Education

Education. . Elkoans have always made education a priority. Higher education came to Elko with the establishment of the University of Nevada in 1874 at Ninth and College. The University was moved to Reno in 1885 as citizens of western Nevada complained, “Elko was too remote and past its prime”. In 1967, a group of citizens formed the first community college, the Nevada-Elko Community College. The name has evolved to Great Basin College. The college offers two-and four-year degrees in multiple disciplines, has a nationally recognized nursing program and satellite campuses in 10 of Nevada's 17 counties.

In 1870, the first public school opened on Court Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets with 70 students. This building was outgrown in a few years, and a larger building was built between Eight and Ninth Streets. This school burned on Christmas Day but was rebuilt and used until 1974. The first publicly funded high school in the state opened in Elko at Sixth and Court in 1896, with 43 students. The building served as the Elko County Library until 1974, after the present Elko High School was built on College Avenue in 1918.

In 1870, the first public school opened on Court Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets with 70 students. This building was outgrown in a few years and a larger building was built between Eight and Ninth Streets. This school burned on Christmas Day, but was rebuilt and used until 1974. The first publicly funded high school in the state opened in Elko at Sixth and Court in 1896 with 43 students. The building served as the Elko County Library until 1974 after the present Elko High School was built on College Avenue in 1918.Ranching has been an important part of Elko since the town's beginning. Since Gold Rush times, cattlemen knew of the thick grasses in the mountain pastures. A drought in California in the early 1870s forced many ranchers eastward over the Sierras and into the Great Basin and Elko County. Successful cattlemen such as Dan Murphy, John Sparks, Pedro and Bernardo Altube, George Russell, “Broadhorns" Bradley, Bill Moffat and others bought or homesteaded large tracts of land and established the cattle industry in Elko County. Elko, centrally located on the railroad, became the center for all a cattleman's needs as well as a shipping point to markets. Today, the ranching industry contributes great economic value to the region.

Since Elko's beginning, the town has always had quality medical care. Medical doctors and nurses offered health care in private homes. Some were loosely regarded as hospitals.

In 1885, the former University of Nevada building on College Avenue was converted to use as a hospital. Other "home-style” private facilities included the Bolling Hospital, Granny Dakin's home and Miss Simonson's home.

In 1921, the Elko General Hospital was built on College Avenue, next to the high school and was owned and managed by Elko County. It was a stately building, designed by well-known Nevada architect, Frederic De Longchamps.

As needed, additions were made to the original building, which was demolished in 1978. The facility served Elko and surrounding communities for the next 77 years. In 1998, the Elko County Commissioners sold the Elko General Hospital to a private company. A new, modern, up-to-date facility was opened on Lamoille Highway in 2001 and continues to offer area residents advanced health care.