Trails to the Past of
Nevada is accepting any donations of genealogy
materials that you may have such as marriage
announcements, news articles, old obituaries,
births, (you do not need the birth certificate)
just the information, and biographies. If
you have any of these items please contact me Marie
Miller
the Nevada State
Administrator.
Lincoln
County was established in 1866 after Congress
enlarged Nevada by moving its state line
eastward and southward at the expense of Utah
and Arizona territories. It is named after
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the
United States. Original legislation called
for the creation of a "Stewart County", after
Nevada Senator William M. Stewart, but this was
later changed in a substitute bill. Crystal
Springs was the county's first seat in 1866,
followed by Hiko in 1867, and Pioche in 1871.
Lincoln County initially included a ranch
village and railroad siding named Las Vegas.
However the future city was separated from
Lincoln County upon the founding of Clark County
effective July 1, 1909, by act of the Nevada
Legislature.
The first modern
settlement of the area occurred in 1864 with the
opening of a silver mine. The settlers abandoned
the area when local Indian tribes launched a
series of raids and massacres. Recolonization
launched in 1868, after this was stopped and
François Pioche bought the town in 1869. By the
early 1870s, it had grown to become one of the
most important silver-mining towns in Nevada.
Because of the remoteness
which had allowed the Indian raids to occur, the
town had a reputation for being one of the
roughest towns in the Old West. Local lore says
72 men were killed in gunfights before the first
natural death occurred in the camp. This legend
is immortalized by the creation of Boot Hill,
now a landmark in the city.
On Line
Data
City Caliente Census-designated
places Alamo Beaverdam Bennett
Springs Dry Valley Hiko Mount
Wilson Panaca Pioche (county
seat) Rachel Ursine Unincorporated
communities Ash
Springs Barclay Carp Coyote
Springs Crestline Etna Pony
Springs Ghost towns Crystal
Springs Elgin Fay
The first modern
settlement of the area occurred in 1864 with the
opening of a silver mine. The settlers abandoned
the area when local Indian tribes launched a
series of raids and massacres. Recolonization
launched in 1868, after this was stopped and
François Pioche bought the town in 1869. By the
early 1870s, it had grown to become one of the
most important silver-mining towns in Nevada.
Because of the remoteness
which had allowed the Indian raids to occur, the
town had a reputation for being one of the
roughest towns in the Old West. Local lore says
72 men were killed in gunfights before the first
natural death occurred in the camp. This legend
is immortalized by the creation of Boot Hill,
now a landmark in the city.
