Fish Lake Valley, Nevada facts for kids

Fish Lake Valley is a fascinating place! It's known as a ghost town. This means it was once a busy community, but now very few or no people live there. It's located in a wide valley, also called Fish Lake Valley. This area stretches across parts of Esmeralda County, Nevada and Inyo County, California.

The valley sits just east of the White Mountains. These mountains are super tall! They are the highest mountain range completely inside the Great Basin area. Their highest point is about 14,252 feet (4,344 meters) high. All that height means lots of rain and snow. This water creates streams that flow down into the valley. These streams help farmers grow crops like alfalfa. Even though the valley is high up (over 4,000 feet or 1,219 meters), the water from the mountains helps life thrive.

History of Fish Lake Valley

Early Settlement and Mining

People first settled in Fish Lake Valley in 1866. This happened when the 'Palmetto Mining District' was created in Esmeralda County. Mining was a big reason why people moved here.

During the 1870s, two companies set up operations in the valley. These were 'Griffing & Nyman's' and 'Pacific Borax Works'. They came to Fish Lake Valley to dig for borax. Borax is a useful mineral used in many products, like cleaning supplies.

Stagecoach Routes and Local Support

A stagecoach line ran through Fish Lake Valley. This line went north to towns like Aurora and Carson City. It also connected to other mining areas. These included Logsprings, Nevada in the Sylvania Mining District and Lida in the Sylvania Mountains.

Local ranches in Fish Lake Valley played an important role. They supplied food to the stagecoach industry. They also provided food for the mining communities, including Fish Lake Valley itself.

Post Office and Local Legends

A post office opened in Fish Lake Valley in 1881. This shows that the community was growing and needed a way to send and receive mail.

Today, there is a special historical marker near the old town site. This marker remembers a man named W.O. Harrell. People knew him as "Harrell, the Irrepressible, Citizen Extraordinaire." He lived in Fish Lake Valley in the 1870s. Records show that a Wm. O. Harrell from Fish Lake Valley registered a cattle ear mark in 1874. This means he was a rancher who marked his cattle.