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

Early Inhabitants

Photographed by Theresa Hilton Small, November 14, 2019

1. Early Inhabitants Marker

Inscription. Northern Nevada has been inhabited for nearly 10,000 years. The Newe or Western Bands of the Western Shoshone Nation called this area home. The Newe had seasonal campsites throughout northern Nevada. During the spring, they dispersed from the winter villages to gather plants and hunt. During late summer, they gathered again to hunt bigger animals and fish and stockpile food for the long winter months. The winter villages would be located in the pinion/juniper forests because fuel for fires was readily available. In the 1870's self governing reservations and colonies were established with traditional schools. The Te-moak Tribe was established in 1918. The Western Shoshone Nation retains the traditions, pride, and culture and diligently passes it on to the next generations.

Travel along the Humboldt corridor began with the fur trappers in the late 1820s followed by the gold rush in 1849. Upwards of 250,000 people traveled the California Trial between 1841 and 1869.

Elko was established on December 28, 1869 as the Central Pacific Railroad was building eastbound during construction of the transcontinental

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railroad. The name of Elko was chosen by CPRR vice president, Charles Crocker. He saw antlered animals in the area and chose ELK with O for emphasis. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads joined together north of the Great Salt Lake, May 10, 1869.

Chinese immigrants were the laborers during the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad. After the railroad was completed, many Chinese returned to Elko, as it was quickly becoming a mining and ranching center. Two joss houses (Chinese temples) and homes were built in the area of Fifth and Silver Streets. These ambitious men worked the mine tailings, owned stores, ran restaurants, and worked as cooks on the area ranches. In Elko, some pooled their money and bought a large tract of land. They dug a 10-mile water ditch from the Humboldt River, near Osino, to Elko and built a reservoir where the Bicentennial Flag is today. Vegetables were grown at the “China Ranch” which were sold through the county. (This area is now the location of the Elko County Fairgrounds and Elko City Park.

Carly mining was based in Tuscarora, north of Elko,

Early Inhabitants Marker on left at Railroad Park. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Theresa Hilton Small, November 14, 2019

2. Early Inhabitants Marker on left at Railroad Park.

in the early 1870s as part of mining's boom and bust cycles. In the early 1960s, the Carlin Trend was discovered with rich microscopic gold ore. New methods of extraction were developed. Today, northeastern Nevada is a leading gold mining area in the United States and throughout the world.

Erected 2017 by the City of Elko.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is May 10, 1869.

Location. 40° 50.011′ N, 115° 45.636′ W. Marker is in Elko, Nevada, in Elko County. It is at the intersection of Railroad Street and 7th Street, on the right when traveling north on Railroad Street. Located in Elko Railroad Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Railroad 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

Elko Centennial Tower, Early Inhabitants marker is to the left image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 11, 2023

3. Elko Centennial Tower, Early Inhabitants marker is to the left

once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Growth and Industry (here, next to this marker); Education (a few steps from this marker); Entertainment (within shouting distance of this marker); The Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Missouri Flats (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Saloon and Hotel (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Elko County High School (about 700 feet away); Elko Independent (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elko.

More about this marker. 7th Street, between Commercial & Railroad Streets, was closed off to combine the two portions of the park.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 778 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 14, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3. submitted on August 27, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.