Nye HamiltonCave CityWhite Pine18681931 Hamilton was originally called Cave City, because early arrivals set up camp in nearby caves.Hardin City Humboldt18581866Neglected Hiko Lincoln18651882Semi-abandoned townHiko was a Native American expression meaning "white man's town".Ione Nye18631930s At its peak, Ione had 100 houses and a population of 500.Jacobsville Lander1859Late 1870s A Pony Express station and the first seat of Lander County.Jarbidge Elko1909 Jessup Churchill1908 Johnnie Nye18901935Barren siteWater in town was scarce. It was drawn from a spring four miles away, packed in canvas bags, and hauled to town by donkeys.Johntown Lyon18531860sBarren siteConsidered to be the first ghost town of Nevada.Jungo Humboldt19111952Barren Post office from January 1911 until May 1952Lahontan City Churchill19111915NeglectedDeveloped to house workers during the construction of Lahontan DamLahontan CityLander Lander18801921 Logan Lincoln18651930 Louisville Clark18611862 In El Dorado Canyon near the Techatticup Mine in the Colorado Mining District. Lucky Jim Camp Clark1862 Barren siteIn El Dorado Canyon near the Techatticup Mine in the Colorado Mining District. Marietta Mineral18671894Neglected siteMazuma Pershing19071912 Post office: 1907–1912. Site of flash flood that killed at least eight and destroyed most of the town.Metropolis Elko1909 MidasGold Circle Elko19081942 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.Millers Esmeralda Miriam Churchill Non-agency station of the SPRRMountain City Elko1870 Semi-abandoned townNevada City Churchill19161919 A co-operative colonyOcala Churchill Osceola White Pine Palisade Eureka18681910 Palmetto Esmeralda18661920sNeglected siteMiners named the town after local Joshua trees, which they thought were related to the palmetto tree.Parran Churchill1910 A telegraph station and post office. Post office closed 1913.Pine Grove Lyon18661918Abandoned siteSeveral buildings remain.Pioneer Nye19081931Barren sitePost office 1909–1931.Poeville Washoe18641880 Post office 1874–1878.Potosi Clark Barren siteQuartz Mountain Nye19051922Barren siteLocated inside the Nellis Air Force Base Bombing and Gunnery Range.Ragtown Churchill1854 Leeteville may be the same location.Rawhide Mineral1907 Barren siteRawhide 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.Rhyolite Nye19051916Abandoned sitePost office closed 1913Rio Tinto Elko19321948 A few houses and the school remain.RiovilleJunction City Clark18691906Site is now under Lake Mead. Originally Junction City, Rioville had a post office from 1881 to 1906.Rochester Pershing19121942 Ruby Hill Eureka18731910 Ruth White Pine Saint Joseph Clark18651868BarrenSite 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 Jacinto Elko18701938 A former mining boomtown that was incorporated April 9, 1888. Its Post Office closed in April 1938.San Juan Clark1862 The camp was abandoned just weeks after being established.Scossa Pershing19311937 One of the last important mining camps in Nevada.Seven Troughs Pershing19071918 Silver Canyon Lincoln Simonsville Clark18651870sBarrenOriginally 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 Churchill1862 Sulphur Humboldt NeglectedTempiute Lincoln18681957 In the 1950s, the Lincoln mine was one of the primary producers of tungsten in the U.S.Tenabo Lander19071930s Treasure City White Pine1869 Tybo Nye Unionville Pershing Semi-abandoned townVernon Pershing1905 Vya Washoe Washoe City Washoe18601910sNeglected siteWhite Cloud City Churchill Also known as CoppereidWhite Plains Churchill18791909 "No vegetation meets the eye when gazing on the vast expanse of dirty white alkali."Wonder Churchill1906 Post office closed 1920. References
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