⭐ ESMERALDA COUNTY, NEVADA

Nevada’s Least-Populated County • Historic Mining Frontier • Big Backcountry

Not left. Not right. Not labels.
Just Nevadans — united through morals, ownership, responsibility, and community.

    • Population: ~740 (lowest in Nevada)

    • Growth Rate (10-Year): slight decrease

    • Land Area: 3,589 sq. miles

    • County Seat: Goldfield

    • Founded: 1861

    • Major Communities: Goldfield, Silver Peak, Dyer

    • School District: Esmeralda County School District (one of the smallest in the U.S.)

    • Geography: High desert, historic mining districts, wide open backcountry

  • Local Government Structure

    • Board of County Commissioners (3 commissioners)

    • Goldfield Town Board

    • Silver Peak Town Board

    • Planning Commission (as needed)

    • County Clerk, Recorder, Assessor, Treasurer, Sheriff, DA, Justice Court

    Esmeralda’s government is small, direct, and highly personal, residents know their leaders.

  • Esmeralda County is one of Nevada’s founding counties, established in 1861. Its history is deeply tied to the Goldfield boom (1903–1910), when the town briefly became the largest city in Nevada and home to legendary figures like:

    • Wyatt Earp

    • Virgil Earp

    • Tex Rickard

    Silver Peak is one of the oldest mining operations in the state, producing lithium today, a major future economic driver.

    The county remains a living museum of Nevada’s mining and frontier spirit.

  • Small population, concentrated industries:

    • Mining (gold, silver, lithium, critical minerals)

    • Tourism (historic sites, ghost towns, off-road expeditions)

    • Ranching & agriculture (in Fish Lake Valley)

    • Local services & government

    • Outdoor recreation & camping

    Esmeralda is resource-rich but people-thin, every decision matters.

  • Esmeralda residents consistently cite:

    • Mining impacts & opportunities

    • Road maintenance across huge distances

    • Rural emergency response times

    • School district funding & logistics

    • Water rights in agricultural valleys

    • Energy development (solar/lithium)

    • Preserving historic buildings

    • Federal land control & access

    • Population stability and economic diversification

    Rural independence is core to Esmeralda’s culture.

  • Your INevada County Lead:
    [TBD]
    “Rural pride. Frontier roots. True Nevada independence.”

    Your county leader will:

    • Track Commission decisions

    • Monitor mining proposals and public meetings

    • Summarize school district actions

    • Prepare emergency and rural access updates

    • Build P.E.P. breakdowns for issues impacting mining, land, and water

    • Coordinate with residents across distant communities

    • Ensure Esmeralda has equal voice statewide