Elko in Elko County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Elko

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, June 16, 2007

1. Elko Marker

Inscription. On December 29, 1868, representatives of the Central Pacific Railroad started laying out lots for the future town of Elko. By 1870, the thriving town had 5,000 people. There was an immense volume of freight and passenger traffic over the stageline roads north and south from the railhead at Elko to the mining area.

The University of Nevada was originally built in Elko in 1874 and remained here until 1885, at which time it was moved to Reno to its present location.

By the early 1870’s, Elko became the marketing and economic center for northeastern Nevada’s vast range livestock empire. In the 1870’s and 1880’s, great ranching principalities were built on Elko County’s vast rangelands. These ranches were ruled over, absolutely, by such powerful and colorful cattle kings as L.R. “Broadhorns” Bradley, Nevada’s second Governor and its first “cowboy” Governor; the French Garat family, Spanish Altubes, and John Sparks, Governor of Nevada in the early years of this century.

Elko remains the economic hub of Nevada’s greatest range area. At the same time, it has also become a recreation-tourism center

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in northeast Nevada.

Erected 1970 by State of Nevada. (Marker Number 106.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1872.

Location. 40° 50.482′ N, 115° 45.208′ W. Marker is in Elko, Nevada, in Elko County. It is on Idaho Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1513 Idaho Street, Elko NV 89801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Elko Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: About Your Journey... (within shouting distance of this marker); From Covered Wagon to Freeway Travel (within shouting distance of this marker); Artzaina Zain (within shouting distance of this marker); Ruby Valley Pony Express Station (within

Maker in the park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, June 16, 2007

2. Maker in the park

shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Ruby Valley Pony Express Station (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elko.

Also see . . . New Amended Text for Marker. The Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) recently updated the text of the roughly 260 state historical markers in Nevada. The Nevada SHPO placed the amended text of each individual marker on its website and will change the actual markers in the field as funding allows. Minor changes have been made to the marker for grammar and readability. The marker has also been amended to state that Elko is home to the internationally-famous Cowboy Poetry Festival. The link will take you to the Nevada SHPO page for the marker with the amended text. (Submitted on November 12, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,633 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 27, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.