Originally called Cope after Jesse Cope’s gold discoveries in April 1869 are what led to what was referred to as the “Cope Boom.” In only two months the population stood at 300 and the camp was officially renamed Mountain City. The first shipment of ore to a foundry in San Francisco assayed at $420 per ton. By the end of summer Mountain City had grown to 700 persons, twenty saloons, a dozen hotels, six restaurants, and two breweries. A new mine called the Rattlesnake showed unbelievable initial values of $9,800 per ton in silver. With improvements and amenities Mountain City continued to grow. By the end of 1870 the town had more than 200 buildings, a population of 1,000. There were also six lawyers and three doctors that had established practice in the town. In January of 1872 the mines showed signs of slowing down. In 1872 the mines earned only 33,000 and the population shrunk to only sixty-seven by 1875. During these lean years many homesteaders came into the area and a large ranching industry, which survives today, developed. There is much to see in the Mountain City area. A number of old buildings remain and lodging, food, and gas are available at Mountain City.Submitted by: Shawn Hall from his books Old Heart Of Nevada: Ghost Towns And Mining Camps Of Elko County Click here to purchase his book!

Connecting The West: Historic Railroad Stops And Stage Stations In Elko County, Nevada Click here to purchase his book!