Elko

"Another stop in an urban park. Exciting stuff. Elko is chock full of great places that would fare this marker much better than a sleepy town park. What about the Commercial Inn, the Elko County Courthouse, or anywhere further west on Idaho Street nearer the strip? An urban park just doesn't have the flare characteristic of Elko. A Nevadan could describe this mini-city as a sleepy little metro in the middle of nowhere, a town full of proud and rowdy residents who like things just the way things are ... an interstate city complete with everything from a freshly made silver-laden saddle, a high dollar to hole-in-the-wall casino, a Tuscan Calamari dish to a Big Mac with fries." -- May 2009

Main City Park -- Elko

Elko
40.841360, -115.753290

Original Date Visited: 5/13/09
Revisited: 4/21/22
Signed: No

TWO FOR ONE

This marker is within 500 feet of - 108 - Ruby Valley Pony Express Station

Street View

Here's what you'll see!

Marker 106 at the Elko City Park This one is a bit tricky to spot from the road. Welcome to Downtown Elko! Elko is the largest community in between Reno and Salt Lake City.

Exact Description:
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 in northeast Nevada.

Elko to Battle Mountain on the California Trail

COVERED IN MY I-80 ROAD TRIP

Next Marker

ELKO AIRPORT (FIRST COMMERCIAL AIR MAIL ROUTE)

Related Links & Markers:

- 30 - Reno Nevada Towns: Elko Elko, The First 100 Years (Great Basin College) Explore Elko (Official Site) Elko (Nevada Expeditions)

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