Shantytown, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shanty Town, Nevada
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 Shantytown, Nevada
Location in Nevada
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Elko |
| Elevation | 6,030 ft (1,838 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Shanty Town is a small, unincorporated community in Elko County, Nevada, United States. An unincorporated community is a place that does not have its own local government.
Contents
History of Shanty Town
Early Days: Robber's Roost
Long ago, the area where Shanty Town is located was known as "Robber's Roost." This name came from the fact that it was a place where people would often hide. This information comes from a book written in 1912 by Edna B. Patterson.
How Shanty Town Started
After World War II, Shanty Town began as a camp for people who loved to hunt and fish. It was located near the Ruby marshes and Sherman mountain. There were lots of fish in the area, which made it a popular spot.
Many veterans, who had served in the war, used a special law called the Small Tract Act of 1939. This law allowed them to rent small pieces of land. They used these lands to build lodges for hunting and fishing. By 1964, records from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) showed that 43 veterans were renting land there. A few years later, in 1967-1968, the BLM sold these land pieces through auctions.
Impact of Drought on Fishing
In 1985, a big drought hit the area. A drought is a long period with very little rain. This caused the number of fish in the marsh to drop a lot. Because there were fewer fish, fewer people came to visit and fish.
For example, in 1986, over 78,000 anglers (people who fish) visited the marsh. By 1992, this number had fallen to just over 10,000. The number of bass fish caught also went down a lot. In 1986, over 300,000 bass were caught, but by 1990, only about 8,700 were caught.
Life in Shanty Town in the 1990s
By 1993, Shanty Town was a small community. It had several trailers and log cabins. There was only one business, a grocery store. At that time, fewer than 10 people lived there permanently.
Fires and Clean-Up Efforts
Shanty Town has also faced challenges with fires. In 1979, a large fire burned about 8,500 acres of land.
In 2002, a group called the Student Conservation Association Fire Education Corps helped clean up the area. This group was based in Elko. Their goal was to remove things that could easily catch fire around the 53 properties in Shanty Town. At that time, 15 people lived in Shanty Town all year round.
